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South Oregon Cascades Rough Patch & Devils Knob Complex, and Jack FireIssued at: 2021-09-08 07:56 PDTFire and Weather: A weak cool front passes through the area today with cooler temperatures and slightly higher RH’s and west winds. The Rough Patch Complex and the Devils Knob Complex experienced active fire yesterday. Today fire personnel will reassess fire perimeters and containment options. The IR flight overnight shows the Devils Knob Complex is 59,934 acres and the Rough Patch Fire is 43,178 acres. Both complexes are 35% contained. Smoke: West winds overnight cleared smoke out of many portions of the forecast area. The I-5 corridor should have good air quality today between Roseburg and Grants Pass. The Medford area should also experience improved air quality today. Communities close to the fires will continue to experience Unhealthy air quality especially overnight. As the Westerly winds develop today air quality will degrade in communities to the east of the fires. Health:...

Summary:  Hot and dry conditions the last two days combined with winds from the southwest, causing an increase in fire activity. Smoke diminished visibility significantly, grounding aircraft and raising safety concerns near fire lines. The fire grew in multiple areas of the complex, in some cases spotting over containment lines.  Chaos and Little Bend Fires: The Chaos fire is at 22,860 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 7,744 acres.  The Chaos Fire crossed the containment line to the north along the 2460 road by Fairview Peak. The Little Bend Fire saw increased activity in the southeast corner near containment lines.   Jack and Buckhead Fires: The Jack fire is at 23,990 acres and the Buckhead fire is at 5,714 acres. The west, north, and northeast end of the Jack fire were held in place. Thick smoke limited crucial visibility on the south and west edges of the Buckhead Fire. Firefighting options were further affected by increased activity on the Smith Fire to the southwest,...

DEVILS KNOB FIRE FORCES LEVEL 3 "GO!" EVACUATION NOTICENews Release from Douglas Co. Sheriff's Office Posted on FlashAlert: September 8th, 2021 10:40 AM DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has upgraded evacuation notices as a result of the Smith Fire burning within the Devil's Knob Complex Fires. Based on information provided to the Sheriff's Office from U.S. Forest Service Fire Managers, the following homes are now under a Level 3 “GO!” Evacuation Notice: All homes on Ash Valley Road All homes on South Umpqua Road starting at Dumont Creek Campground to the 28000 block of South Umpqua Road. Level 3 “GO!” means: LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! Danger to your area is current or imminent and you should evacuate immediately. If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand that emergency services may not be able to assist you further. DO NOT delay leaving to gather any belongings or make efforts to protect your home or any structure. THIS WILL BE THE LAST...

  News ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 8, 2021Media Contact:Tamara SchmidtCell: 541-891-6758 tamara.schmidt@usda.gov  Cougar Peak Fire Morning Update LAKEVIEW, Ore. – The Cougar Peak Fire, burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, is now estimated to be more than 3,200 acres with no containment. Fire behavior overnight continued to be active, with running, torching and spotting in mixed conifer and brush.  The fire is burning primarily to the northeast on the Lakeview Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protected lands. There is a Red Flag Warning in effect from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. today for strong gusty winds with low relative humidity.  Winds are predicted to be 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 to 40 mph and 12 to 15 percent humidity.  This is likely to affect fire behavior this afternoon and evening. Numerous wildland firefighting resources are assigned to the fire, with more on order. The South...

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7773/Email: 2021.bull@firenet.govPhone: 971-277-5075Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mthoodnf                   https://www.facebook.com/willamettenfTwitter: https://twitter.com/mthoodnf            https://twitter.com/willamettenfCause: Lightning                   Size:  17,962 acres             Containment: 7 percent                                                 Personnel: 569  Incident Command: Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 4, Rick Connell, Incident Commander Current Status: Yesterday, heavy smoke reduced visibility and kept fire activity moderated throughout the day. The fire moved steadily through ground fuels of woody material and debris with occasional tree torching and side slope movement or short uphill runs. On the western and northwestern sides, the fire actively burned in the Mother Lode, Battle Creek, and...

