Oregon Fire Updates 9-23-2020

istock_091420_wildfiresbiden

Archie Creek Fire Announcement

September 23, 2020
Unified Incident Commanders Mike Dueitt and Tim Keith
Email: 2020.archiecreek@firenet.gov Phone: 971-334-7674 Hours: 8am-8pm

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7176/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArchieCreekFireInfo/

The Southern Area Red Team, who has been managing the Archie Creek Fire on behalf of the
Bureau of Land Management, Douglas Forest Protective Association and Umpqua National
Forest, regrets to report the death of Walter (Wally) Samuel Elsbury, Jr., a firefighter assigned to
the Archie Creek Fire. Fire personnel found Mr. Elsbury unresponsive in his vehicle at a fire
staging area Friday morning, September 18, 2020, before he began his shift as a heavy
equipment operator.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded and notified Mr. Elsbury’s family. No foul play
is suspected.
Mr. Elsbury, of Elsbury Logging Company in Burns/Hines, Oregon, had been working on the
Archie Creek Fire for about a week as skidgeon operator. He was helping to protect structures
along Little River Road south of Glide on the west flank of the fire.
“The Bureau of Land Management, Umpqua National Forest and Douglas Forest Protective
Association are deeply saddened over Mr. Elsbury’s death,” said Incident Commander Mike
Dueitt. “We want the Elsbury family to know our Incident Management Team, the firefighting
community as a whole and the residents along Little River Road are forever grateful for the work
Wally did to protect homes from the Archie Creek Fire. Our condolences to you for the loss of
your loved one.”

Archie Creek Fire Update

September 23, 2020
Unified Incident Commanders Mike Dueitt and Tim Keith
Email: 2020.archiecreek@firenet.gov Phone: 971-334-7674 Hours: 8am-8pm

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7176/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArchieCreekFireInfo/

Special Note: Today will be windy, with predicted gusts of up to 40 miles per hour on ridgetops. The wind
could topple live and dead trees in the fire area as their root systems and the ground around them have been
burned away. “Be careful for what’s around you out there today because it might come down,” said incident
meteorologist Brett Lutz to firefighters at today’s morning briefing. Please note that the fire area is closed to
the public and only residents, firefighters and repair personnel are allowed to enter. Staying out of the fire area
is especially important today!
Fire Update: The Archie Creek Fire has burned 131,598 acres and is 52 percent contained. There are currently
1,097 personnel assigned. The cause of the Archie Creek Fire is still under investigation.
Yesterday fire flared up at the northeastern flank of the fire in the Trapper Creek area, so water drops from a
helicopter were used to cool it down. In other areas of the fire, firefighters continued to make good progress
building and strengthening firelines and mopping up in advance of gusty winds today. “We’ll have a little bit
of a test on our [fire] lines today,” said Operations Chief Mark Jamieson as southwest winds are forecasted to
pick up this afternoon. Firefighters will remain vigilant not only for more active fire behavior in unburned
areas near containment lines, but for falling trees. They will adjust their work schedules to begin their shifts in
more remote areas this morning and work their way out to prevent blocked egress from fallen trees. Gusty
winds may prevent aircraft from flying this afternoon. Winds promoting active fire behavior are expected to be
followed by rain decreasing it. A predicted average of 0.6 inches of rain will fall tonight through Friday.
Firefighters will continue to build, connect, improve and mop up firelines. Specific areas of concern are on the
south, east, and north edges of the fire, with concern over terrain aligning with strong winds on the north side.
In the east, this is the Panther Creek (4714) Road area west of Highway 138. Mop up will continue in those
areas and the Zig Zag Creek area, a half-acre fire outside the perimeter of the Archie Fire in the Pass Creek
area, and the area south of Trapper Creek that flared up yesterday.
An infrared flight yesterday showed many hot spots scattered throughout the fire. Fire hose has been placed all
around the fire to help cool areas near containment lines. Today seven more hand crews than yesterday will
work to increase fire containment. Increasing the depth of mop up continues all around the fire, especially
around structures in Glide and Idleyld Park areas. Firefighters are protecting homes and other buildings in all
areas of the fire, including along Little River Road and they are assessing structure protection for the Bar L
subdivision. Other areas of special protection include the Wolf Creek Job Corps, Susan Creek Bridge,
communications equipment on Scott Mountain and the Big Tree area. The Big Tree is still standing and the
area around it was not affected by the fire. Yesterday firefighters installed a sprinkler system in the Big Tree
area to protect it and will continue to remove live and dead vegetation around the Job Corps to reduce fire risk.
The fire has backed down to the North Umpqua River on the east flank and firefighters are monitoring it there.
Fire scars are helping check fire progression in the southern edge of the fire and firefighters are using old
timber sale roads (600 series) to contain the fire in that area.

