Crews Working On 43 Wildfires in Oregon

July 29, 2024

ODF Incident Management Teams

Team 1 is in command of the Battle Mountain Complex – Zone 1 and Courtrock fire near Monument (ODF Central Oregon District). Updates available on the incident’s Facebook page.
Team 3 is in command of the Battle Mountain Complex – Zone 2 near Ukiah (ODF Northeast Oregon District). Governor Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for this fire. Updates available on the incident’s Facebook page.
North Carolina Forest Service Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) is in command of the Cottage Grove Complex (ODF South Cascade District). Updates available on the incident’s Facebook page. This team was ordered in by ODF through a state-to-state mutual aid agreement.
Team 2 will take command of the Winding Water Complex at 0600 tomorrow morning, July 30.

ODF Priority Fires

FIRE NAME	ACRES BURNED (est. acres)	CONTAINMENT	LOCATION	COMMAND
Cottage Grove – Lane 1 Fires	9,961	0%	East of Cottage Grove	NC CIMT
Courtrock	17,066	24%	7 miles South of Monument	ODF IMT 1
Winding Waters Complex	718	0%	West of Wallowa	ODF IMT 2 Inbriefed today
Battle Mountain Complex	172,768	8%	West of Ukiah	ODF IMT 1/ ODF IMT 3
Falls	142,207	69%	20 miles NW of Burns	CIMT AK Team 1
Microwave	1,306	53%	5 miles SW of Mosier	GB Team 6
Lone Rock	137,214	77%	10 miles SE of Condon	CIMT NW Team 2
Durkee	288,690	49%	5 miles SW of Durkee	CIMT SA Team 3 /OSFM Green Team
Cougar Creek	15,703	26%	35 miles SE of Dayton, WA	CIMT NW Team 13
Pyramid	1,125	9%	15 miles S of Detroit	CA IMT 5
Slate	91	15%	S of the Detroit Resevoir	CA IMT 5
Crazy Creek	16,978	0%	16 miles E of Paulina	SW IMT 5

There are approximately 9,580 personnel assigned to the 43 large fires across the state, not including many of the local and agency government employees, landowners, forestland operators, and members of the community who are contributing every day.

ODF Highlight: Oregon Department of Forestry orders resources from the Oregon National Guard The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has ordered four hand crews through the Oregon National Guard (ORNG) in support of multijurisdictional fires. Through Governor Kotek’s State of Emergency Declaration, ODF is able to order firefighting resources as needed from the National Guard. Since the declaration, the department has already ordered two medevac helicopters and other air support from the National Guard.

“The wildfire situation on the ground is dynamic and challenging, and we need all hands on deck,” Governor Kotek said. “I want to thank the Oregon National Guard for their dedication and cooperation in fighting Oregon’s wildfires and protecting Oregon’s communities and natural resources.”

The four hand crews are comprised of 92 personnel: 22 firefighters per crew, two liaisons and two support personnel. Two of the crews will be staffed by Air Guard members and two will be staffed with Army Guard members.

ODF’s Deputy Director of Fire Operations Kyle Williams said, “This year’s extreme weather has tested our limits, but our unwavering commitment to protecting Oregon’s communities and natural resources remains. We are leveraging every resource available to fight the wildfires, including our partners at the Oregon National Guard.”

These service members will go through the administrative process to bring them on State Active Duty (SAD) orders on Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 1 and will then be assigned out to a fire through ODF from there. Their assignment will last 14 days in support of the U.S. Forest Service on multijurisdictional fires.

The Oregon Department of Forestry continues to tap into every outlet available through the Oregon National Guard, our in-state partners, landowners, state-to-state mutual aid agreements and the NW Compact to mobilize more firefighters and resources.

Weather A cold front crosses the geographic area today. Rain continues primarily for northwest Oregon and western Washington along with breezy winds and spotty rain east of the Cascades. Central and some eastern PSAs can expect breezy to locally windy conditions today and Tuesday but accompanied with higher humidity. High pressure, warming, and drying returns later this week lasting through the weekend. A weak thermal trough develops across western Oregon Thursday. It will be centered closer to the coast at night then drift toward the Cascade crest each afternoon through at least Saturday. Expect light east flow overnight/morning then a brief period of deeper mixing followed by west to northwest flow in the afternoons and evenings. Moisture may wrap northward around the high for possible thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday. Stay tuned as details evolve.

Prevention

As firefighters take advantage of more favorable weather conditions, make sure you’re not adding another fire to their tasks. Keep up on your fire prevention and learn more at www.keeporegongreen.org.

Please, know the fire danger level of the areas where you live, work and play, and follow all local restrictions on burning, equipment use, campfires and other activities that can start wildfires. Find danger levels and restrictions across the state here.

Resources