Summary:  Hot and dry conditions the last two days combined with winds from the southwest, causing an increase in fire activity. Smoke diminished visibility significantly, grounding aircraft and raising safety concerns near fire lines. The fire grew in multiple areas of the complex, in some cases spotting over containment lines.    Chaos and Little Bend Fires: The Chaos fire is at 22,860 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 7,744 acres.  The Chaos Fire crossed the containment line to the north along the 2460 road by Fairview Peak. The Little Bend Fire saw increased activity in the southeast corner near containment lines.   Jack and Buckhead Fires: The Jack fire is at 23,990 acres and the Buckhead fire is at 5,714 acres. The west, north, and northeast end of the Jack fire were held in place. Thick smoke limited crucial visibility on the south and west edges of the Buckhead Fire. Firefighting options were further affected by increased...

Fire and Weather:  A weak cool front passes through the area today with cooler temperatures and slightly higher RH’s and west winds. The Rough Patch Complex and the Devils Knob Complex experienced active fire yesterday. Today fire personnel will reassess fire perimeters and containment options. The IR flight overnight shows the Devils Knob Complex is 59,934 acres and the Rough Patch Fire is 43,178 acres. Both complexes are 35%

 Special Statement The latest Air Quality Alerts and Advisories issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will be posted on the "Oregon Smoke Blog". Note that this Outlook is base on the 24-hour AQI, for current conditions go to "EPA's Airnow Fire and Smoke Map". Fire and Weather The Middle Fork Complex is now at 26,031 acres and is 20% contained. Yesterday, thick smoke blanketed the fire and that helped mitigate activity. In addition, the Devil's Knob Complex to our south sent a significant amount of smoke our way, further insulating the fire. We have started a cooling trend that will bring us back to more normal temperatures, but no chance of significant precipitation in the next few days. Smoke All of the outlook area is starting the day with smoke and poor air quality. Bend, La Pine, McKenzie Bridge should start to see some modest improvement as westerly winds start to move the smoke around this afternoon, before it settles back down this evening. Fall Creek and...

Devil’s Knob Complex Update Wednesday, September 8, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team Dan Dallas, Incident Commander   Information phone: 541-900-6133 Email:2021.DevilsKnob@firenet.gov  Information staffing hours: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm   Current Situation: Fire managers were prepared for a busy day yesterday due to hot conditions and low humidity, preceding the arrival of a low pressure system, coupled with uncertainties about additional smoke from California. The smoke covering did not arrive, which resulted in large smoke columns, spot fires across several firelines on the north and east sides, and approximately 2 miles of growth on the northeastern side of the Smith Fire. This required a defensive approach to firefighting actions with a focus on containing spot fires. In the evening, several hours of increased winds with gusts up to 25 mpg contributed to sustained active fire behavior into the night. Some crews’ shifts were...

 News ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 7, 2021Media Contact:Tamara SchmidtCell: 541-891-6758 tamara.schmidt@usda.gov  Cougar Peak Fire Burning Northwest of Lakeview LAKEVIEW, Ore. – The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview on the Fremont-Winema National Forest Lakeview Ranger District. The fire was discovered at 1:45 p.m. and is estimated to be 60 acres and growing rapidly.  It is burning in mixed conifer and brush.  The fire is threatening Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protected lands. Cottonwood Campground is located approximately 1.5 miles west of the Cougar Peak Fire.  The campground was evacuated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office this afternoon.  Recreation sites in the area are closed, including Upper Cottonwood, as well as Cottonwood Creek Trailhead, due to the fire. There are multiple air and ground wildland firefighting resources fighting the fire this afternoon and evening, with more on order.  Air...

We are experiencing technical difficulties uploading our most recent morning operations briefing video on InciWeb. Please visit our Facebook page @MiddleForkComplex to see the latest briefing video and other updates. Watch today’s (9/7) briefing here: https://fb.watch/7Tmt4WoLui/

 GREEN RIDGE FIRE UPDATESouthern Area Incident Management Gray Team, Incident Commander, Mitch Ketron September 7, 2021 Please, stay clear of firefighting operations and drive safely! The public should watch out for fire crews and equipment while traveling on forest roads. Some roads remain closed with barriers. Barriers are in place to protect firefighters and the public, so please respect the closed areas. Stay clear of fire-blackened areas for the many unseen hazards that exist, including live green, fire-weakened, trees which may fall without warning, and scalding hot stump holes.  Please maintain situational awareness of your surroundings when traveling and hiking in fire-damaged forests. Know before you go! Before going hunting, hiking or camping, be sure to check the forest, grassland or ranger district for fire restrictions or area closures. For a checklist of fire-safe actions when enjoying the outdoors, visit the USDA Forest Service at Know Before You Go. Green Ridge Fire...

   Middle Fork Complex Daily Update – September 7, 2021 Northwest Incident Management Team 6 Shawn Sheldon, Incident Commander Phone: 425-324-1267 (8am – 8pm) Email: 2021.middlefork@firenet.gov InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7745 Facebook: facebook.com/MiddleForkComplex Twitter: twitter.com/willametteNF Origin/Location: North of Oakridge, OR Gales: 24,459 acres and 12% contained Date/Time Detected: July 29, 2021, 2:00 p.m. Kwis: 1,485 acres and 98% contained Number of Personnel: 710 Total: 25,944 acres and 20% contained Cause: Lightning   Westfir, OR – Fire behavior could be active today due to dry and unstable weather conditions. The main drivers will be extremely dry fuels, low relative humidity, and increased winds, with gusts up to 19 miles per hour in the afternoon.   Fire growth is anticipated along the south and east flanks of the Gales Fire, particularly in Delp Creek and Purdue Creek toward Ironside Mine above Christy Creek, in Portland Creek...

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7773/ Email: 2021.bull@firenet.gov Phone: 971-277-5075 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mthoodnf  or https://www.facebook.com/willamettenf Twitter: https://twitter.com/mthoodnf  or https://twitter.com/willamettenf  Cause: Lightning                   Size:  17,201 acres             Containment: 7 percent                                                 Personnel: 566   Incident Command: Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 4, Rick Connell, Incident Commander Current Status: The fire was active yesterday with slow and consistent growth moving in light winds, dry fuels, and under the influence of slope driven runs. Along the southern side firefighters finished building and testing a hose line with tanks and pumps. Crews monitored fire activity on the slope between Battle Creek and Elk Lake Creek and used tactical firing to bring fire...

 Summary: The Rough Patch Complex and Jack Fires are being managed under a full suppression strategy. Fire activity is moderated by lingering smoke but may increase if it lifts. Firefighters will monitor and mop up fire lines as they cool to secure the fire perimeter. Air and ground operations are coordinating with the Devil’s Knob Complex fires as the complexes begin to share air space. Chaos and Little Bend Fires: The Chaos fire is at 22,860 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 7,744 acres.  Hoses were laid down along the 2460 road to support the containment line to the north. Nearby, burning operations along the 176 road are progressing well as crews make their way past Grouse Saddle to the 3829 road. South of the Little Bend Fire, heavy equipment is being used to stabilize road conditions along the 3810 as crews move east toward the 5850 road.  Jack and Buckhead Fires: The Jack fire is at 23,990 acres and the Buckhead fire is at 5,714 acres. The west, north, and...

