Forest fire could burn until late October

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Melakwa Lake and the plume of smoke from the Scott Mountain fire on Aug. 25.

By KVAL.com staff

Story Published: Aug 31, 2010 at 9:46 AM PST

EUGENE, Ore. - Record rainfall in the Eugene/Springfield area did little to quiet fires burning in the mountains of Oregon.

The Forest Service expects a forest fire burning between McKenzie Bridge and Sisters to burn until late October. The Scott Mountain fire is 3,454 acres and 30 percent contained.

Firefighters want to keep the fire inside the Mount Washington Wilderness and away from a watershed that supplies water to Eugene and high-value timber.

Crews had closed a portion of the historic McKenzie Pass Highway for safety reason, but the route re-opened Monday night.

The 6,550 acre Oak Flat fire is now 70 percent contained, but firefighters are concerned that the fire will kick back up as warmer and drier weather returns to the rugged mountains of Southwest Oregon.


Update on Scott Mountain fire:

Based on historic experience, it is anticipated that Scott Mountain Fire could continue to burn until late October.  Crews on the Scott Mountain Fire have worked to build and strengthen containment lines around the perimeter of the fire.  The containment lines tie into the Lava bed north and south of the fire. 
 
The suppression strategy developed for Scott Mountain Fire considers the potential risks to fire fighters of any given action as well as the resources that will be impacted by the fire.  Based on the risk assessment, resources, and weather, Pacific Northwest Team 3 has developed a long term strategy for suppression of the Scott Mountain Fire.  The strategy makes use of the containment lines and includes action points for various activities like burning-out between the containment line and the fire.  Burn-out operations would not be successful until weather conditions change to a warming and drying trend.
 
Wednesday, Pacific Northwest Team 3 will transition command of the fire to a team led by Incident Commander John Poet. 

As conditions warrant, Poets team will adjust staffing and implement the suppression actions outlined in the plan.


Update on Oak Flat fire:

A substantial increase in fire behavior is anticipated over the next several days as the area where the Oak Flat fire is burning returns to typical early-September weather.

The fire area received an average of one-tenth of an inch of rain over the last 24 hours, which slowed but did not stop the fires spread. This allowed firefighters time to strengthen containment lines to prepare for burning out operations designed to remove fuel between the fires edge and the firelines.

Strategic burnouts will commence as the weather warms and dries, probably late Wednesday and Thursday. Large columns of smoke will likely be visible from surrounding areas. The area to be burned is generally contained between Chrome Ridge, the 2510 Road, and Briggs Creek.

Firefighters continue to improve additional contingency lines north of the fire perimeter, as additional insurance if burning conditions return to the extremes seen last week.

The incident command post has moved to BLMs Sprague Seed Orchard in Merlin. This brings the firefighters much closer to the active operations area, and reduces driving distances for the firefighters and make for a safer, more efficient operation.

Sam Brown Campground, the 2500 road (Taylor Creek Road), and the 2402 road remain closed to all but fire traffic.
 

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