Middle Fork Complex Northwest Incident Management Team 9 (IC Brian Goff)

Middle Fork Complex Statistics Total Acres: 596 Email: [email protected] Containment: 5% Phone: 541-625-0849 Personnel: 360 Hours: 8am-6pm Date of Ignition: 07/29/2021 InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7745 Cause of Fires: Under Investigation Facebook: @middleforkcomplex Structures Threatened: 0 Injuries: 0 Fire Update: Monday, August 2, 2021 Aircraft: 3 Dozers: 1 Engines:14

Fire information: Twelve individual fires make up the Middle Fork Complex, with six fires at 100% containment. Five fires make up the northwest section of the Middle Fork complex. The Gales Creek Fire is located south of the Forest Road 18 near the 1835 road. The fire is 400-acres with 0% containment. Firefighters continue a strategic evaluation for opportunities to contain the fire. Heavy equipment will be used to remove vegetation along the 1824 road. Firefighters are implementing checking actions to keep fire south of the 220 Road and move resources to the six-acre Elephant Rock Fire, which is approximately two miles to the southeast. On the 27-acre Ninemile Fire, engines worked along the 1834 Road and will be constructing lines to keep the fire as small as possible. Crews will monitor and patrol the Journey and Symbol Rock Fires, each at 0.1 acre and both at 100% containment.

The 78-acre Kwis Fire is the closest fire to Oakridge and is located south of Forest Road 24 near Salmon Creek. The challenge containing the Kwis fire has been burning material rolling past control lines. To resolve that, lines are being constructed perpendicular to the slope all the way to Salmon Creek which creates a more secure control line. Burnout will occur in the next few days to remove fuel between the fire and the control line over the next few days, then mop-up and containment. The one-acre Warble Fire is 100% contained and crews will patrol and secure line as needed.

South of Forest Road 19, the two-acre Devils Canyon Fire is 100% contained. Firefighters will continue mop-up and patrol in that area. Southwest of the Hill Creek Reservoir, firefighters on the three-acre Packard Fire continue snag removal and mop-up. The 78-acre Windfall Fire is now at 60% containment. Crews will continue mop-up efforts. Near the Hills Creek Reservoir, firefighters will patrol and monitor the Way and Larison Cove Fires, also at 100% containment.

Safety of firefighters and public are the highest priorities, followed by protection of private land and community infrastructure, then cultural and natural resources.

Aviation: An infrared flight was completed on Monday over the Kwis, Ninemile, Packard and Gales Fires. Smaller fires in the complex may not be emitting enough heat for the infrared flights to pick up. In those cases, ground crews estimate fire size.

Air assets provide support to ground resources with water and retardant drops to limit the spread of the fire and to help establish and hold containment lines. Air support includes one Type 1 heavy Blackhawk helicopter and two medium Type 2 helicopters. A short-haul helicopter and additional Type 3 light helicopter will arrive in the afternoon.

Red Flag Warning and Air Quality Advisory Today: Red Flag Warning today from noon to 11 p.m. across the Middle Fork Complex area, with potential for abundant lightning and gusty outflow winds. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms but bulk of thunderstorm activity is expected to remain east of the Complex.

Air quality Advisory in affect this afternoon for Oakridge, Oregon area today. Air quality index shows unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality. Children, older adults and people with lung disease should avoid outdoor exertion. More information can be found at oakridgeair.org.

Closures: For updates on closures within the Willamette National Forest, go to the Forest webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/willamette or follow on Facebook.

Evacuations: Effective July 30, 2021, the following are evacuation levels issued through Lane County. Level 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Notice: All homes, campgrounds and dispersed recreation along Forest Service Road 18 (Big Fall Creek Road) east of the intersection with Forest Service Road 1821, including Puma Campground and Bedrock Campground, are at a Level 3. A current evacuation map can be found at www.lanecountyor.gov.