Middle Fork Complex fires nearly triple in size; road and camp closures ordered – The Register-Guard

Fighting the Middle Fork Complex Fire

A firefighter looks looks back at the battle to defeat the fires near Oakridge

Chris Pietsch, The Register-Guard

The Middle Fork Complex fires nearOakridge grew more than 1,100 acres between Monday and Tuesday, reaching1,707 acres total in size, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The complex is at 5% containment.

The Gales Creek Fire, the largest of thecomplex's 12 fires, increased from 400 acres to 1,268 acres, with 0% containment as of Tuesday. It's located south of Big Fall Creek Road (Forest Road 18) near Forest Road 1835.

Seven of the Middle Fork Complex's smaller wildfires areat100% containment. The fires were ignited by lightning and range fromFall Creek, Hills Creek Reservoir and north of Huckleberry. There are463 personnel, fiveaircraft and 22 fire engines responding, according to a Tuesday morning Forest Service update.

MarkThibideau, a public information officer for the Middle Fork Complex,said Tuesday any increase in fire acreage is a concern, addingthat much of the Gales Creek Fire is on steep, rocky ground that is difficult for firefighters.

"It's super steep, there's lots of opportunity for an injury, so they're really taking their time and making sure they're making the right decisions," Thibideau said.

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Heavy equipment will be used to remove vegetation along forest roads 1824 and 220in response.

Time lapse of the Middle Fork Complex

Time lapse video of the Middle Fork Complex Fire east of Oakridge on July 30, 2021.

Chris Pietsch, The Register-Guard

The main priorities, Thibideau said, are to keep firefighters safe, while also keeping fires as small as possible and making direct and indirect containment lines.

There has been one injury and no structures lost, he added.

Firefighters will focuson the Kwis Fire on Tuesday, Thibideau said, which has grownfrom 40 acres on Sunday to204 acres. It's located near Salmon Creek Road, roughly 5 miles east of Oakridge, the closest fire to the town.

"Fire crews are really honing in on that one today, and hope to make great progress there," Thibideau said. "That's based on the priorities or the values that would be at risk. It's kind of a chess match almost where you have to put the right people in the right place to protect the most that we can."

Of the other fires in the complex, firefighters are still battling the fire at Ninemile Creek, which is now 143 acres.Fire engines and crews will beworking to establish a containment line along Forest Road 1834, which ties inwith the Road 339.

The 6-acre Elephant Rock Fire, which is approximately 2 miles to the southeast of the Gales fire, has held at 6acres and is 0% contained.

The 78-acre Windfall Fire is now at 80% containment, located south of Cougar Reservoir, where crews will continue mop-up efforts.

The Devils Canyon, Packard, Way, Larison Cove, Warble, Journey and Symbol Rock firesrangefrom 0.1 to 3 acresand are 100% contained.

Lane County issued a Level 3 Go Nowevacuation notice Sunday for all people living, camping and recreating along Big Fall Creek Road (Forest Road 18), east of the intersection with Forest Road 1821. That evacuation area includes Pumaand Bedrock campgrounds. Evacuation information is available atwww.lanecountyor.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=15883712.

The Forest Service issued an emergency area closure Monday within the area ofthe Middle Fork Complex, meaningall "roads, trails, developed recreation sites, dispersed camping, and entering of National Forest System" land in the closure area is prohibited. Here are the roads and recreation sites closed to the public:

Campfires are still prohibited on the entire Willamette National Forest due to very high fire danger and ongoing active fires.

Louis Krauss covers breaking news for The Register-Guard. Contact him at lkrauss@registerguard.com or 541-521-2498, and follow him on Twitter @LouisKraussNews.

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Middle Fork Complex fires nearly triple in size; road and camp closures ordered - The Register-Guard