8/22/2021 Middle Fork Complex Update

 

WESTFIR, Ore. – Firefighters will be building and reinforcing primary, alternate and contingency lines around the Middle Fork Complex for some time, using strategic ignitions where appropriate.

“This is going to be a long duration fire on the landscape,” said Incident Commander Brian Gales with Northwest Incident Management Team 13, which took over the suppression effort today. Long duration fires are well established in heavy fuels and rugged terrain that will continue to burn until the area receives significant precipitation in the form of autumn rain – called a season-ending event. Some interior burning could continue into the winter before it is fully extinguished.

“We’ll be building on the investments made by Pacific Northwest Team 3 with indirect line construction, improving those lines through firing operations where appropriate and necessary, and looking for opportunities to go more directly at the fire’s edge when it is safe to do so,” Gales continued.

Today, aviation resources will be dropping retardant to pretreat line for strategic ignitions around the northeastern corner of the Gales-Ninemile Fire, while hand crews and heavy equipment continue line prep on the east and west flanks.

WEATHER:  Clear skies will bring somewhat higher temperatures and lower humidity, creating potential for more active fire behavior in the coming days.

 Evacuations: Level 1 and 3 evacuation notices have been issued by Lane County. For current evacuation information and an interactive map of evacuation areas, visit: www.lanecounty.org.

Closures: Some National Forest System lands near the Middle Fork Complex are temporarily closed to provide for public safety. Site closures include Dolly Varden Campground, Big Pool Campground, Broken Bowl Campground, Clark Creek Organizational Camp, Bedrock Campground, Puma Campground, Salmon Creek Falls, dispersed camping within the closure area and Little Cowhorn Lookout, Timber Butte Lookout and Saddle Blanket Mountain recreation sites. Copies of all closures and maps can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/willamette