Lionshead Fire Update – Friday, September 11, 2020 – 9:00 a.m. |
Weather and Fire Behavior: West to northwest winds are expected today, 6-10 mph with gust up to 15 mph. The easterly transport winds are carrying the smoke to Central and Eastern Oregon, not only from The Lionshead Fire but also from The Beachie Creek and Riverside Fires. Temperatures will be in the mid 70-80’s with humidity in the teens on the easterly portion of the fire and west of the crest of the cascades in the lower 20’s.
Current Situation: West of the cascades The Lionshead Fire continues to grow, challenging firefighters with complex terrain and difficult access. This makes finding potential locations for containment lines difficult, but also creates a safety hazard due to not having dependable communications. Yesterday a helitack crew was able to secure a lookout and communication tower to the south of the burned area, placing an additional radio repeater. This will give fire crews dependable communications for safer firefighting efforts. A structure task force continued to work in the area of Idanha and Detroit securing structures and infrastructure. Working with local firefighting resources and the National Guard infrared aircraft through the dense smoke. Crews continue to look for access to the north side of the fires edge to secure infrastructure and determine strategies for suppression.
Crews working the eastern side of The Lionshead Fire located on the Warm Springs Reservation, continued to make great progress widening containment lines with strategic firing operations yesterday. Securing the eastern edges of the fire is critical in long term containment of the fire with the changing of the wind pattern to an easterly flow.
Today’s Activities: On the west side of the fire the structure task force will continue to work on the southwestern edge of the fire, providing protection to infrastructures. Firefighters will also continue to scout for possible southern containment locations along established road systems. On the north side of the fire, firefighters will continue to work their way through the area, although active fire and hazards in the burned area make accessing infrastructure treacherous.
On the eastern side of the crest of the cascades on the Warm Springs Reservation, firefighters will continue hardening containment, keeping close watch on the fire as the winds return to the westerly flow. Handline and dozer line will continue to be put in where needed, laying hose lays and mopping up areas along control lines that have heat. Crews will watch for any spot fires that may come from the change in winds or fire growth outside the fire area.
Air resources are available to help the firefighters on the ground but will be dependent on visibility due to smoke.
Evacuations: Please monitor the local area sheriff’s department websites and Facebook for updates. (Deschutes, Jefferson, Wasco, Linn, and Marion counties) The Oregon Office of Emergency Management has created an interactive database to help provide the most up to date information on evacuation statewide. https://www.oregon.gov/oem/
Closures: For public and firefighter safety, roads and trails on the southwest portion of the Warm Springs Reservation near the fires are closed to the public. Forest closures are in place for Deschutes, Mt. Hood and Willamette National Forests. Deschutes NF Alerts Willamette NF Alerts Mt. Hood NF Alerts
FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:
TripCheck: https://www.tripcheck.com/.
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LionsheadFire
Email: 2020.lionshead@firenet.gov
Fire Information: 971-277-5075
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