North of Highway 138E, in the Steamboat area, firefighters and heavy equipment continue to work along
Canton Creek Road to Trapper Creek to improve contingency firelines in case the fire crosses primary
firelines.
As containment increases in some areas, firefighters will backhaul equipment, grade roads and begin to assess
what actions they need to take to repair damage from building firelines and suppressing the fire. This is to
ensure fireline construction and other suppression actions do not have long-lasting impacts to natural
resources.
Personnel and Equipment: 24 Type 2 hand crews, 8 helicopters, 1 fixed wing air attack, 75 engines, 38
bulldozers, 46 water tenders, 8 masticators and 5 skidgeons.
Help for Fire Victims: Information on disaster aid can be found at https://wildfire.oregon.gov/ The following
agencies and organizations are helping those who were affected by this fire and are accepting donations.
 Glide Revitalization Committee: https://gliderevitalization.com/
 Glide Helping Hands: 541-733-6860
 Glide Baptist Church: https://www.glidebaptist.org/
 Greater Douglas United Way: https://gduway.org/campaigns/fire-relief-fund/
 Roseburg Rotary: https://www.facebook.com/RoseburgRotary/ and
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=s-
xclick&hosted_button_id=3D2BEGT2AJBRS&source=url
 Douglas Timber Operators / Umpqua Fisheries Enhancement Derby:


 Saving Grace: www.savinggrace.info 541-672-3907
 Red Cross: 541-673-3225 Salvation Army: 541-672-6581
Evacuations, shelter areas: An interactive map of the current evacuation area can be found
at www.dcso.com/evacuations. For more evacuation information, visit the Douglas County Sheriff website
www.dcso.com/evacuations and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCoSO
The Douglas County Fairgrounds has full RV spaces, electric hookup spaces and dry camping available. They
also have stalls and arenas for livestock and farm animals. Contact Ciera Keith at (541) 440-4394 for more
information.
Air quality: See the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality at http://www.oregon.gov/deq
Closures:
 Roads – Highway 138E is open, but delays up to 45 minutes should be expected. See www.tripcheck.com
for updates on highway closures.
 Bureau of Land Management – All lands east of Interstate 5, within the Swiftwater Resource Area are
closed.
 Umpqua National Forest – Maps and closure orders can be found on Inciweb at:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7176/.  Additional information on Forest Service closures are
available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices Managed lands east of Interstate 5,
within the Swiftwater Resource Area are closed.
 Temporary Flight Restriction: There is a temporary flight restriction for aircraft, including drones, in
effect for the Archie Creek Fire and it has been reduced from 10,000 feet above mean sea level to 8,000
feet. Non-fire aircraft may fly over the fire area from 8 pm to 9 am. Wildfires are a No Drone Zones. If you
fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/

 

Thielsen Fire Update Sept. 23, 2020

Location Diamond Lake Ranger District, 5 miles north of Crater Lake National Park and within 1 mile of Diamond Lake Resort
Size/

Containment

9,916 acres and 26% contained. Fire was discovered on Sept. 8 at 0830 PDT. Cause is unknown.
Evacuations

(change)

Evacuation level was changed to Level 2 “SET” yesterday for the Diamond Lake area. Authorized residents and permit holders are allowed to enter the Diamond Lake area. Road guards are placed at checkpoints around Diamond Lake to restrict access to unauthorized users. Visit the Douglas County Sheriff’s website for the most current information.
Resources Personnel: 441         Type 2 Crews: 4        Type 2IA Crews: 4         Helicopters: 4        Type 3 Engines: 1

Type 4 Engines: 4     Type 6 Engines: 12   Water Tenders: 13        Masticators: 1       Dozers: 8

Fixed-wing Aircraft: 1

Current Situation Progress continued around the fire area yesterday with firefighters taking advantage of overnight humidity recoveries. Resources continued to construct and secure firelines along the southern and western edges of the fire. They also worked to secure around the Cinnamon Butte Tower and communications site with a sprinkler system.

 

Similar to previous operational periods, firefighters will continue to protect critical infrastructure and secure and hold the fire’s southern edge near the northern boundary of Diamond Lake. They also will continue to secure and mop up along containment lines and improve the defense of structures around the Cinnamon Butte communications tower. On the southeastern edge of the fire, crews will construct handline, cold trail and mop up along the fire edge and continue to identify contingency containment opportunities. Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) are being implemented in the fire area.

Closures

 

 

Road Closures: The Oregon Department of Transportation reopened Hwy. 138E (North Umpqua Highway) yesterday at noon. For the latest road conditions, visit www.tripcheck.com.

 

The route to Miller Lake via FS Road 9772 remains closed from the intersection with Hwy. 97 to the intersection with FS Road 110 due to firefighter traffic. Drivers are being directed to take FS Road 9774 to connect with FS Road 110 as an alternative route.

 

Forest Closures: The Umpqua National Forest is currently at Industrial Fire Precaution Level III. No industrial operating waivers will be issued. The Fire Adjective Class is High.

 

Temporary emergency closure orders remain in effect for all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the Cottage Grove Ranger District: ORDER NO. 06-15-01-20-423, Tiller Ranger District ORDER NO. 06-15-02-20-422, Diamond Lake Ranger District ORDER NO. 06-15-03-20-420 and North Umpqua Ranger District ORDER NO. 06-15-06-20-421.

 

Flight restrictions: A temporary flight restriction remains in place from the surface up to and including 10,000 feet to provide a safe environment for fire-fighting aviation operations.

Air Quality Air quality continues to improve. For more information visit airnow.gov
Weather and Fire Behavior Today a cold front approaches the region. Southwest winds will increase throughout the day with gusts likely surpassing 30 mph on exposed ridges. Winds will remain gusty overnight with showers moving in from the west.
InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7195/

 

Lionshead Fire Update

Wednesday, September 23, 2020 – 10 a.m. 

 

Special Notice: There will be a virtual community fire information meeting tonight, September 23, 2020 at 6:00 p.m., PDT. An update on the status of the fire will be provided by fire managers and cooperating agencies. The meeting can be viewed via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/LionsheadFire/ or Zoom at https://usfs.zoomgov.com/j/1606494587 

 

Current Situation:

Approximately 400 additional firefighters and support personnel arrived at the incident yesterday. The fire gained some acreage, but containment increased to 15%. Low fire behavior is expected today even with stronger winds leading up to a predicted rain event. Southwest winds will build over the ridges prior to rain in early evening.

 

The increased winds pose a hazard along road corridors and the fireline due to the possibility of falling fire-weakened trees. Hazard tree removal work along roads and constructed fireline will be affected by increasing winds. Wind can also reveal smokes that need more attention along the fire edge.

 

Air quality has improved. Good to excellent overnight humidity recovery has also been helpful. Shorter days will slow fire spread as the burning period narrows. Predicted rain (as much as 1 inch in some areas) will have a positive impact on firefighting efforts.

 

Firefighting Efforts by Division: (Refer to the map for division breakdown.)

More progress was made in Division A yesterday connecting existing roads with dozer and hand line. Previous burnouts look secure. Progress was made in the Badger Butte area, although several days of hard work will be required to close a gap in constructed line. The east side of Division A is in patrol status with mop up operations still identifying some heat.

