9/07/2014 Deception Complex Fire Update

Fire	Acres	% Contained	Total Personnel
Deception Complex	3191	55%	1093

News & Highlights for the Deception Complex      Fire Information Line: 541.782.5545

●      Ground crews conducted burnout operations on the south end of the Deception Complex last night, bringing fire down to the 5850 Road.  Burnout operations continue to go very well and firefighters will continue to conduct hand lighting along the southeastern and northern perimeters today. There are no spots outside of the established fire lines, and the intensity of the burnout operation continues to be at a low or moderate level.

·         Aerial ignitions are planned in the NNW area of the fire area today on interior ridges utilizing ping pong balls. Interior fires are being established on the upper third of the slopes to encourage cooler backing fires that help to prevent the forest canopy from burning.

·         Seven heavy helicopters (Type 1), including a Sky Crane (2000 gal capacity water bucket) and 13 hotshot crews are highly trained and skilled national resources that are helping to conduct the successful burnout operations.

●      Interior hot spots detected near Deception Creek have been cooled with water bucket drops.

●      As the thermal trough has moved past the area, milder winds with higher humidity and a low Haines Index of 4 are expected today through mid-afternoon.  The moderated weather pattern should assist firefighters with making good progress today.

●      Fire activity will continue to moderate as moisture increases, and will continue to decrease early next week as a cold front moves in, bringing cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity.

●      Smoke may pool in the Oakridge and Westfir areas in the morning and remain throughout the day.  Light transport winds will not be strong enough to scour smoke out of the local area.  The Willamette Valley will likely be impacted by the Yellow Pine Fire, which is located 20 miles SW of Veneta. Cooler temps forecasted for the next several days may reduce smoke dispersion.

●     Smoke monitors have been placed to keep the public apprised of the current situation. Information from smoke monitors in the Oakridge area is incorporated in the daily Deception Complex smoke forecast which is posted on the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency website at http://www.lrapa.org or http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.

●     Motorists traveling Highway 58 are advised to proceed with caution near the community of Oakridge this weekend amidst continuing heavy fire and recreation-related traffic.

●     Deception Creek Mobile Home Park, Middle Fork Ranger Station and houses along La Duke Road remain under a Level 1 evacuation notice.

Deception Complex Operations Summary:

Deception Fire:

Taking advantage of the shifting winds, firefighters are now igniting the north/western perimeter of the fire. Night crews began lighting at the southernmost tip last night, with day crews finishing; day crews will also begin hand ignition in the northwest corner, and aerial ignition utilizing ping pongs will continue with lighting interior ridges to add depth to the black around the perimeter.

There is no rain predicted in the near future; firefighters are utilizing current favorable weather conditions to safely complete the burnout objectives of suppressing the fire while create a mosaic of mixed intensity burns on the landscape.

Crews, engines, and heavy equipment will continue work along most of the perimeter of the fire line to hold and improve the fire break and further establish a wide contingency line.

One Type 1 helicopter is helping out on the Umpqua National Forest fire that is located in wilderness. Resources assigned to the Deception Complex are as follows:

Crews	Helicopters	Dozers	Tenders	Engines
26	11	4	19	48

Staley Fire: Firefighters continue with mop up and rehab.

Davey Fire: Rehab efforts continue.

Air Operations Summary 

Seven heavy helicopters including a 2000-gallon capacity Sky Crane, a medium helicopter, three light helicopters and an air attack platform are assigned to the Deception Complex.

·         A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the Deception Fires 272, 274 and 278 and the Staley Fire. A military training Route (R346) has been closed due to the TFR.

·         Oakridge Airport is closed to civilian air traffic; currently serving as the helibase for the Deception Complex.

Willamette National Forest Area & Trail Closures:

There are two closures on the Willamette NF associated with the Deception Complex.

·         The Deception Fire closure is an area, road and trail closure that currently includes the Lawler and Deception Trails and the Patterson Mountain Road. A new closure is in effect that adds the 2102 Road to the closure. Forest Roads 5840, 5847 and 5850 were closed previously and remain closed.  The Larison Rock Trail (Trail 3607) was recently opened. The lower trailhead for Larison Rock Trail is open; the closure of the 2102 Road means the upper elevation trailhead for Larison Rock Trial is closed.

·         The Staley Fire closure includes an area and road closure. 

Umpqua National Forest Closure:

●     There is an area, road and trail closure southwest of the Deception Complex. Forest Road 17 remains open to Spirit Falls.

Check Inciweb for full closure information, including maps: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4093/ or visit the Willamette National Forest at http://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette or the Umpqua National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua.

                                                                                               

SAFETY CONCERNS: Driving hazards due to smoke on the highway with heavy recreation use, and very active traffic flow on narrow forest roads, and potential smoke exposure to firefighters and public.

RESOURCE CONCERNS: Threatened and endangered species, including northern spotted owls and bull trout; timber resources, impacts to recreation opportunities, threatened communities of Oakridge and Westfir, municipal watershed of Westfir, Deception Creek watershed above the mobile home park.

WEATHER: Conditions will moderate today as the surface low moves east of the area and the upper level flow shifts to a weak westerly. Winds are approximately 3-6 mph with gusts up to 11 mph. Relative humidity of 20-30% is expected today, and no precipitation is predicted.  

Today temperature will range between 72-82 degrees. By Monday, temperatures will drop to 69-79 degrees, depending on elevation, with humidity ranging from 18-28% during the day. Winds are from the west/northwest.

TODAY’S EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR: Continued low RH values and high temperatures will allow isolated heat sources to build intensity and begin to grow together. Hot spots within the interior will likely create single and multiple tree torching and potential spotting. In the afternoon, probability of ignition will be up to 70% in unshaded areas, with a spotting distance less of than one half mile.

COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Willamette National Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry, Umpqua National Forest, Lane County, Oakridge/Hazeldell Fire Department, Lowell Rural Fire Protection District, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police, Bureau of Reclamation, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency.

The Deception Complex was ignited by lightning on August 12, 2014 and is located two miles west of Oakridge, Oregon.