8/29/2017 Staley & Tumble Bug 2 Fire Update

Staley and Tumble Bug 2 Fire Update
Tuesday, August 29, 2017    9 a.m.

Link to PDF File of Update:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/ORWIF/2017-08-15-2228-Staley/related_files/pict20170729-121338-0.pdf
Link to PDF of Fire Map:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/ORWIF/2017-08-15-2228-Staley/related_files/pict20170729-121531-0.pdf

Fire information phone: 503-867-7705
Email:  StaleyFire17@gmail.com
NW Incident Management Team (IMT) 9, Brian Goff, Incident Commander
Start date:  Aug. 9, 2017    
Current Size: Staley is 1,912 acres; Tumble Bug 2 is 87 acres   
Percent Containment: 48%     
Location: Willamette National Forest    Cause: Lightning  

Smoke aids firefighters:  It was very warm and dry on the Staley Fire early Mondaymorning.  As the temperatures increased, so did the fire intensity.  By 11:00 a.m. a strong smoke column was building on the south end of the fire.  However, other fires to the south were doing the same thing and the smoke they generated traveled north and began to shield the Staley Fire from the sun.  This cooled the temperatures slightly and the humidity increased causing the Staley Fire to decrease in intensity. The fire stayed within containment lines all day.

Weather:  Tuesday should be slightly cooler and the humidity should be slightly higher as an on-shore flow begins.  Temperatures on the fire should be in the 70s and 80s with humidity between 20 and 30%.  A dry cold front should move through the area Wednesday and Thursday bringing even cooler temperatures.

Fire Operations:  The cooler weather is just what firefighters need to resume their burnout operations to further contain the Staley Fire.  With prepared control lines, supported by miles of water hose, firefighters will continue to burn out and secure the northern and eastern sides of the fire.  A Washington Department of Natural Resources Fire Line Explosives Group is on-site and is prepared to use fire line explosives to construct a line through an area on the northwest side of the fire that is too steep and rugged to safely use heavy equipment or fire crews.  Once this line is in, crews can begin to safely burnout the last piece of open line around the Staley Fire.  Crews will continue to mop-up the Tumble Bug 2 Fire.  They are using hand-held infrared sensors to find remaining heat close to the line.

Smoke Concerns:  Even though smoke can help to moderate a wildfire, it can be difficult to live in day after day.  Ongoing fire activity, in this area and to the south, will continue to stream smoke into this area.  However, an upper level trough will approach the state on Wednesday, bringing stronger westerly winds. This may scour out most of the smoke in the Willamette Valley but smoke will continue to affect the Cascades and particularly communities on the east side of the Cascades in Central Oregon.  Current and predicted smoke conditions can be found at: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Area and Road Closures:  A Forest Closure Order is in effect for areas around the Staley and Tumble Bug 2 Fires for firefighter and public safety.  Road and trail closure points are signed.  The Willamette National Forest website athttp://go.usa.gov/xRnz7 has details and current conditions.

Current fire information can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5512. An interactive map of fires in the Northwest is available at http://bit.ly/2rfv6JV.