Friday, August 24, 2018

8/23/2018 Terwilliger Fire Update

Thursday, August 23, 2018, 9:00 a.m.
Terwilliger Fire Information Phone Numbers:
Public Information (541) 719-8135
Media Information (541) 719-8203

Size: 3,209 acres                    Containment: 1%                                Cause:  Under Investigation
Location: 5 miles SE of Blue River                                                   Structures Destroyed:  0
Total Personnel: 195 including 5 hand crews, 7 engines, 3 dozer, 6 water tenders, and 2 helicopters
Incident Commander: Alan Sinclair with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team #3
A Community meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 24, 2018 at the McKenzie High School, located at 51187 Blue River Drive, Blue Finn Rock, in the old gym beginning at 7:30 PM. 
Summary: Southwest Area Incident Management Team #3 is utilizing a full suppression strategy and developing tactics that minimize impacts to important values at risk. Firefighter and public safety remain the highest priority.
The Terwilliger fire has established on both the west and east sides of Cougar Reservoir. To the west near Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs and across the reservoir to the east in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Wednesday morning crews went direct on the western portion of the fire. When the smoke inversion lifted and winds increased, fire became very active and moved to the west across Forest Road 115 and north of Boone Creek. Crews disengaged from the line and began scouting for new line locations as fire activity continued well into the evening. The eastern portion of the fire moved to the east toward Tipsoo Butte within the Three Sisters Wilderness. Resources assigned to the Terwilliger fire assisted with a new start at the request of Oregon Department of Forestry.
Firefighters will resume direct line construction Thursday from Forest Road 19 west to hold the fire north of Forest Road 266 and east of the Forest boundary, minimizing impacts to private lands to the west.  Heavy equipment will continue to open existing roads and fire managers will scout out areas with the highest probability of success to hold the fire on the west and northeast sides of the fire.
The fire did burn through Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs. Damage assessments will begin as soon as it is safe to enter the area.
Closures: Willamette National Forest has implemented Closure Order # 06-18-01-18-17 see the closures tab on Inciweb for more details, map and a pdf of the original Forest Order.
Restrictions: Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire stove fire, or a charcoal fire, including in all wilderness areas of the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame. Operating an internal combustion engine; specifically generators and chainsaws, except in areas devoid of vegetation and those located inside of buildings.
Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation for 10’ around the vehicle. For further information and exemptions on Forest Order 06-18-00-18-14 Public Use Restrictions see the Willimette National Forest website at https://bit.ly/2w5HI7e.
Temporary Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) are in effect around the entire fire area. Remember, that temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems (drones). If you fly, we can’t!
For smoke monitoring information, see Oregon Department of Environmental Quality https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map or https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
For further information, please visit the following links:
Facebook: @WillimetteWildfires



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