REDMOND, Ore. – A considerable amount of smoke was visible around the northeast corner of the fire yesterday as warmer temperatures dried out fuels, leading to more active burning of the interior.
“There are green islands within the established fire perimeter, with abundant dry fuels,” fire behavior analyst Dean Warner said. “We can expect to see this type of activity west across to the Cascade Crest in the coming days.”
All burning took place at least a thousand feet in from the perimeter and there was no risk of the fire escaping containment.
Wednesday afternoon, Marion County Sheriff’s Office modified evacuation levels in several areas. Breitenbush Hot Springs remains at Level 3 – “Go!” Detroit, Idanha, Hwy. 22 east of Detroit Dam to milepost 56, and Opal Creek Wilderness/Jawbone Flats are at Level 2 – “Be Set.” Elkhorn, Gates east of Gates Hill Road, and Hwy. 22 from Gates Hill Road east to Detroit Dam are at Level 1 – “Ready.”
Crews continue to complete direct and indirect line around the southwest corner, as well as mopping up a number of hot spots. Hot spots are small pockets of coals or smoldering logs or stumps that are identified by smoke, placing a hand near it, or – in some cases — through infrared mapping of an area.
In addition to bucket work to aid suppression work around the west/southwest boundary, aviation will coordinate a powerline reconnaissance flight with Pacific Gas and Electric as well as ongoing Civil Air Patrol flights.
All around the 328-mile fire boundary, chipping, removal of heavy equipment and suppression repair work are ongoing. On the interior, the structural group at Stahlman Cabins is also removing equipment and beginning repair.
Weather & Fuel Conditions: Temperatures today will be slightly higher, reaching the low to mid 80s below 5,000 feet in elevation. This weekend is expected to be slightly cooler, as a west wind moves in, bringing cool, moist air with it.
Safety: Oregon’s largest hunting season begins Saturday, Oct. 3, with general season hunting in Western Oregon and controlled deer hunting in Eastern Oregon. This may result in increased traffic in some areas, as area closures have reduced available hunting options.
Closures and Evacuations: Residents of Linn County can find up to date information at www.LinnSheriff.org. All closures on federal lands remain in effect. This includes a 40-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail between Santiam Pass and Olallie Lake. Closure orders and maps can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049/
Lionshead Fire
Pacific Northwest IMT #13
Public Information Phone: 971-277-5075
Media Inquiries: 541-904-0542
Incident E-mail: 2020.lionshead@firenet.gov
Incident Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHSR6_yJRQkHyGjvvqX99gw
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