Saturday Morning Update, September 19, 2009
Incident: Tumblebug Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/19/2009
(Oakridge, OR) Fire activity increased significantly on Friday as the relative humidity dropped below 20%. Fires 119 and 123 have burned together, increasing in size by 30 to 50 acres, and are now being managed as a single fire within the Tumblebug Complex.
Fire officials are shifting to a less direct strategy to more safely contain the 119/123 fire. "We're going to be working with the terrain to stop the fire, rather than working against it," said District Ranger Chip Weber. In order to prevent dangerous exposure to firefighters in canyons below the fire, the altered strategy will be to make more use of nearby roads, located above the steepest slopes, as firelines.
As the fire continues to grow, more road closures are being planned to ensure the safety of firefighters and the public. "It's been our intent to keep closures to an absolute minimum," said Weber. "We'll continue with that philosophy, but we're going to have to add some roads to the closure list in the next day or two."
Closure information will be posted on the fire website at www.inciweb.org/incident/1894/, or can be obtained by calling the Middle Fork Ranger Station at 541-782-2283 on week-days.
Relative humidity in the fire area is higher today, so more moderate fire behavior is expected. There is a chance of showers this afternoon, with clearing by this evening. Warmer weather is predicted Sunday and well into next week.
A local Type 3 Management Team led by Incident Commander Chris Hays is directing the suppression effort.
The Tumblebug Complex is burning on the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest, 24 miles southeast of Oakridge.
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Fire At A Glance
Size: 230 Acres
Containment: 10%
Location: 24 Miles SE of Oakridge, OR
Cause: Lightning
Date of Ignition: September 12
Personnel: 453
Helicopters: 7
Crews: 12
Engines: 11
Closures/Restrictions:
Forest Road 2144 Road and all spurs are closed to the public.
Sacandaga Campground is the spike camp for 100+ firefighters and is therefore not available to the public.
Fire Information:
Contact: Tom Berglund
Phone: 541-554-5293
Email:
