Note: Click here for Cougar Peak Fire Sunday Updates
Evening Update: Cougar Peak Fire for Saturday, September 11, 2021.
Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock
Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers
September 11, 2021 – Evening
WE WILL NEVER FORGET – 9/11/2001
General Updates: Fire managers continue to work in unified command and are closely coordinating with local agencies, resources, and community partners.
Today, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s taskforces revisited structures that were impacted by fire and mopped up 100 feet out from each structure. This further secures structures from a potential rekindle that could threaten the residence in the future. Crews also worked on Cox Butte and Round Mountain to protect communications infrastructure that is still near the fire perimeter.
Resources made substantial progress using roads, handline and dozer lines to create lines around the fire. Crews and engines continue to lay hose and mop up along the southern and eastern edges of the fire. On the western side of the fire, containment strategies of indirect line options continue to be evaluated. In the following days strategic firing operations will be conducted in areas where containment line has been constructed and tied to road systems. Fire growth was minimal today. Warmer temperatures are beginning to dry out fuels and internal pockets of areas that had not originally burned, are becoming more active.
Aviation assets were available today after the smoke cleared from the fire area and were able to recon the fire area for fire managers. Fire officials and crews have also been working with the local rangeland managers to locate missing cattle and identify livestock that has perished as a result of the fire.
One firefighter was transported by helicopter off the fire today to Klamath Falls Hospital for a non-fire related illness. Paramedics and EMT’s on the fire responded to assist quickly and effectively transported the individual to a higher level of care.
Tonight, resources will remain on the fire with the priority of patrolling and mopping up the fire impacted properties. OSFM task forces will be assessing structures to the west of the fire and reassessing structures around the active fire area. With minimal winds predicted tonight, smoke is expected to settle into the valley floors overnight and into the morning.
Behavior: Fire spread tonight will be minimal. Relative humidity will be higher than last night, and this will be the trend for the upcoming days. Afternoon spread potential will continue to increase as the fuels dry, and temperatures warm.
Acreage: 85,901
Containment: 0%
Cause: Undetermined
Fire Information: (541) 900-5788 (8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.)
E-mail: 2021.cougarpeak@firenet.gov
Information Websites:
Facebook: “Cougar Peak Fire 2021”
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7835/
Air Quality: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Weather: Tonight, there will be clear skies with smoke settling into the valley floors. Light drainage winds and northwest transport winds are expected through the night. Temperatures will average 42 % and relative humidity will vary from lows of 55% on the ridgetops and 70% in the valleys. Tomorrow evening winds are expected to be gusty again with gusts up to 20mph predicted from the north.
Resources-793: 1 - type 1 hand crew, 2 - type 2 IA hand crews, 14 - type 2 hand crews, 3 - camp crews, 3 - heavy lift helicopters, 2 - medium lift helicopters, 1 - light lift helicopter, 65 - engines, 14 - dozers, 25 - water tenders, and 2 - masticators.
Evacuations: Multiple Evacuation Levels have been issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. See this link for entering a specific address in the upper right corner in this interactive map:
https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/...PublicInformation/index.html...
See the website and Facebook for a full description of the evacuation levels. Link is below.
https://www.lakecountyor.org/index.php
https://www.facebook.com/Lake-County-Oregon-104435824529906
Temporary Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Cougar Peak Fire. Please consult the Notice to Airman for specifics.
Red Cross Evacuation Shelter: The Lakeview shelter and planned emergency shelter in LaPine will both be on standby starting Saturday. If the need arises, staff are available to reopen the shelter.
Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Whenever a drone is spotted near the fire, all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.
An average of 85% of fires in the Pacific Northwest are started by humans. Please continue to do your part and be fire aware, know fire restrictions in areas you are visiting and practice safe summer outings! #OnlyYouCanPreventWildfires
For the latest restrictions and regulations, including Oregon Department of Forestry and federal agencies, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml. Make sure to Know Before You Go.
Map Shows Divisions, Uncontrolled Fire Edge, Completed Dozer Lines.
