Lionshead Fire Update – Monday, September 14, 2020

Weather and Fire Behavior: Today, the dense smoke cover will begin to disperse, continuing through the week as the area experiences a transition in weather. Slightly stronger southwest winds are expected along ridges and in valleys, which may align with terrain to contribute to fire movement. Temperatures will remain in the 70s, but with higher relative humidity levels of 25 to 35 percent. Very active surface fire is anticipated along the northern perimeter of the fire with torching and spotting likely. Some precipitation is expected later in the week.

Current Situation: Heavy smoke has grounded air operations for the last few days, significantly hindering firefighting efforts. Saturday night, crews conducted firing operations to the north of the fire, but later that evening a separate fire spread northward from the Olallie Butte area and crossed planned containment lines. Yesterday, the fire continued this north and northeast push, causing fire crews to adapt their previous strategy and initiate firing operations off the B-200 road further to the east. Active fire behavior north of Breitenbush also challenged firefighters yesterday. Along the eastern edge of the fire, crews made good progress mopping up fire line and continued to secure and scout containment lines to the south of the fire on the Willamette National Forest. To the west, fire crews dealt with a spot fire near New Idanha, but saw decreased fire activity in Idanha and Detroit as structure protection continued.

Today’s Activities: The highest priority for firefighters today will be to check progression to the northeast of the fire to protect communities. If smoke clears, helicopters may be used to support firefighting efforts on the ground this afternoon. As conditions allow, fire crews will continue strategic firing operations begun yesterday and the previous night along the B-200 road on the Warm Springs Reservation. Crews will continue to conduct structure protection in the Olallie Lakes area. To the northwest, crews will continue securing a spot fire between the 46 Road and the powerline corridor north of Breitenbush and preparing containment options using roads in the area. In Idanha, Detroit and Marion Forks, fire crews will patrol and continue mop-up, structure protection and damage assessments as smoke and hazardous conditions allow. Firefighters will continue strengthening containment lines to the east of the fire.

Evacuations: A Level 2 Evacuation Notice has been issued for Sidwalter Flats area on the Warms Springs Reservation. Updates on evacuations can be found on local sheriff’s departments’ websites and Warm Springs Police Facebook. The most current information on statewide evacuation information can be found at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management’s interactive database: https://www.oregon.gov/oem/emops/Pages/RAPTOR.aspx

Closures: For public and firefighter safety, roads and trails on the southwest portion of the Warm Springs Reservation near the fires remain 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: Fire Information: 971-277-5075

TripCheck: https://www.tripcheck.com/

 Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LionsheadFire

Email:  2020.lionshead@firenet.gov