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Devil’s Knob Complex Update – September 3, 2021Email: 2021.DevilsKnob@Firenet.gov Information line: 541.900.6133 - 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Facebook: Facebook.com/2021DevilsKnobComplex Total Acreage: 41,219 Complex Total Containment: 29% Personnel assigned: 835 The Devil's Knob Complex is a group of lightning-caused fires on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest and private lands protected by Douglas Forest Protective Association and the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians. Two significant fires remain active: the Smith mostly to the north and the Big Hamlin to the south of the South Umpqua River, with most growth occurring at a moderate rate on the Smith fire’s north and east sides.  Smith Fire (24,532 acres): On the east side, crews continue to prepare for future strategic firing operations pushing northeast toward Forest Service Road 27. In the Ash Valley area, personnel are prepared to protect private property and structures in the community as the fire...

The Umatilla National Forest has revised the Green Ridge Fire Emergency Closure.  Please see the attached Closure in its

Green Ridge and Lick Creek Fires Update Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock September 2, 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 Forest...

Bull Complex Fire UpdateThursday, 2 September 2021Contact Fire Information: 971.277.5075 or 2021.Bull@firenet.govhttps://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7773/#BullComplexhttps://www.facebook.com/mthoodnf or https://twitter.com/mthoodnf Size increase on the Bull Complex yesterday was approximately 360 acres.  Overnight the winds shifted to east/ northeast direction.  They will remain light, with gusts into the low teens.  Heavy smoke from the Bull Complex is likely to continue as the fire consumes heavy dead and down vegetation in the fire scar left from the 2011 Mother Lode Fire on the west side.  For the past three days, the fire has progressed slowly up the Mother Lode, Battle, and Elk Lake Creek drainages.  With a shift to east winds, fire activity is likely to increase in those areas.  Helicopters will continue to drop water on the fire to slow growth and protect the historic lookouts in the area. Last night, firefighters began igniting tactical burnouts adjacent to Forest Road...

Weather and Fire:  Weather today will be similar to weather yesterday with slightly warmer temperatures and lower relative humidities. Crews continue to burn out where possible to increase containment of the fires, while other crews are actively mopping up and patrolling areas that are cooler along the containment lines. The Devils Knob Complex is 39,451 acres, the Rough Patch Complex is 36,107 acres, and the Jack Fire is 23,987 acres. Additional fire information can be found on Facebook and Inciweb. Smoke:  Smoke conditions throughout the forecast area today should be similar to yesterday. Air quality at Crater Lake should be good until this evening. Tomorrow additional smoke may move into the I-5 corridor between Roseburg and Grants Pass. Health:  Protect your health. Avoid spending time outside when air quality is poor. If you need to be outside, limit strenuous activity and wear an N-95 mask. The N-95 mask will filter out limited particulate matter. Don’t...

Weather and Fire:  Weather today will be similar to weather yesterday with slightly warmer temperatures and lower relative humidities. Crews continue to burn out where possible to increase containment of the fires, while other crews are actively mopping up and patrolling areas that are cooler along the containment lines. The Devils Knob Complex is 39,451 acres, the Rough Patch Complex is 36,107 acres, and the Jack Fire is 23,987 acres. Additional fire information can be found on Facebook and Inciweb. Smoke:  Smoke conditions throughout the forecast area today should be similar to yesterday. Air quality at Crater Lake should be good until this evening. Tomorrow additional smoke may move into the I-5 corridor between Roseburg and Grants Pass. Health:  Protect your health. Avoid spending time outside when air quality is poor. If you need to be outside, limit strenuous activity and wear an N-95 mask. The N-95 mask will filter out limited particulate matter. Don’t...

Fire and Weather  The Middle Fork Complex is now at 20,982 acres and is 21% contained. Another strong inversion established overnight. Unlike previous inversions, this one is expected to lift above ridges to merge with elevated mixing/transport winds, which will not only dissipate smoke more quickly, it will also allow for more atmospheric instability. Increased instability will support increased fire behavior. With already dry fuels and drier ambient air in place, minor changes in the atmosphere can initiate dynamic changes in fire behavior. Fire activity may seem subdued, but this is the time of year when small changes in weather conditions can result in big changes in fire activity. Smoke  Although winds will be light, the fact that the inversion will lift to a mixing height above the ridgetops indicates smoke will move much further, faster, relatively speaking, across the landscape than it has the past week. There will be less cycling of terrain driven winds and more...

Summary: The Rough Patch Complex and Jack fire are being managed under a full suppression strategy using direct and indirect tactics to minimize fire spread to prevent loss of valuable resources. The Rough Patch is now at 19% containment and the Jack is at 55%.   Chaos and Little Bend Fires: The Chaos fire is at 19,532 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 7,278 acres. Additional containment was added to the south end of the Chaos fire yesterday. Firefighter have made good progress on the spot off the road and very little heat is being found on the western edge. On the north perimeter, aircraft worked the two spot fires while crews constructed indirect line to protect values at risk. On the Little Bend fire, work was completed on the 3816 road. Resources started working on the 3815 to the 3810 road to prevent growth to the west and south.   Jack and Buckhead Fires: The Jack fire is at 23,987 acres and the Buckhead fire is at 4,498 acres. The west, north, and northeast end...