 

In Division E, patrol and chipping operations continue.

 

Divisions G, I, K, and N have been quiet for several days and continue to be secure. Firefighters are monitoring and patrolling this area. Most of the road system has been prepped and is now being reinforced as a control line.

 

On the southeast perimeter, working west from the Division N/R break (north of Jefferson Lake), the fireline has been secured west to the lava rock area. There was some fire activity on an unburned island of fuel inside the fire perimeter near the lava flow. All line on the 12 Road is complete just short of 20 Road. Firefighters have significant work to do removing logs and slash after this operation.

 

Much of the perimeter in Division S has checked along the road system. There hasn’t been any significant fire movement or spread in this division for several days.

 

The fire in Division T has mostly been checked on existing roads. Crew work is primarily patrol and cold trailing along the fire’s edge. Cold trailing is a method of controlling a partly dead fire edge by carefully inspecting and feeling with the hands to detect and extinguish any remaining heat. Firefighters are looking for any spread across roadways. Known spot fires in this division have been contained. This work will continue today. More crews are moving into the area.

 

The structure group continues their work in Detroit, Idanha, New Idanha, and Breitenbush securing line and mopping up.

 

Crews are working in Division W, Y and Z to secure spot fires found near Road 46. The 46 Road remains closed due to the large amount of heavy equipment required for this effort. This road may remain closed until snags and hazards are cleared and the road is deemed safe for public travel.

 

The Contingency Groups are improving indirect fireline. The south contingency group is working along County Road 12 to County Road 20, improving fuel breaks along the road. The north contingency group is working in close coordination with Riverside Fire managers to identify opportunities to connect existing roads that both fires could use in the event these indirect lines are needed.

 

Air operations flew 14 hours yesterday and will continue similar efforts today as weather and flight conditions allow.

 

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Today, expect mostly cloudy conditions with increasing winds as a low-pressure system and cold front move inland. Southwest winds will increase to 12-18 mph with gusts of 30-35 mph. Rain is expected to develop over the fire late Wednesday afternoon and increase through the night. Rainfall accumulations will be higher west of the crest and lower inland.

 

Closures and Evacuations: Evacuation Notices remain in place for the Lionshead Fire. Level 3 “Go!” evacuation notices are still in place for the communities of Detroit, Idanha, New Idanha, and Breitenbush. There are no longer any evacuation notices for the Sidwalter/Miller flats area.

 

Roads and trails near the fire remain closed for public safety. The 12 Road will remain closed to the public for the near future. This includes roads and trails on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Spring lands adjacent to the fire and a 40-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail between Santiam Pass and Olallie Lake. Forest closures are in place for Deschutes, Mt. Hood and Willamette National Forests: Deschutes NF Alerts Willamette NF Alerts Mt. Hood NF Alerts.

 

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Lionshead Fire and surrounding fires. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Whenever a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.

 

Reminder: Schools have reopened. Be aware of increased traffic.

 

Lionshead Fire Statistics: 

Size: 203,685 acres

Containment: 15%

Total Personnel: 1,425

Location: 14 miles west of Warm Springs

Reported: 8/16/20, approximately 8:44 p.m.

Cause: Lightning

 

For More Information: 

Information Office: 971-277-5075, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Media Inquiries: 541-904-0542

Email: 2020.lionshead@firenet.gov

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

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHSR6_yJRQkHyGjvvqX99gw

Facebook: facebook.com/LionsheadFire

 

 

Lionshead Fire

Rocky Mountain Incident Team 1

Public Information Phone: 971-277-5075

Media Inquiries: 541-904-0542

Incident E-mail: 2020.lionshead@firenet.gov

Incident Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHSR6_yJRQkHyGjvvqX99gw

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LionsheadFire 

 

