I'll start again with an overview map of the major fire's and a few minor ones. It's unchanged from yesterday except that I've been able to identify the ???? on yesterday's map as fire number 495. I've also indicated the approximate location of Railroad, which is just off the map. Both complexes are in Douglas County. Click to enlarge.
My sense is that these fires have not been terribly alarming so far. But the coming hot temperatures (100 or higher) and low humidity could change that in a heart-beat.
Devil's Knob
This complex has burned slightly more than 2,400 acres and is 0% contained. There are some 500 personnel assigned to the fire, including 14 crews assisted by 30 engines. Air support is provided as necessary and when available.
Fifty eight residences are threatened, and I have no reports of any structures having being damaged or destroyed.
From this morning's Devil's Knob report (my edits):
Late yesterday morning, the smoke lifted over the Complex area, and several fires became very active. Two new fires were identified in the Whiskey Fire scar and are currently 2 acres or less in size.
Fire fighters are suppressing small incidents and prioritizing those larger fires near private property and homes, which includes Wildcat and Section 30 Fires. Heavy-lift helicopters were used throughout the afternoon to check fire growth.
Many of the smaller fires in the complex are reaching containment and mop-up operations are started. Aircraft are being shared with other near-by complexes.
The following is a brief summary of the significant fire activity over the fire complex starting from north to south.
- Smith Fire – held in its current footprint, roads have been brushed for containment lines, hoses have been laid.
- 431 Fire – containment line and hose lays are completed.
- Mule Creek Fire – almost completely lined, fire has burned down to the pavement; the fire slopped over the line and helicopter water drops were able to check the forward spread.
- 446 Fire – holding and backing into the Beaver Creek area.
- (Not on map) Tucker Fire – has been mopped up and contained, and an engine is remaining onsite to monitor for hotspots.
- Big Hamlin Fires – became very active this afternoon, and stayed within the indirect containment lines.
- Little Applegate Fire – line has been constructed on 80% of the fire; on the north side, hand line has been constructed and tied into the cliff rock band on Red Mountain.
- Dismal Creek Fire – dozer and hand line has been constructed and mop up operations have begun.
- Dismal Panther Fire – contained and mopping up.
- Wildcat Fire – remained in the same footprint, containment line has been constructed on the west side to the
private land on the north, and helicopters were used to limit growth.
- Section 30 (Railroad) Fire – became active, spot fires were located approximately 1,200 feet from the
containment line; those spots have been lined and hose laid to the spots preparing for mop up and aircraft were
used to cool the fire’s edge.
Skyline Ridge
This complex has also burned slightly more than 2,400 acres, and it is 9% contained. Threre are 964 personnel assigned to the complex including 30 crews, and they are being assisted by 9 helos and 33 engines.
Sixty eight residences are threatened, and I have no reports of any structures having being damaged or destroyed.
The following is from this morning's Skyline Ridge report. It reads much like yesterdays (my editing):
Firefighters are fighting all the fires in the Skyline Ridge Complex with direct action, including on the south edge of the Poole Fire.
The northern edge of Poole is far more challenging owing to three steep ridges running north to south, split by two deep canyons. At the highest point the ridges are over 2,000 feet high, with slopes of 70 to 100 percent.
Incident Commander Joe Hessel said, “Our highest chance for success in stopping the Poole Creek Fire with the lowest risk to our firefighters is to bring it north along the ridges, out of the canyons to a strong, defensible control line" and the best strategy to stop the fire is to build a control line where the ridges converge at a lower elevation.
Firefighters are building North to South control lines along existing roads on the tops of the outer east and west ridges and controlled burns over the next several days will help strengthen those lines.
Ten helicopters continue helping suppress fires in the Complex. The second largest fire in the complex is the 190 acre O’Shea Fire a few miles southeast of Canyonville. Most other fires are two acres or less.
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