July 17, 2014 @0900 Bingham Complex Fire Update

Bingham Complex Fire Information

(503) 854-4210

Bingham Complex burning in the Mt Jefferson Wilderness

Fire crews particularly alerted to the possibility of active fire behavior today

Detroit, OR – Winds blowing from the west in alignment with the east-west ridge topography have the potential to increase fire behavior and cause fire growth across the Bingham Complex today.  The winds will increase from 6-12 miles per hour in the morning to gusting to 25 in the afternoon.  These winds, combined with temperatures in the 70's, can lower humidity and dry the fuels sufficiently to increase ground movement, tree torching, spotting and crown fire.  Crown fire is particularly variable in these high elevation forests because the flames tend to move between light branches of small dead trees and abundant lichens growing among the branches.  When these light fuels dry out, they are particularly receptive, can ignite from small sparks, and can spread fire quickly.

Fire crews are cautioned to give special attention to the weather and fuel patterns around them as they proceed with their diverse assignments.  Five 20-person crews, assigned to Bingham Ridge, the largest fire in the Complex at approximately 300 acres, are building direct containment lines that connect natural barriers, rocks, and an area that burned in 2006 to hold approximately 100 acres that have burned outside the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness boundary. 

Helicopters are dropping water to check fire activity wherever needed.

The nearby Lizard Fire, approximately 175 acres, will be staffed with nearly 40 people today.  They have been preparing an access route on existing trails and improving a helicopter landing site in order to receive additional crews and equipment.  Their assignment is to focus on reducing additional fire growth to the north and east.  This fire is burning in rugged terrain approximately 1.5 miles west of the Pacific Crest trail.

A small fire (#152) north of Bingham Ridge is approximately 1.5 acres.  It is being suppressed by crews that reached it by rappelling from a helicopter.  Other small fires that continue to be detected daily since a major lightning storm passed through on July 13 are also being sized up and directly attacked if possible.  "There is too much fire activity going on in the region.  We need to take care of these small fires so they don't require attention and resources all summer long," said Larry Nickey, incident commander of Washington Interagency Incident Management Team #4.

A contingency plan is being developed to identify places that could be improved to stop future large fire growth that could impact values such as drinking water resources, a fish hatchery, and local communities.   

There is an Area Closure in effect for portions of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness.  Only firefighters, Forest Service or other agency personnel, and law enforcement are allowed access to the closed areas.   Forest Road 2253 is closed.  The following trails are closed to public access until further notice: Pamelia (3439), Hunts Creek (3440), Hunts Cove (3430), old Hunts Cove (3451), Grizzly Peak (3428), Bingham (3421), (portions of) Lake of the Woods (3493), Minto Mountain (3448), portions of the Swallow Lake Trail (3488), and Newport Drive (3438). The Pacific Crest Trail (2000) is closed from just east of South Cinder Peak to just south of Milk Creek.  Closure notices have been posted at trailheads and other entry points.  Signs include directions for a Pacific Crest Trail detour. 

You can check the current status of the Bingham Complex, including trail and area closures on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3949/ .

Fire Facts – Thursday, July 17– 0900 HOURS
Fire Size: approximately 480 acres total for the five fires in Bingham Complex.      

Percent Contained:  5%.

Evacuations: No homes or structures threatened.

Closures Summary: A detailed list of closures is available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3949/ .

Fuels:  Patchy high elevation subalpine fir and lodgepole pine forest with dead and fallen trees and accumulations of ground fuels.

Air Resources:  Three Type I helicopters, two Type II helicopters and two Type III helicopters.

Crews:  Two Type I crews and four Type II crews and one Fire Use crew

Engines: 0                  Dozers: 1                    Water Tenders: 2

Total Personnel:  Approx. 226