7/23/2014 9:00 am Bingham Complex Fire Update

Bingham Fire Information

(503) 854-4210

Firefighters on Bingham Complex accomplish 45% containment

Contingency line being constructed with heavy equipment and hand crews

Detroit, OR – Seven fire crews are now working to construct a 10.9-mile contingency fire line that improves and connects existing roads approximately ½ mile away from the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area.  Depending on the terrain and fuels, building a contingency line involves using a combination of heavy equipment (dozer, masticator, chipper) and hand tools. One mile of dozer line has been completed.  Residual slash will be chipped today. A masticator clears roadside brush with a long arm that has a powerful rotating blade, leaving behind small pieces of woody debris.  Hand crews improve lines and chip any slash left behind.

The Bingham Ridge Fire (275 acres) has a full containment line around its perimeter.  There are still interior fuels that continue to burn and smolder, with occasional tree torching despite rainy weather.  One crew is patrolling it.

The Lizard Fire (175 acres) is the second major fire in the Bingham Complex.  The contingency line outside the Wilderness is being put in place for long term management of the Lizard Fire, as it continues to burn in the Wilderness.  A modified suppression strategy will provide the greatest safety and least amount of exposure to firefighters.  A series of management action points (trigger points) have been identified to implement suppression actions if need to confine the fire to its current vicinity and protect values at risk such as private land, Hunts Cove, Marion Forks Fish Hatchery, and the drinking water source for Salem.  The 10-person fire module assigned to the Lizard Fire is installing two cameras that will supplement other monitoring efforts for the rest of the summer.

The second of two remaining spike camps will be closing today with crews returning to the Hoodoo Incident Command Post fire camp.  Crews will require approximately three days to complete assigned segments of the contingency line.  The Detroit Ranger District plans to construct the remaining 4.8 miles if needed at a future date.

There are Area Closures in effect for portions of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness in both the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests.  Only firefighters, Forest Service or other agency personnel, and law enforcement are allowed access to the closed areas.   On the Willamette, Forest Road 2253 (Minto Rd.) is closed and the following trails are closed until further notice: Pamelia (3439), Hunts Creek (3451), Hunts Cove (3430), 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 (PCT) (2000) is closed between the Swallow Lake Trail (3493) junction and Milk Creek (mile 2035.3). There are more PCT closures further to the north.  Closure notices have been posted at trailheads and other entry points.  Signs include directions for a PCT detour.  A link to additional detail is posted at Inciweb.

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

Fire Facts – Wednesday, July 23 – 0900 HOURS
Fire Size:  Approximately 452 acres total for the five fires in Bingham Complex.    

Percent Contained:  45%.

Evacuations: No homes or structures threatened.

Closures Summary: A detailed list of closures on the Willamette National Forest 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:  Two Type I helicopters, two Type II helicopters and two Type III helicopters.

Crews:  Eight Type II crews and one 10-person fire module

Engines: 1                  Dozers: 1                    Water Tenders: 4

Total Personnel:  Approximately 350