9/28/2017 High Cascades Complex - West Zone Update

High Cascades Complex - West Zone Update

Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Tim Keith

September 28, 2017

Fire Information Center: (541) 316-8352 Available 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Information Websites: Inciweb – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503 and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/R6RRSNF andhttps://facebook.com/UmpquaNationalForest/

Incident Management Team: Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Tim Keith, is managing the High Cascades Complex - West Zone.  The incident command post (ICP) is located at the Joseph Stewart State Park near Lost Creek Reservoir southwest of Prospect, Oregon. A spike camp is located at Milo Academy near Milo, Oregon.

Current Fire Information: The High Cascades Complex - West Zone is a compilation of fires started by lightning storms earlier this summer.  The West Zone consists of the Pup and the Broken Lookout Fires.  Both fires are partially burning in and outside of the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness on the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forests. Firefighters are making significant progress with suppression and vegetation clean-up on all divisions.  The information from a nighttime infra-red, heat detecting flight displayed fire perimeter locations therefore the acreages where slightly increased.

Pup – 8,273 acres, 13% contained.  Located northwest and southeast of Hershberger Lookout partially in the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness.  Suppression repairs have been completed on the handline along the south flank. Crews are patrolling and mopping-up hot spots. The north indirect containment line clean-up has been completed and equipment is repairing any road damage.  Hauling of piled vegetation generated from indirect fire line constructed along forest roads is progressing along the east indirect containment lines.

Broken Lookout – 19,142 acres, 27% contained. Located directly west of Union Creek on the southern end of the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness where it is burning on both sides of the Wilderness. Firefighters are assessing repairs needed on the south, southwest, and west indirect containment lines.Firefighters are chipping vegetative debris generated from indirect fire line construction along forest roads and patrolling for hotspots.  Mopping up is proceeding along the south flank.

Resources:  Total personnel assigned to the Complex (both Zones) – 604: 2-type 1 crews,  2-type 2 IA crews, 8-type 2 crews, 6-camp crews, 13-engines, 4-masticators, 3-medium helicopters, 2- light helicopters, 1-dozer, 5-water tenders, and 253 overhead.

Air Operations:  A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area restricting aerial public access.  Please check the NOTAMs prior to flying. The public is reminded all air operations are grounded any time a drone is sighted within the TFR, delaying fire suppression efforts. Flying within the TFR is prohibited and against the law. The helibase is located at the Prospect Airport and is closed to public use. The airport is planned to reopen on October 15^th.

Air Quality: For the most up to date air quality reported for your area see Air Now http://www.airnow.gov/ or the Oregon Smoke Bloghttp://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Weather:  Warmer and drier conditions are expected again today under sunny skies with southeast ridgetop winds in the morning. Becoming terrain driven in the afternoon. Temperatures, 79 to 84 degrees and relative humidity, 20 – 35% percent this afternoon. Ridgetop winds will be southeast 6 – 9 mph. Friday through Monday a cold front is expected to pass with wetting rain possible Friday and significant rainfall by Tuesday.

Behavior:  Fine dead fuels moistures will be low today, however the vast majority of the fires are still moist to wet.  The greatest fire behavior potential will be on south facing slopes or under a more open canopy.  Smoldering duff may kindle to a low intensity surface fire with minimal ground spread. Creeping and smoldering may re-establish in the litter, duff and jackpots (piles) of dead and down fuels.

Closures:  Multiple area, trail, and Forest road closures are limiting public access into specific areas for public safety.  “Know before you go” by visitinghttps://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503 or your local Forest office. Know: the forecasted weather; road, trail and area closure information; and be aware of firefighters working in the vicinity of your recreational activities.