Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
The weather continues to be warm and the fire danger extreme as crews battle hundreds of fires statewide.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is calling on all Oregonians and visitors to be aware of the critical fire danger and take steps to prevent sparking a wildfire.
The eastern side of the state is expecting abundant lightning, winds gusting near 60 miles per hour with passing thunderstorms, and hot temperatures.
“We are working with every tool we have to protect people and property,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “The Oregon structural fire service, our out-of-state firefighters, and our wildland partners are working relentlessly around the clock. This is a monumental challenge that every firefighter and support staff is rising to.”
The OSFM has mobilized 489 firefighters, 143 engines, and 32 water tenders.
The OSFM has resources assigned to the Lone Rock/Boneyard Fire (Gilliam, Morrow, Grant, and Wheeler counties); the Falls Fire (Harney and Grant counties); the Durkee Fire (Baker and Malheur counties); the Battle Mountain Complex (Grant and Umatilla counties); and the Microwave Tower Fire (Wasco County).
No major fires have been reported in the Santiam Canyon, with the closest major blaze the Pyramid fire, still at zero percent containment in eastern Linn County east of the Middle Santiam Wilderness about 15 miles south of Detroit Lake. The fire had consumed 535 acres as of The Canyon Weekly’s press time and it was being fought by 231 firefighters.
An incident report posted by the U.S. Forest Service said significant progress has been made in opening existing roads and establishing a control line around the perimeter of the Pyramid Fire. Additional crews, fire hose, and pumps are being added to strengthen firefighting efforts and heavy equipment and masticators will continue working north and east around the fire’s perimeter.
The fire is burning in an old-growth forest with no recent fire activity, according to fire behavior specialist Jeff Shelton, who added in a Wednesday, July 24, report that he does not see the potential for significant fire activity to occur within the next three days. Shelton explained that because of light winds, the smoke is not dispersing and is acting like a lid to lessen fire activity.
Here is a look at other news on the fire front:
Willamette National Forest: Officials have imposed fire restrictions throughout the forest, including the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Waldo Lake, and Diamond Peak wilderness areas.
Prohibited are building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including a charcoal, wood, or coal fire. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, and heaters that can be switched on and off are allowed. Smoking is banned except within an enclosed vehicle or building or a developed recreation site.
Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads is banned, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation for ten feet around the vehicle. Exemptions are in place for those operating motor vehicles in the Huckleberry Flats and Santiam Pass OHV areas.
The Willamette National Forest also has closed Ray Benson Sno Park, part of the Santiam Pass Recreation Area. The facility will be used for an incident command post to help with wildfire response and to station firefighters. The closure order is effective through Oct. 15, 2024, unless rescinded or modified sooner. The closure also affects the Benson access road, FS Road 2690-902. Currently, the remainder of the Santiam Pass Recreation Area remains open to approved activities.
Weather: There is good news for the Canyon here. No 100-degree days are forecast for the next couple of weeks, with the high temperatures likely to settle in the high 70s to low 80s through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. It will remain warm but not blisteringly so.
Oregon Department of Forestry: The ODF announced Wednesday, July 24, that it will begin sending out daily fire situation reports because the agency is rating its regional preparedness level and ODF fire activity level at 5. There is no 6.
Editor’s note: This story was compiled from incident reports from the Office of the Oregon Fire Marshal, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Willamette National Forest.
