Between the friction in the clouds above and unrelenting drought conditions below, Lane County and the rest of the state are stuck between a rock and a hard place this fire season.
June marked the 25th driest month on record and the 47th driest year to date over the past 131 years, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, affecting nearly every aspect of life, from agriculture to water supply, tourism, recreation, and public health.
According to the Oregon Water Conditions Report, released on Monday by the Oregon Water Resources Department, there is significant wildfire potential over the next week. For most of the state, the risk is shifting toward low to moderate from Wednesday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 31.
What’s more is that the chaos has started cropping up at home. During the past two weeks, precipitation was below normal for much of the state, while temperatures were above normal, creating a tinderbox effect across the state.
Sugar Loaf and Emigrant fires
On Sunday, Aug. 24, around 3 p.m., a fire was reported in the Cottage Grove Ranger District, affecting an estimated eight acres just east of Sugarloaf Mountain. By 3 p.m. on Monday, it had grown to 35 acres, according to the U.S. Fire Service.
The Emigrant Fire, reported around the same time on Aug. 24, has since escalated to an estimated 3,500 acres. Firefighters are taking every available opportunity for an aggressive full-suppression response, despite the challenging weather and terrain. Resources will remain deployed to the fire into the evening, as reported by Watch Duty.
The Emigrant Fire originated in a remote area in the Middle Fork Ranger District, approximately three miles southwest of Indigo Springs Campground. It is located on steep slopes within a heavily snagged area that was affected by the 2009 Tumblebug Fire.
This week, a Red Flag Warning is in effect due to thunderstorms and unstable conditions, which are expected to contribute to additional fire growth. Resources currently responding include firefighting crews, air support, helicopters, and other heavy equipment. Additional resources arrived yesterday, with more expected soon.
On Monday, firefighters conducted scouting operations to identify options for constructing firelines and improving containment lines previously used during the 2009 Tumblebug Fire.
On Tuesday, they continued to scout potential line placements to the east, south, and west of the fire. Crews and engines are strategically working to maintain control and keep the fire south of Forest Service Road 21.
The forecast predicts high instability and outflow winds from thunderstorms, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph over the fire area.
Smoke and air quality information is available at oregonsmoke.org/ and lrapa-or.gov/air-quality-protection/current-aqi/.
Saginaw fire
On Aug. 21, a vegetation fire ignited between Creswell and Cottage Grove, prompting officials to shut down traffic in the area as firefighting teams worked to contain the blaze.
The fire, reported around 2 p.m., was measured at five acres with moderate flames visible along the east side of I-5, stretching between the highway and the Saginaw northbound on-ramp, causing it to spread into nearby trees.
A Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy at the scene said that the cause of the fire remains under investigation, suggesting possibilities ranging from a dragging chain to a faulty catalytic converter.
Emerald People’s Utility reported that approximately 75 customers in the Saginaw area experienced power outages until it was restored just before 4 p.m.
Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire crews were responding to a fire in Saginaw when they received a second report of a brush fire in the 86700-block of Franklin Blvd. The fire was located on a steep bank between the railroad tracks and the river. First-arriving crews quickly cut through the brush and contained the flames, supported by additional personnel during mop-up operations. Despite hot, windy conditions and elevated fire danger, the prompt response limited the fire’s spread, preventing further damage. This incident is believed to be human-caused and occurred in an area lacking fire protection coverage, officials noted.
Scharen Road fire
On Aug. 20, around 5 p.m., Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire & Rescue units, with the Oregon Department of Forestry, responded to a reported field fire in the area of Scharen Road off Hampton Road. Initial reports indicated flames moving quickly through the grass up a hillside toward nearby homes.
Emergency Evacuation orders were issued early due to the potential threat to homes and rapidly changing fire conditions. The evacuation affected the Hideaway Hills neighborhood, extending from the power lines east of Skyhawk Way to Dillard Road, south of Hampton Road.
The fire spread to approximately 3 acres, and it took personnel until Monday morning to lift the last of the evacuation notices as the situation was brought under control.
“Thanks to rapid action and a defensible space created by property owners, crews were able to stop the head of the fire as it reached nearby homes,” according to the Pleasant Hill Goshen fire officials.
The cause of the fire was accidental, resulting from an electrical failure in a nearby outbuilding, according to fire officials.