Morning Video Update:
Update 9:45 A.M.
September 11, 2021 – Morning
WE WILL NEVER FORGET – 9/11/2001
Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock, in unified command with Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Incident Management Blue Team, Scott Magers Incident Commander, is managing the Cougar Peak Fire. General Updates: The Cougar Peak Fire's southern edge is approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview.
After yesterday’s significant rainfall, fire activity was relatively quiet. Night shift crews and heavy equipment completed contingency lines in the southwest portion of the fire to protect private timber lands. Today, firefighters are scouting and prepping line, continuing north up the west side of the fire in anticipation of drying fuels for burn operations in the area. On the north portion, crews are tying in light fuels in the valley to minimize impacts, and cold trailing. On the east flank, dozers and crews are constructing direct line to protect additional private timber land. Moving south on the east flank, direct line is also being constructed to tie into previously constructed line in the south to secure the fire’s edge. Firefighters will be looking at opportunities for indirect burning operations in the next few days while weather conditions are favorable to do so. There was minimal fire growth reported yesterday and the increase is likely from burning that happened prior to the rain.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office currently has six taskforces working during the day and four taskforces working at night. Key focuses for firefighters today will be mopping up near structures on the eastern and northeastern flanks of the fire. Crews will also be working today to assess homes on the westside of the fire.
Another key focus for structural firefighters will be the protection of critical infrastructure on Round Mountain. The mountain is home to FFA communication, internet and cellular tower services that are vital to the area.
Behavior:Fine fuel moistures today will be in the 6-8% range. Low fire behavior is expected through all fuel types with creeping surface fire and single or small group torching under protected canopies in timber. Afternoon spread will be possible in light fuels by late afternoon.
Acreage: 85,901 Containment: 0% Cause: Under Investigation Fire Information: (541) 900-5788 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) E-mail: 2021.cougarpeak@firenet.gov
Air Quality: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Weather: Today will have a light haze and a few afternoon clouds. Temperatures in the valleys will be 71-76 degrees, with a relative humidity of 19-23%. Winds will be light and variable in the morning, becoming north-northwest in the afternoon at 5-8 mph with gusts less than 15 mph.
In some years, the amount of rain we have received at this time of year could be considered a season ending event. This season, however, is not a typical season. This area is in its second consecutive year of drought and entered this fire season in the highest classification of drought measure possible. Likewise, fuel moistures have been at or near record lows for most of the year. Just as yesterday’s rains will not fill our empty reservoirs, it will also not automatically bring an end to this fire season.
Resources-694: 1 - type 1 hand crew, 3 - type 2 IA hand crews, 11 - type 2 hand crews, 2 - camp crews, 3 - heavy lift helicopters, 2 - medium lift helicopters, 1 - light lift helicopter, 64 - engines, 10 - dozers, 19 - water tenders, and 2 - masticators.
Evacuations: Multiple Evacuation Levels have been issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. See this link for entering a specific address in the upper right corner in this interactive map:
https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=f8a0d8814a67445a9e6bf3485f4fd24f See the website and Facebook for a full description of the evacuation levels. Link is below. https://www.lakecountyor.org/index.php https://www.facebook.com/Lake-County-Oregon-104435824529906 Temporary Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Cougar Peak Fire. Please consult the Notice to Airman for specifics.
Red Cross Evacuation Shelter: The Lakeview shelter and planned emergency shelter in LaPine will both be on standby starting Saturday. If the need arises, staff are available to reopen the shelter.
Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Whenever a drone is spotted near the fire, all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.
An average of 85% of fires in the Pacific Northwest are started by humans. Please continue to do your part and be fire aware, know fire restrictions in areas you are visiting and practice safe summer outings! #OnlyYouCanPreventWildfires
For the latest restrictions and regulations, including Oregon Department of Forestry and federal agencies, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml. Make sure toKnow Before You Go.
Click here for: Oregon Cougar Peak Fire Friday, September 10, 2021 Updates
