Cooler weather is moistening conditions around the Willamette Complex South fires. Cooler temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend, with warmer and drier conditions expected to return in the coming days.
SPECIAL NOTE: A community meeting on the Willamette Complex Fires South will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 16, at the Banner Bank Amphitheater at Greenwaters Park in Oakridge, Oregon. A recording of the in-person meeting will be posted on Facebook and YouTube.
It is estimated that 12,783 acres have currently burned in the Willamette Complex South. A total of 820 people are currently fighting the fires, including:
- 25 Type 6 engines
- 14 bulldozers
- 10 Chewing devices
- 1 skid steer loader
Firefighters said the cause of the fire was lightning strikes.
Closures and fire restrictions: In the Willamette National Forest, areas, roads, trails and recreation areas are closed near many active fires. Temporary road closures are in place to restrict traffic in the fire areas.Click here for more information.
Chalk fire
Fire crews assigned to the Chalk Fire are conducting strategic extinguishing operations using drones to safely connect the main fire to the containment line.
Burning or burnout operations reduce the amount of fuel, allowing crews to reach the containment line more safely. Equipped with thermal imaging cameras, these UAS also provide fire managers with temperature maps to identify the locations of hotspots, allowing them to accurately direct crew deployment for search and destroy missions to extinguish the heat.
The Chalk Fire is estimated to be 5,541 acres in size and is 54% contained.
Coffee pot fire
Firefighters responding to the Coffeepot fire say unburned fuels continue to be a problem on the east side of the fire, near containment lines.
Emergency crews will use drones for strategic firing operations to contain these fuels. Logging crews will remove hazardous trees to widen containment lines. Hazardous trees not only pose a hazard to firefighters, but also compromise the effectiveness of the containment line.
The Coffeepot Fire is estimated to be 6,120 acres in size and is 35% contained.
Moosberg fire
The Midnight Sun Hotshots and Gila Hotshots, supported by a Type 1 helicopter, are preparing and holding Road 2120 south of the Moss Mountain Fire. The Hotshot crews are a highly trained, self-sufficient unit of 20 people. Their skills are critical to holding this road through steep terrain, dense forest, and significant hazards. Additional crews are constructing additional control lines using heavy equipment.
The Moss Mountain Fire is estimated at 799 acres and is 0% contained.
208 Fire
According to fire officials, 208 Fire is still unstaffed, but firefighters are patrolling the area daily. Fire managers are currently reviewing strategic options to protect private forest lands to the west.
The size of Fire 208 is estimated at 238 acres and it is 0% contained.
217 Fire, Tire Mountain Fire and McKinley Fire
The 217, Tire Mountain and McKinley fires are 100% contained. Crews are monitoring the heat and conducting cleanup efforts as conditions permit.
