8/31/2018 Terwilliger Fire Update

Friday, August 31, 2018 at 9:00AM

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6160/ Email: terwilligerfireinfo@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willamettewildfires/

Public Information Phone: (541) 719-8135 Media Information Phone: (541) 719-8203

Location: 5 miles southeast of Blue River, OR

Incident Command: Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 4, Rick Connell, I.C.

Size: 7,845 acres Containment: 26% Personnel: 604

Current Status: Yesterday, fire behavior was low due to moisture and increased cloud cover, allowing significant progress by fire fighters. On the southern perimeter of the fire, it continued to grow and progress up the Hardy Creek area in very rough terrain. The eastern front of the fire exhibited low intensity burning over Sawtooth Ridge and began to move northeast towards the east fork of the south fork of the McKenzie River. Fire area north from Basalt Creek did not exhibit much growth. Personnel in that area continued to solidify a control line along the road with hand crews and saw crews to begin burnout operations in securing the line.

Planned Actions: Fire behavior is expected to be more active than yesterday as cloud cover departs, and lower humidity and warmer temperatures occur over the fire area. Fuels remain very dry throughout the region and will continue to contribute to high fire danger. Crews will work to strengthen existing control lines established along nearby roadways with crews, heavy machinery, and support from additional aerial resources. The line constructed along the northern perimeter will be a major focus area to secure in the coming days, as conditions allow. The northeastern perimeter saw brushing work along nearby roadways as containment lines, in addition to contingency lines being developed for the section. The southern perimeter continues to be engaged when rough terrain allows. Contingency lines continue to be identified and prepared as fire behavior changes.

Key Message: Over Labor Day weekend, visitors are expected to arrive and fill many local campgrounds. Closures and campfire bans will remain in place during this time. With fire activity being high and fire danger at very high for the Willamette National Forest, campfires are banned forest-wide, including at developed sites and in all wilderness areas. In addition to a ban on all campfires, smoking is not allowed, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or a developed recreation site. Camp stoves that run on propane or liquid fuels and have an on/off switch are acceptable. For information on fire activity on the Willamette National Forest ranging from fire danger levels, public use restrictions, and official closures visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices.

Closures: Willamette National Forest has implemented closure order # 06-18-01-18-19. Go to http://go.usa.gov/xRnz7 for more details, a map and a link to the Forest Order, or on Inciweb for a map and a pdf of the original Forest Order.

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!

Air Quality: For smoke monitoring information, see Oregon Department of Environmental Quality https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map or https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/or http://www.lrapa.org

Cooperating Agencies: US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, Upper McKenzie River Fire Department, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Lane County Emergency Management, US Army Corps of Engineers, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Fire Marshall, Campbell Global, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency.