9/10/2017 Horse Creek and Rebel Fire Update

We are seeing a warmer and drier trend over the next couple of days with light winds in the afternoon. Exposed areas and ridges will see the most drying whereas shaded areas will see less drying. Fire behavior should be minimal in shaded areas moving to moderate during the afternoon in the more exposed areas.

Throughout the last few weeks, it has been difficult because of either cloud cover, dense smoke or limited availability of night infrared flights to know exactly where the fire perimeters were and where they were burning the hottest. To help resolve this problem the Incident Management Team is working with the Oregon Army National Guard to use one of their specialized aircraft, a Lakota helicopter. This Lakota helicopter is equipped with sophisticated daytime infrared capabilities and will increase the real-time information about the fires available to the team.
Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) areas remain in effect. knowbeforeyoufly.org

MCKENZIE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT – see Horse Creek Complex, Nash and Rebel on InciWeb for the following fires

The HORSE CREEK COMPLEX (29,157 combined acres) includes the Avenue Fire, located southeast of McKenzie Bridge, and the nearby Separation, Nash, Olallie Lookout, and Roney Fires. Highway 242 is closed between McKenzie Bridge and Sisters.

Over the last few days, there has not been much fire activity on either the OLALLIE LOOKOUT FIRE (1,174 ac) or RONEY FIRE (3,135 ac). The Lakota helicopter with daytime infrared capability is scheduled to fly these fires today.

The northern edge of the AVENUE FIRE (2,038 ac) is just south of Foley Hot Springs. Fire is visible from the community of McKenzie Bridge as it moves down the ridge above King Road towards fire lines. Firefighters continue to go direct on the fire in the heavily timbered Foley Hot Springs area where they can do it safely. Crews today will be working to tie in completed dozer and hand lines from King Road west towards Cougar Reservoir and improving existing lines to strengthen protection for McKenzie Bridge. Firefighters will be installing sprinkler systems on structures that are closest to the fire in the McKenzie Bridge area and will looking at improving protection measures along Hwy 242 between Foley Hot Springs and Camp White Branch.

On the spot fire north of Hwy 242 on the SEPARATION FIRE (16,500 ac) firefighters will be working both on the east and west sides of the spot with the goal of getting a line completely around the spot. With some breaks in the clouds and smoke yesterday, firefighters were able utilize helicopter resources to drop water on the southwest side of the Separation Fire spot on the north side of Hwy 242. Helicopters were used to support hand crews and heavy equipment working to go direct on the fire’s edge.

Evacuation Levels remain the same in the upper McKenzie River Valley. Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are at a Level 1 (Ready). In Zone 10 Foley Hot Springs and Camp Melakwa remain at a Level 3 (Go). Zones 1 and 2 are not under an evacuation advisory. Visit Lane County McKenzie Bridge Evacuation at: http://bit.ly/2gPHzAn for details and map. Sign up for Lane County Emergency Alerts at lanecounty.org/prepare or call the Joint Information Center for more information at 541-682-3977.

The NASH FIRE (6,376 ac) has burned almost to the edge of Nash Lake, and is approximately four miles from Elk Lake. Today, weather permitting, the team will be using a Lakota helicopter equipped with daytime infrared capability to more accurately delineate the fire perimeter and locate areas of active fire. Crews and heavy equipment are concentrating their work along the Cascade Lake Highway, removing dense fuels and trees to create a fuel break to prepare to deal with the fire if it moves over the Cascade Crest. Priorities for the Nash Fire include protecting structures in and around Elk and Lava Lakes, the infrastructure at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort and the watershed for the town of Bend.

Due to the Nash Fire, the areas surrounding Elk Lake and Hosmer Lake in Deschutes County remain at Level 2 (Set) evacuation and the areas surrounding Lava Lake and Little Lava Lake are in in Level 1 (Ready) evacuation status. Sign up for Deschutes County emergency alerts at http://bit.ly/2f3NWMA. Contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 693-6911 or visit https://sheriff.deschutes.org for more information.

On the REBEL FIRE (7,706 ac) crews completed containment lines along FSR 19 (Aufderheide Drive) from Box Canyon to Cougar Dam. Firefighters continue removing trees that have fallen over or that threaten FSR 19. Firefighters continue to be successful in holding the fire to the east of FSR 19. The BOX CANYON FIRE (27 ac) and PETE FIRE (51 ac) show minimal activity and are being monitored.

Given complexity of the current wildfire situation, availability of firefighting resources, limited ability to utilize aircraft when smoke impacts visibility, and safety concerns for working in steep and remote terrain, firefighters are focused on protecting values at risk where they can do so safely and effectively. Conditions can change rapidly. Be ready. Be alert. Act early!