Work transitions to mop-up on Cottonwood Creek Fire
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
FOSSIL, OR – (Press Release from the Oregon Department of Forestry)
UPDATE: Operations across the 159 acre Cottonwood Creek Fire have fully transitioned to mop-up work. Hoselays have been completed, with water being distributed to all parts of the fire as needed. Containment for the fire has increased to 40% as of late Monday afternoon. The fire was ignited by lighting from a passing thunderstorm Thursday afternoon, but was not reported until mid-day Friday. Dozers, wildland engines, helicopters and airtankers were successful in stopping forward growth of the fire by late Friday evening.
Burning snags and “rollers” have concerned firefighters for the last several days as they worked to strengthen firelines and keep the fire within the original footprint. “Rollers” are burning chunks of logs or other material that can ignite un-burned fuels as they roll down steep terrain. These “rollers” and embers from the snags can create spotfires outside the fire’s edge. The work completed by firefighters to mop-up and cool active areas of the fire, fall snags and widen the cold black adjacent to the dozer line has significantly mitigated the risk of the fire moving outside the fireline. Firefighters will continue mop-up work on the fire, focusing on areas of active flames and gridding for heat near the fireline.
The fire is being managed by a Type 3 organization from ODF’s Central Oregon District. Ten wildland engines, five hand crews, three water tenders, and additional overhead are assigned to the fire. Local aircraft are available as need to support firefighting activities.
A Regulated-Use Closure is in effect for the Central Oregon District to reduce human caused fires. The closure restricts mowing of dried grass, cutting and grinding of metal, and chainsaw use between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. as well as prohibiting campfires, cooking fires and warming fires. The full proclamation and restrictions are available at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html. Industrial operations on forestland within the Central Oregon District also have restrictions in place. Details for these activities are found at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/IFPL.html. Preventing human caused fires allows firefighters to focus suppression effort on fires started by lightning. These focused activities result in smaller fires with less damage to natural resources and communities and fewer impacts to air quality.
For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED (8/1/2021) : Overnight the Cottonwood Creek Fire remained within the established firelines. Light precipitation fell across the fire but was not enough to impact fire fighting activity today. On Saturday the fire was mapped at 159 acres with 10% containment. The increased size is due to improved mapping by firefighters, not from fire growth. The fire was reported mid-day Friday approximately five miles south of Fossil, burning on private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District.
Firefighters worked Saturday to reduce heat and flames near the fire’s edge and strengthening the dozer line. Helicopters were used to cool areas of intense heat, allowing firefighters to break down larger fuels and mop-up these areas. Snags within the fire perimeter, especially near the fire’s edge created both a hazard to firefighters and posed a risk of spreading fire across firelines into unburned fuels. Firefighters focused on falling these snags Saturday. A few minor slopovers occurred due to rolling burning material in steep terrain and embers from falling snags. Firefighters were able to quickly build fireline around these areas and mop-up any heat in the area.
Today firefighters will be working to increase the area of cold black between the dozer line and areas of heat or flame. They will be focusing in the areas of timber and heavier fuels which typically hold fire longer. Firefighters will use tenders and hoselays to distribute water around the fire area to use in this mop-up work. A hoselay allows firefighters to pump water from an engine or portable tank through a series of hoses to efficiently provide water to all parts of the fire.
The fire is being managed by a Type 3 organization from ODF’s Central Oregon District. Twelve wildland engines, five hand crews, three water tenders, a dozer, and additional overhead are assigned to the fire. Local aircraft are available as need to support firefighting activities.
A Regulated-Use Closure is in effect for the Central Oregon District to reduce human caused fires. The closure restricts mowing of dried grass, cutting and grinding of metal, and chainsaw use between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. as well as prohibiting campfires, cooking fires and warming fires. The full proclamation and restrictions are available at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html. Industrial operations on forestland within the Central Oregon District also have restrictions in place. Details for these activities are found at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/IFPL.html. Preventing human caused fires allows firefighters to focus suppression effort on fires started by lightning. These focused activities result in smaller fires with less damage to natural resources and communities and fewer impacts to air quality.
For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
