News Release 10/03/08 9am PT
Incident: Lonesome Complex Wildfire
Released: 10/3/2008
News Release - 10/03/08 9:00 a.m. PT
Yesterday's Activities: Within the fire perimeter, the fire crept and smoldered through ground level fuels. Firefighters have finished mop-up on the west side of the fire and are working on fire rehabilitation work. Rehabilitation work on the east side of the fire was completed, that area will continue to be patrolled. Crews removed hose and excess fire suppression equipment. Fire rehabilitation work is being done in cooperation with the National Park Service and Forest Service. Helicopter operations were suspended at about 10:00 am due to low visibility.
Weather and Fire Behavior: There was widespread rainfall on the fire yesterday. Much cooler and moister weather aided in reducing fire activity and spread. More rain and cooler temperatures will continue into Sunday morning and fire behavior will continue to moderate as the moisture level in fuels rises. There are still dry areas where the tree canopy is heavy.
Today's Planned Actions: Fire rehabilitation work continues on the west side of the fire today. As weather allows, air support will assist with removal of excess equipment and supplies including two remote automated weather stations. Firefighters will patrol the east side of the fire.
A Type III incident command team led by Dick Booth will be shadowing PNW Team 3 today. The Type III team is scheduled to take command of Lonesome Complex tomorrow at 6:00am. PNW Team 3 thanks the National Forests, Park Service and local communities for their support while they have been assigned to the Lonesome Complex.
Closures: Closures remain in effect to provide for firefighter and public safety. For up-to-date trail, road and campground closure information on National Forest or Park Service lands, please contact the appropriate land management agency. Websites are listed below.
Huckleberry Mt. Campground on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is open.
There are closures in the following general areas:
· Crater Lake National Park south of Highway 62
· Northwest corner of the Fremont-Winema National Forests, mostly in the Sky Lakes Wilderness
· Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest north and south of Red Blanket Canyon as well as in the northern quarter of the Sky Lakes Wilderness.
· On Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands, campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds.
As rifle season opens this weekend for hunters, visitors are asked to please check with the Rogue River-Siskiyou or Fremont-Winema National Forest for information about campfire restrictions.
FOR ADDITIONAL AND UPDATED LOCAL FIRE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
www.InciWeb.org/, Rogue River-Siskiyou NF: www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue-siskiyou/,
Fremont-Winema NFs : www.fs.fed.us/r6/frewin/, Crater Lake NP : http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
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Quick Facts
Lonesome Complex Summary
Location: 12 miles East of Prospect, OR
Approximate Size: 21,125 acres
Fire Containment: 50%
Start Date: August 16, 2008
Cause: Lightning
Incident Commander: Jeff Pendleton, PNW Team 3
Resources on the Fire: 4 crews, 2 helicopters, 5 engines, 6 water tenders
Total Personnel: 328
Estimated Containment Date: October 15, 2008
Cooperating Agencies: USFS NPS
Landowners: USFS NPS
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For information on an interesting firefighting tool, Palm IR, see the PDF Document available under Related Information.
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This Fire Update was produced by the Lonesome Information Center, staffed by PNW Team 3 Incident Management Team.