Summary: The Rough Patch Complex and Jack Fires are being managed under a full suppression strategy. Fire activity is moderated by lingering smoke but may increase if it lifts. Firefighters will monitor and mop up fire lines as they cool to secure the fire perimeter. Air and ground operations are coordinating with the Devil’s Knob Complex fires as the complexes begin to share air space. Chaos and Little Bend Fires: The Chaos fire is at 22,860 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 7,744 acres.  Hoses were laid down along the 2460 road to support the containment line to the north. Nearby, burning operations along the 176 road are progressing well as crews make their way past Grouse Saddle to the 3829 road. South of the Little Bend Fire, heavy equipment is being used to stabilize road conditions along the 3810 as crews move east toward the 5850 road. Jack and Buckhead Fires: The Jack fire is at 23,990 acres and the Buckhead fire is at 5,714 acres. The west, north, and northeast end...

 Special Statement The latest Air Quality Alerts and Advisories issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will be posted onthe "Oregon Smoke  Blog". Note that this Outlook is base on the 24-hour AQI, for current conditions go to "EPA's Airnow Fire and Smoke Map".   Fire and Weather The Middle Fork Complex is now at 26,031 acres and is 20% contained. Today will be hot, dry, and unstable. An approaching front will help to clear some of the lingering smoke with windier conditions, but it will also increase our fire potential. Little to no rain is expected on the fire with the passing front, but we should see cooler temperatures tomorrow.   Smoke We have one more day of smoke and unhealthy air quality in areas along and east of the Cascade divide. The winds ahead of the front should clear some of the smoke, moderating the 'Hazardous' conditions we have seen in Bend, La Pine, and McKenzie Bridge, with most of the improvement being later tonight. So, we have...

Fire and Weather: Low pressure moving northward west of the coast will bring gusty winds to inland areas Tuesday afternoon and evening. Gusty winds will continue Wednesday east of the Cascades. If the smoke clears enough today to launch aircraft the Devils Knob Complex is planning on burning up to 5,000 acres. The Rough Patch Complex is planning smaller scale ignitions as well. Both Complexes successfully completed burnouts yesterday. Facebook and Inciweb have additional fire information. Smoke: East wind along the I-5 corridor between Roseburg and Grants Pass will transport smoke into the corridor resulting in degraded air quality today. Expect Unhealthy to Hazardous air quality through the forecast area today with improvements Wednesday. Although high level SW winds have transported CA smoke over the forecast area the smoke is not expected to mix down and impact local air quality. Unfortunately, with two levels of smoke overhead, significant winds will be needed for extended...

South Oregon Cascades Rough Patch & Devils Knob Complex, and Jack Fire Issued at: 2021-09-07 07:24 PDTFire and Weather: Low pressure moving northward west of the coast will bring gusty winds to inland areas Tuesday afternoon and evening. Gusty winds will continue Wednesday east of the Cascades. If the smoke clears enough today to launch aircraft the Devils Knob Complex is planning on burning up to 5,000 acres. The Rough Patch Complex is planning smaller scale ignitions as well. Both Complexes successfully completed burnouts yesterday. Facebook and Inciweb have additional fire information. Smoke: East wind along the I-5 corridor between Roseburg and Grants Pass will transport smoke into the corridor resulting in degraded air quality today. Expect Unhealthy to Hazardous air quality through the forecast area today with improvements Wednesday. Although high level SW winds have transported CA smoke over the forecast area the smoke is not expected to mix down and impact local air...

Devil’s Knob Complex Update Tuesday, September 7, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team Dan Dallas, Incident Commander  Information phone: 541-900-6133 Email:2021.DevilsKnob@firenet.gov  Information staffing hours: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Current Situation: Fire activity is expected to increase earlier in the day today, although activity will be dependent on an arriving low-pressure system which may bring additional smoke from California wildfires into the area. The presence or absence of the additional smoke will drive fire behavior; the smoke may contribute to increased shading and cooling and resultantly diminished fire behavior. However, without additional smoke, fires will be very active due to warm temperatures and low humidity. Air resource support will be dependent on visibility associated with smoky conditions. As lines are secured on the Big Hamlin Fire, additional ground resources will be shifted to the Smith Fire. Smith...