Summary: The Rough Patch Complex and Jack fire are being managed under a full suppression strategy using direct and indirect tactics to minimize fire spread to prevent loss of valuable resources. The Rough Patch is now at 19% containment and the Jack is at 55%.  Chaos and Little Bend Fires: The Chaos fire is at 19,532 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 7,278 acres. Additional containment was added to the south end of the Chaos fire yesterday. Firefighter have made good progress on the spot off the road and very little heat is being found on the western edge. On the north perimeter, aircraft worked the two spot fires while crews constructed indirect line to protect values at risk. On the Little Bend fire, work was completed on the 3816 road. Resources started working on the 3815 to the 3810 road to prevent growth to the west and south. Jack and Buckhead Fires: The Jack fire is at 23,987 acres and the Buckhead fire is at 4,498 acres. The west, north, and northeast end of the Jack...

WESTFIR, Ore. – Strategic burning operations are progressing steadily around the north/northeastern perimeter of the Gales Fire, reinforcing lines and increasing containment. When a wildfire is burning in steep and difficult terrain where it may be unsafe for firefighters to work, strategic burning is used to limit the fire’s progression and minimize its intensity. Lines are prepared in safer areas, such as along ridges and road systems, then, when conditions are right, the area between the lines and the fire is burned. Those conditions are primarily weather‐related, including wind, temperature and humidity, that ensure lower intensity burning. After the vegetation in between has burned, the main fire is less likely to progress through the strategically burned area. Firefighters can then safely enter “the black” to monitor for any hot spots and work on extinguishing heat using water and hand tools. Firefighters are also addressing spot fires in several areas with...

Devil’s Knob Complex Update – September 2, 2021  Email: 2021.DevilsKnob@Firenet.gov                                        InciWeb: Inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7771 Information line: 541.900.6133 - 8 a.m.-8 p.m.                      Facebook: Facebook.com/2021DevilsKnobComplex Total Acreage: 39,863                                                                       Complex Total Containment: 28% Personnel assigned: 876 The Devil's Knob Complex is a group of lightning-caused fires on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest and private lands protected by Douglas Forest Protective Association and the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians.  Fire growth has occurred primarily on the Smith Fire along the east and northwest edges. In addition, areas in the southeast continue to burn but remain within the fireline. While smoke...

Bull Complex Fire UpdateWednesday, 1 September 2021Contact Fire Information: 971.277.5075 or 2021.Bull@firenet.govhttps://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7773/#BullComplexhttps://www.facebook.com/mthoodnf or https://twitter.com/mthoodnfThe Bull Complex grew about 300 acres yesterday.  Because the fire has crossed Forest Road 4696, contingency plans have been made to utilize the Humbug Creek Road as the next possible fireline.  Working directly along the fire’s perimeter in that area is not effective or safe, given the thick, continuous timber stands and single route in and out with active fire on both sides of the road.  Firefighters are removing some vegetation adjacent to the road to reduce fire intensity along the road’s edge and improve its use as a containment line.  The fire is spreading minimally on the north and east sides of the fire perimeter.  The containment has increased near the junction of the Collawash River and Elk Lake Creek. All assigned helicopters were...

Summary: The Rough Patch Complex and Jack fire are being managed under a full suppression strategy using direct and indirect tactics to minimize fire spread to prevent loss of valuable resources. Firefighters continue to hold and improve line with support from air operations. The Rough Patch is now at 17% containment.   Chaos and Little Bend Fires: The Chaos fire is at 18,979 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 7,137 acres. The eastern end of Chaos is established in the City Creek drainage. Aircraft provided bucket drops to cool the fire and slow progress while crews work on indirect line. The spot on the south end of the Chaos fire is close to being contained. On the western side, things are looking good with no heat detected near the line. Crews continue to mop-up two spots from earlier in the week located on the north end. Indirect line construction on the Little Bend fire is progressing along the 3815 and 3816 roads.   Jack and Buckhead Fires: The Jack fire is at...

Summary: The Rough Patch Complex and Jack fire are being managed under a full suppression strategy using direct and indirect tactics to minimize fire spread to prevent loss of valuable resources. Firefighters continue to hold and improve line with support from air operations. The Rough Patch is now at 17% containment. Chaos and Little Bend Fires: The Chaos fire is at 18,979 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 7,137 acres. The eastern end of Chaos is established in the City Creek drainage. Aircraft provided bucket drops to cool the fire and slow progress while crews work on indirect line. The spot on the south end of the Chaos fire is close to being contained. On the western side, things are looking good with no heat detected near the line. Crews continue to mop-up two spots from earlier in the week located on the north end. Indirect line construction on the Little Bend fire is progressing along the 3815 and 3816 roads. Jack and Buckhead Fires: The Jack fire is at 23,985 acres and...

