9/29/2017 Jones & Kelsey Fire Update

Final Daily Update

Jones Fire / Kelsey Fire

9/29/2017 - 8 a.m.

Fire Information: (541) 937-5219

Starting Sunday, October 1 please call 541-222-9241 for fire information

jonesfire2017@gmail.com

Jones Fire -    Size:  10,114 acres   Containment:  80%     Cause: Lightning

Kelsey Fire -   Size:  441 acres        Containment:  50%     Cause: Lightning

General Western Oregon Deer season starts tomorrow.  Hunters are reminded to “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” and stay informed about area and road closures.  Closure info: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices

Northwest Incident Management Team 7 will transition command of the Jones & Kelsey Fire to a local type 3 incident management team on Saturday, September 30 at 8 p.m. 

Yesterday’s Activity – On both fires, repairing suppression lines is an emphasis at this stage.  Stabilization measures taken by crews help prevent soil erosion, aid vegetation recovery, minimize damage to prime fish habitat, and conserve water quality.  On the Jones Fire crews continued moving logs from trees felled as part of the suppression effort and hazard trees.  Other efforts included mopping-up hot spots, backhauling equipment and chipping.  On the Kelsey Firecrews continued to secure the containment on Bunchgrass Ridge on the south and western edges of the fire.  There are several hot spots being monitored at the bottom of the Kelsey Creek drainage.

Today’s Operations - Firefighters will continue to seek and mop-up isolated hot spots on both fires, where safe to do so.  On the Jones Fire chipping operations, fire suppression repair, felling of fire-weakened hazard trees continues.  At the Kelsey Fire the excavator is working to complete the repair of the dozer line.  Crews will also complete the suppression repair on the handline on Bunchgrass Ridge and will patrol and monitor the perimeter.      

Weather and Fire Behavior – Warming/drying comes to an end today with a change in the weather that brings cooler temperatures and precipitation by afternoon.  More showers are expected over the weekend and fire behavior should then be limited to isolated smoldering and minimal creeping under timber canopy.

Closures:  Forest visitors should familiarize themselves with the area closure orders before venturing into the vicinity.  See below for detailed maps at: 

·         Jones Fire - https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5494/

·         Kelsey Fire - https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5619/

·         Forest Closure Information (Roads, Campgrounds, Trails): https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices

For information on all Willamette National Forest Fires: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/3860/