7/24/2014 9:00 am Bingham Complex Fire Update

Firefighters on Bingham Complex accomplish 50% containment

Hand crews continue to build contingency line

Detroit, OR – The 10.9-mile contingency fire line is closer to completion with seven hand crews working on construction.  The contingency line provides a backup control line, if needed, ½ mile outside the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, where the Bingham Ridge and Lizard Ridge fires are still active.  Heavy equipment (masticators and wood chippers) and hand crews are being used to construct the remaining line segments. 

The Bingham Ridge Fire (275 acres) has a full containment line around its perimeter.  Currently, one hand crew is patrolling the fire and continuing mop-up.  In spite of nearly constant rain yesterday, duff and heavy fuels continue to smolder.   

The Lizard Fire (175 acres) is the second major fire in the Bingham Complex. To provide the greatest amount of safety and least amount of exposure to firefighters a modified suppression strategy is being implemented.  There are a series of management action points (trigger points) which would prompt further suppression to protect the values at risk, and keep the fire contained within the wilderness.   A portion of the 10-person fire module assigned to the Lizard Fire will come out of the wilderness today, returning on Saturday to continue patrolling and monitoring fire activity.  A camera that will remotely monitor the fire throughout the summer will be installed today if weather permits.

Management of the Bingham Complex will transition to a Type 4 organization on Sunday, July 27, 2014.

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 –Thursday, July 24 – 0900 HOURS
Fire Size:  Approximately 452 acres total for the five fires in Bingham Complex.    

Percent Contained:  Bingham Ridge Fire 100%.

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:  one Type II helicopters and two Type III helicopters.

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

Engines: 1      Masticators: 2                        Water Tenders: 2      Chippers: 2

Total Personnel:  Approximately 350