Oregon Department of Forestry

Rain and Cooler Weather Helps Crews Make Progress on Fossil Complex in eastern Oregon SPRAY, Ore. – Showers and cooler weather over the fires helped slow growth and allowed crews to make progress around the fires. The NW to north side of the fire now has direct line and mop up operations have started. On the southwest side along ORE 19, crews will be focusing on removing hazard trees to allow mop up, which will allow opening of the highway. The community meeting in Fossil was attended by over 40 people. ODF Incident Commander Matt Howard, along with ODF Operations, ODF John Day Unit, Oregon State Fire Marshall and the Wheeler County Fire Defense Board Chief addressed the attendees and answered questions. The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office continually evaluates evacuation levels. Please check their Facebook page for the latest information. https://lnkd.in/gSJNWWa5 The Two Cabin, Holmes, Kinzua and Canyon Fires are all in patrol status. Community Meeting: Spray: Due to the closure of ORE19, a public meeting in Spray is planned for Thursday 12th at The Rock, 601 Willow St. at 6:30 p.m. Flying unauthorized drones is hazardous to aircraft and will ground critical aerial operations. Fire information: (541) 903-5311 Fossil Complex Total Size: 22,439 acres Two Cabin-251acres Canyon-190 acres Kinzua-96 acres Holmes-15 acres Service- 21,887 Containment: 3% Cause: Lightning Current Cost: $9.8 million All Resources Hand Crews: 40 Engines: 58 Water Tender: 16 Dozers: 20 Skidders: 7 Skidgen: 3 Excavator: 2 Masticator: 2 Feller Buncher: 4 Total Resources: 1,255 Aerial Resources Type 1: 3 Type 2: 6 Type 3: 4 Evacuations: Level 1: 21 addresses Level 2: 85 addresses Level 3: 156 addresses https://lnkd.in/gSJNWWa5

As we gather in remembrance of September 11, 2001, we honor the fallen and the courageous first responders. #NeverForget #PatriotDay #Nationaldayofserviceandremembrance #FirstResponders #Honorthefallen

For more detailed information, watch our Statewide Fire Briefing. Starting with our Fire Program Analyst with a conditions report out and then moving into report outs from the Northwest, Southern, and Eastern Oregon Area managers. https://lnkd.in/grDx2Kft

Oregon native birds in the Coast Range got a new upland meadow thanks to ODF staff from the Veneta office. Working with Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the Xerces Society partners, staff cleared trees from around a smoke detection camera at 2,300' elevation. They left some as snags for cavity-nesting birds like woodpeckers, and mounted nesting boxes for purple martins. They then removed stumps, burned slash and planted native wildflowers for bumblebees and other pollinators. Permanent meadows are critical habitat for western bluebirds, olive-sided flycatchers, pileated woodpeckers and a variety of bats, among others.

ODF's Situation Report is to help create a snapshot of large fire information, weather and prevention information. To read the full report, visit https://lnkd.in/gWkRxNCM.

ODF’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program started in 2017 and has been growing ever since. Last year alone, the program completed 300 missions and now has over 20 pilots and 30 aircraft. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, help us to detect wildfire, as well as conduct operational mapping, and identify hot spots in dangerous terrain. Most importantly UAS are used to provide situational awareness to our firefighters to keep them safe. We expect the utilization of the program to continue to grow and be integrated into more aspects of ODF's work.

ODF's Situation Report is to help create a snapshot of large fire information, weather and prevention information. To read the full report, visit https://lnkd.in/gmMJT59q.

In honor of Labor Day, ODF offices will be closed today and resume normal operating hours tomorrow.

𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: ODF Incident Management Team 3 has been deployed to the Copperfield Fire, which is now estimated to be 1,500 -2,000 acres. The team will in-brief tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. and will enter unified command with OSFM Red Team of the fire at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Warmer weather is back, which means we all need to do our part in preventing wildfire. Oregon is not out of fire season yet so brush up on your prevention knowledge at keeporegongreen.org, check your local restrictions and remain vigilant in keeping fire hazards off the landscape.