PR from the Willamette National Forest in Oregon below. Twitter posts follow. Question: If the fire is “creeping and smoldering,” maybe it ought to be monitored, not suppressed, since it probably is a beneficial fire.
Firefighters respond to lightning-caused fire in the Three Sisters Wilderness
McKenzie Bridge, Ore., – July 6, 2023. On July 5, a lightning-caused fire was reported in the Three Sisters Wilderness near Mink Lake Basin north of Park Trail #3530. The fire is named the Moonlight Fire and is approximately 2 acres. Fire behavior is characterized by creeping and smoldering. Currently, 10 smokejumpers are on scene working to suppress the fire. A medium sized type 2 helicopter will arrive later today and will be working out of McKenzie Bridge. Tomorrow, McKenzie River’s 20 person hand crew will arrive in addition to the smokejumpers.
The fire is being managed by McKenzie River Ranger District using full suppression tactics to put the fire out. There is no current threat to structures or nearby communities. We advise the public to please stay out of the area. Updates on Moonlight Fire will continue as needed.
Fire danger level on the Willamette National Forest is “high” and the IFPL level is at IFPLII. There are currently no public use restrictions in place for fire, but Forest Service officials urge everyone to exercise caution while recreating in the woods, especially if they have a campfire. A campfire should be contained in a pre-existing or robust fire ring with a shovel and water in reach. The campfire should be kept small and at least five feet away from any flammable material, including overhanging tree limbs. Never leave a campfire unattended and ensure any burning material is cold to the touch before leaving the area.
Please be aware of current restrictions before you head out and share current information with others who may be unaware of the restrictions. As fire restrictions change, information will be available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/willamette/fire. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @WillametteNF for the latest updates. To report a wildfire, please call 9-1-1.
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Deschutes National Forest Twitter posts:
(3/3) The fire is being managed by McKenzie River Ranger District using full suppression tactics to put the fire out. There is no current threat to structures or nearby communities. We advise the public to please stay out of the area.
(2/3) Currently, 10 smokejumpers are on scene working to suppress the fire. A medium sized type 2 helicopter will arrive later today and will be working out of McKenzie Bridge. Tomorrow, McKenzie River’s 20 person hand crew will arrive in addition to the smokejumpers.
(1/3) On July 5, a lighting-caused fire was reported in the Three Sisters Wilderness near Mink Lake Basin north of Park Trail #3530. The fire is named as the Moonlight Fire and is approximately 2 acres. The fire behavior is characterized by creeping and smoldering.
I disagree with monitoring this fire. Suppress it. We’ve seen enough of the catastrophic results of “monitoring” several of these fires. The Cedar Creek Fire just several miles south of the Mink Lake basin was monitored last August until conditions changed it from a “creeping ground fire” into a 125000 acre out of control blaze that required the evacuation of 3000+ residents of Oakridge,OR. The Cedar Creek fire blackened nearly the entire Waldo Lake Wilderness area which borders the Three Sisters Wilderness where this Mink Lake basin fire is located. I believe it was only 3 years ago that a similar fire was “monitored” in the Opal Creek wilderness until it exploded as well. I seriously doubt that many folks who enjoy and value the Three Sisters Wilderness or the Waldo Lake Wilderness would consider last year’s Cedar Creek Fire or the fire that began in the Opal Creek Wilderness as beneficial.
Good points, Rob. Making the decision for full suppression is naturally an easy one to make, and it’s easy for armchair quarterbacks like me to suggest that monitoring is a good idea. On the other hand, without letting low-intensity fires, whether natural or prescribed, burn in wilderness, fuel loads increase and thus the chances for a high intensity, stand-replacing wildfire.
By coincidence, Mike Archer had ths link in his wildfire news update today:
Report: Cedar Creek Fire was ‘too dangerous’ for initial firefighting attack
https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/local/2023/07/07/report-cedar-creek-fire-was-too-dangerous-for-us-forest-service-initial-firefighting-attack-wildfire/70389580007/
A wildfire that burned 127,283 acres near Waldo Lake, brought evacuations to Oakridge and filled Willamette Valley air with smoke for much of late summer and early fall last year was deemed “too dangerous” to directly attack in the earliest stages of the blaze, according to a report issued Thursday by the U.S. Forest Service.
The report is the storymap mentioned here earlier this week,
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bd5c202464d84fff80e5271c880ca4d1
FWIW: Low-intensity fires are not necessarily natural and normal throughout much of the Three Sisters Wilderness. Much of this Wilderness area is comprised of silver fir, subalpine fir, mountain hemlock, western hemlock, lodgepole pine, and true fir….forest types that naturally and normally burn at moderate to high-intensity.
Well Matthew, there is that, 🤣🤣. Yes, put it out; too many “experiments” in that part of the county have went sour. Another flop and the FS might lose the ability to manage fire in the “right” ecosystems….
They had a plane offer to drop water on cedar cr, the USFS declined. The old cedar cr trail goes right up through that draw. Logged and Fell as steep and steeper ground. USFS just did as all they do now. Watch, waste money and collect pay for doing little. I used to fall lightening strike old growth for the USFS in the late 80’s. Fell some nasty stuff on really steep ground. Now, everybody uses the Fear card to watch from the road. Back burn is their miracle cure for everything. Just like their miracle cure for fixing sink and pot holes in the road is a Can of spray paint to make and arrow and saying “Bump”. It likely was too Dangerous on Cedar Cr, For the USFS. Let the private sector take care of stuff if things need to get done. Not going to be a stand of green trees on government land with the USFS leading the show.