Email: 2021.DevilsKnob@Firenet.govInformation line: 541.900.6133 - 8 a.m.-8 p.m.Facebook: Facebook.com/2021DevilsKnobComplexTotal Acreage: 38,387Complex Total Containment: 28%Personnel assigned: 839The Devil's Knob Complex is a group of lightning-caused fires on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest and private lands protected by Douglas Forest Protective Association and the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians.Fire growth has occurred primarily on the Smith Fire on the northeast flank in Slick Creek and on the northwest flank in Straight Creek. On the southeast flank, green interior islands continue to burn and spot. Although the fire is active in these areas, it has been generally moderate.Smith Fire (22,082 acres): Crews continue to remove brush on the outskirts of Ash Valley down to Forest Road 27 in continued efforts to protect private property and structures. Crews made progress with direct lines on the southeast flank in the area of Forest Road 800...

Weather and Fire:  Winds last night ranged from the E at Diamond Lake to from the N over the majority of the forecast area. Today winds shift from NE to NW around Toketee, remain out of the N in Roseburg, shift between N to NE around Medford, and stay Northerly near Chiloquin. Temperatures and relative humidities will remain similar to yesterday. Crews continue to burn out where possible to increase containment of the fires, while others are actively mopping up and patrolling areas that are cooler along the containment lines. The Devils Knob Complex is 38,000 acres, 25% contained: the Rough Patch Complex is 35,054 acres, 17% contained: and the Jack Fire is 23,985 acres, 53% contained. Smoke:  NE winds in the Toketee vicinity Monday night helped to clear the smoke out of Crater Lake Rim yesterday morning. Similar clearing should occur today. Diamond Lake often has worse air quality since it is closer to the active fires and smoke tends to pool in, and travel along, the Hwy...

 Fire and Weather The Middle Fork Complex is now at 20,506 acres and is 12% contained. A strong inversion formed overnight with clear sky, yielding our coldest morning at camp. However, warmer and drier air is building over the region. Expect higher temperatures, lower humidity and full sun this afternoon. Winds will be terrain driven, with ridgetop and transport winds generally from the N/NW. Tomorrow will see another inversion, and winds will begin a shift to the NE/E down canyon. Night operations will be conducted for the next three to four shifts, using fire to strengthen control lines. Today, should clouds and smoke clear enough, solar radiation will penetrate to the surface, and fire activity can be expected to increase, especially where wind and slope align. Fuels remain critically dry, and live fuels are entering dormancy, adding to the fuel load. Smoke Expect terrain driven winds coupled with west/northwest transport winds to keep smoke headed over the...

WESTFIR, Ore. – Although good progress is being made, the Gales and Kwis Fires will not be contained until significant fall rains occur and area closures could remain in place for some time, fire officials said. “This is a long-duration incident,” said Incident Commander Brian Gales of Northwest Incident Management Team 13, which is overseeing the suppression efforts. “We expect firefighters to be on the ground actively working to suppress the fire until we get heavy, season ending rains, which could be all the way out into October.” Both fires are burning in complex terrain in heavy fuels that can hold heat and fire for long periods of time and will require consistent, significant moisture to extinguish. Some areas may not be safe to enter for months to come. For the past several days, fire activity has consistently picked up in the afternoons in the Briem, Buzzard Creek and Portland Creek drainages, and fire resources have concentrated on holding and reinforcing lines in...

South Oregon Cascades Rough Patch & Devils Knob Complex, and Jack Fire Issued at: 2021-09-01 06:50 PDT Weather and Fire: Winds last night ranged from the E at Diamond Lake to from the N over the majority of the forecast area. Today winds shift from NE to NW around Toketee, remain out of the N in Roseburg, shift between N to NE around Medford, and stay Northerly near Chiloquin. Temperatures and relative humidities will remain similar to yesterday. Crews continue to burn out where possible to increase containment of the fires, while others are actively mopping up and patrolling areas that are cooler along the containment lines. The Devils Knob Complex is 38,000 acres, 25% contained: the Rough Patch Complex is 35,054 acres, 17% contained: and the Jack Fire is 23,985 acres, 53% contained. Smoke: NE winds in the Toketee vicinity Monday night helped to clear the smoke out of Crater Lake Rim yesterday morning. Similar clearing should occur today. Diamond Lake often has worse air quality...

The Florida Red Incident Management Team, which is managing the Devil’s Knob Complex of wildfires, recently established a helibase near the town of Days Creek to support firefighting operations. The site was selected because of its proximity to the Smith and Hamlin fires, significantly increasing response speed and reducing fuel consumption, cutting an average of 15-20 minutes of flight time in each direction compared to the next closest helibase.Aircraft able to use the Days Creek base include light (Type 3), medium (Type 2), and heavy (Type 1) helicopters, and the facility can host as many as six helicopters at a time. These aircraft are used mostly for direct support of firefighting operations, especially conducting water drops from buckets carrying between 100 gallons (Type 3) and 700 gallons (Type 1) per trip. They also can conduct fire reconnaissance missions and transport passengers and/or cargo when needed.In addition to these capabilities, one of the Type 3 helicopters...