Slater and Devil Fires Update

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Slater Fire – 150,986 acres and 24% containment
North Zone: Crews continue to hold and improve existing containment lines and are constructing new line,
working as close to the fire line as they can to keep the fire from growing.
Hand crews and dozers have been working west of Highway 199 to construct indirect control lines along Monkey
Ridge. The two sides are expected to tie together today. Several hot shot crews will be used to complete
strategic firing to clean up any unburned fuel between the line and the main edge of the fire when conditions
allow.
Crews are mopping up and holding the line on the north side of the fire from Goodwish Creek near Hwy 199 east
to the Sun Star area and back north. Firefighters are working on several hotspots along the line around Hope
Mountain and will continue to reinforce the line up toward Horseshoe Gulch.
Crews successfully completed a strategic firing south of Holland and will begin mopping up that area.
Firefighters are reinforcing the line around Browntown and toward the Oregon Caves National Monument. Hand
crews continue to reinforce the line south of Oregon Caves to protect the monument.
South Zone: Mop up continues in and around the community of Happy Camp. Crews will continue with direct
line construction north of Thompson Creek. When conditions allow, crews will complete strategic firing to
remove unburned fuel between indirect containment lines and the main fire.
Devil Fire – 7784 acres and 18% containment
Crews held the Devil Fire south of the 1040 Road. They continue to construct more line and establish hose-lays
along the north side of the fire to assist with mop up. Additional resources have been assigned to the fire to help
construct line down the east side of the fire to tie in with contained line along the south side and defend
residences in Seiad.
Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the entire Slater and Devil Fires (north
and south zones) at 6 p.m. yesterday.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Weather
Fire operations will be using lookouts today due to expected
winds that could increase fire behavior. Winds will be out of the
southwest at 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 40 miles per hour.
Rain is expected to move into the area Wednesday night, followed
by several days of cooler temperatures and higher relative
humidity.
Evacuations
Josephine County:
The Sheriff’s Office downgraded evacuations to Level 2 “Be Set”
for all residents on Wood Creek Rd and Shepherd Hill Rd and
issued a downgrade in evacuations to a Level 1 “Be Ready” for all
residents in the area of US Hwy 199 from milepost 34 to 36.5,
including all of Lone Mountain Rd and secondary roads, O’Brien
Rd, O’Brien St, Primrose Ln, Udee Rd and Waldo Rd from US Hwy
199 to and including Big Springs Drive.
All other evacuation levels remain the same. For more
information, visit the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office website.
Evacuation information is available at 541-474-5305 (8 a.m. – 8
p.m.) or: www.facebook.com/josephinecountyEM,
www.co.josephine.or.us/fire, or www.rvem.org.
Siskiyou County:
All evacuation levels remain the same. Evacuation information is
available at 530-841-2900 or online at
www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff/.
Del Norte County:
Evacuation information is available at 707-464-7213 or online at
www.facebook.com/DelNorteOfficeOfEmergencyServices and www.preparedelnorte.com/.
Closures
The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region has extended the Regional Order temporarily closing nine
national forests in California, including the Six Rivers and Klamath (including the part in Oregon) National
Forests. This decision will continue to be reviewed daily with changing fire and weather. The entire region is also
under emergency fire restrictions.
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has temporarily closed the Wild Rivers Range District and Siskiyou
Mountains Ranger District. Find closure orders and maps at www.fs.usda/gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alertsnotices.
The Bureau of Land Management Medford District temporarily closed many areas of public lands to support fire
suppression efforts and to prevent new fire starts. Maps of the closure areas are available on the Bureau of Land
Management’s website: www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregonwashington/fire-restrictions.

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Beaver Walk & Beaver Believers Screening

Beaver Natural History Walk & Restoration Site Tour, 4-5 pm Followed by a screening of The Beaver Believers and Q &A Hosted by Maureen Thompson, Beaver Works Program Manager and Kolleen Miller, Education Director for The Upper

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8th Annual Locavore Gala & Fundraiser

We invite you to be a part of something extraordinary – an evening that transcends the ordinary and celebrates the heart of our community. Central Oregon Locavore proudly presents its 8th Annual Gala and Fundraiser, a special