Terwilliger Fire Update
Southern Cascades Interagency Incident Management Team
Incident Commander, Neil Miller
Incident Commander Trainee, Dirk Rogers
September 25, 2018 - 9:00 A.M.
Special Announcements: The Willamette National Forest implemented an Area Closure on August 30th, 2018 around the Terwilliger Fire area for the safety of the public and firefighters. Entry into this area shuts operations down until the violators are removed to safety. These delays accumulatively set back the date for completion of hazard removal work. Please refrain from entering the closed area.
More smoke may be in the air in the coming days as McKenzie Ranger District begins fall season meadow restoration burning. Burning is scheduled to begin Friday and continue for the next several days as conditions allow.
Terwilliger Hot Springs (also known as Cougar Hot Springs) remains closed for public safety. Mitigations to reduce hazards around the springs area will include falling fire weakened trees as well as trail reconstruction. Active fire is still in the area so please respect the closure area and keep out of the springs until the area is deemed safe by Willamette National Forest officials. Law enforcement is patrolling the area and citing violators of the closure order including those illegally entering the hot springs area.
Forest Service Road (FR) 19 remains closed to the public and firefighters due to unsafe conditions from gravity fall hazards including rocks, debris and fire weakened trees. The closure begins at the junction of FR 408 south to Box Canyon. The public is asked to respect the road and area closures for protection to themselves and firefighters.
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the McKenzie Ranger District, Willamette National Forest jointly responded to the report of the Terwilliger Fire with both aircraft and firefighter resources. Although the fire did not burn on to ODF protected lands, the agency has stayed involved with suppression actions and planning.
Acreage: 11,282; acreage increase resulted by including larger unburned islands of fuel into the total
Cause: The fire is currently under investigation.
Completion: 80%
Public Information Phone: (541) 822-8216 Available 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Information Websites: Inciweb – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Resources: Total personnel assigned – 185: 3-type 2 IA hand crews, 1-heavy lift helicopter, 1-light lift helicopter, 5-engines, 1-dozer, 2-water tenders, 2-ambulances, 5-masticators, and 18–heavy equipment.
Current Fire Information: Potential gusty east winds are forecasted for later today. These winds could test secured containment lines. Firefighters will remain on patrol tonight later into the evening watching for any spot fires and rekindling especially on the west containment lines. An infrared, heat detecting flight was received over the fire area last night. Scattered heat remains within the fire perimeter and firefighters will work diligently to secure containment lines.
Fire activity remains minimal with spread by creeping and backing. Fire activity is limited to heavy fuels, snags and ground fuels. All perimeters are closely patrolled and monitored. Culvert construction will begin at Boone Creek to replace the plastic culvert burned out during the Terwilliger Fire under FR 19. The contract scaling operation along Forest Service Road (FR 19) to reduce gravity hazards such as loose boulders and fire weakened trees is ongoing. This operation was suspended during an illegal entry by the public. All material is being moved off-site to Strube Flat for utilization, as determined by local forest district management. The hazard tree falling contract along FR 500 is ongoing to reduce fire weakened trees along this road system.Logs will be decked for future processing. The northeast corner of the fire continues to creep slowly east into the Three Sisters Wilderness parallel to the East Fork of the South Fork of the McKenzie River. Firefighters along with a mechanical, roadside brusher are reducing ladder fuels working along FR 1993. Chippers are being utilized to reduce the generated fuels.
Weather: Today will be sunny with maximum temperatures forecast for 80-85 degrees, minimum relative humidity of 15-20%. Ridgetop winds will be northeast 5-8 mph with gusts to 15 mph in the early evening.
Restrictions: The Willamette National Forest has implemented a Forest-wide campfire ban, which includes all campgrounds and Wilderness areas. For specific information on Forest Order 06-18-01-18-18, see the Willamette National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/
Closures: An Area Closure has been issued by the Willamette National Forest for the protection and safety of the public and firefighters. Closure order # 06-18-01-18-19 may be viewed in its entirety at http://go.usa.gov/xRnz7 or on Inciweb. Please respect the closure areas for your and firefighter safety.
Evacuations: There are currently NO evacuation notices in place for this fire.
Air Quality: For smoke monitoring information, see Oregon Department of Environmental Quality https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/
Smoke in the nearby communities is not expected to be an issue but any smoke in the air has the potential to move into the valley so those with sensitivities should take proper precautions.
Safety Consideration: People intending to hunt or hike into or near old fire scars should remain alert and aware of their surroundings at all times. Know the forecasted weather before entering the area, assess the weather conditions while in the area and stay clear of burned trees. Don’t linger or camp in an old fire area. As always, let someone know of your planned route, destination, and expected time of return.
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