PRINEVILLE, Ore. -- All evacuation levels for the nearly 374,000-acre Rowe Creek Complex have been removed, the Crook County Sheriff's Office said Monday.
However, they advised: "Fire crews are still working in the area, use caution and pay attention to changing conditions."
Fire officials provided these details Monday on the mop-up operations:
Crews continue to mop up heat sources along the over 600 miles of fireline on the Rowe Creek Complex. During mop=up operations, firefighters hunt down and eliminate remaining sources of heat so the fire cannot escape its control lines or reignite later. It can be slow and methodical, but it is a very critical part of the suppression processes.
Primary ways firefighters detect heat during mop up is cold trailing, grid searches, and infrared technology (IR).
Cold trailing is when firefighters walk the edge of the extinguished line, feeling with the back of their hand, scraping with tools, and checking for residual heat in duff, roots, and logs.
During grid searches, crews conduct organized grids through the burned area and sometimes into the unburned area to detect hot spots. Airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with mounted infrared technology are used to locate hot spots across wide burn areas, especially where ground access is steep and difficult.
Firefighters expose and extinguish hot spots by breaking apart smoldering logs, stumps, roots and ash pits with hand tools like pulaskis and shovels. They apply water from engines, pumps, and hose lays to cool heat sources. The picture here shows a downed tree with internal heat remaining near the southern edge of the Rowe Creek Complex. Firefighters are using small diameter hose to extinguish the hot spots.
Here's the Monday morning update on the fire:
Size: 373,927 acres
Percent Contained: 92%
Cause: Natural/Lightning
Personnel: 1,107
OPERATIONAL UPDATE:
The Rowe Creek Complex remains within its current perimeter. Crews continue to patrol containment lines and mop up remaining heat. Heat can remain in stumps, logs and other heavy fuels for days or weeks. Crews continue checking these areas to keep remaining heat from threatening containment lines.
Work continues the southern contingency line. A contingency line is a backup fireline that gives firefighters another place to engage the fire if it crosses existing containment lines.
Resource advisors and archaeologists are working alongside crews to identify sensitive areas and help protect natural and cultural resources. Their input helps guide where and how firefighters use equipment, as well as how firelines and other suppression impacts are repaired.
Suppression repair continues to be a major incident priority. Crews are repairing firelines and roads, restoring drainage, removing hazard trees and chipping vegetation. Restoring drainage helps water move naturally across the landscape. This reduces erosion and supports stream health and aquatic habitat.
Gravel work at the Twickenham Boat Ramp is complete, and work around Opal Creek is nearing completion. Resources are beginning to shift to the Green Mountain Trail system for additional suppression repair.
WEATHER: Monday will be hotter and drier, with temperatures in the 80s and relative humidity falling into the lower teens. Fuels remain very dry and receptive to ignition. While significant growth is not expected on the Rowe Creek Complex, a new ignition could spread quickly. Wetting rain is possible beginning Wednesday and could help cool remaining heat. However, logs, stumps and other heavy fuels can continue to hold heat even after rain.
EVACUATIONS:
Evacuation orders are issued by the county sheriff’s offices. For the most up-to-date information, visit:Crook County:
https://www.facebook.com/CrookCountySheriff
Interactive Evacuation map:
FOREST AND BLM CLOSURES:
Road, trail and area closures remain in effect for public and firefighter safety. For current closure information, visit the Ochoco National Forest
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/ochoco?utm_source=chatgpt.com
or the BLM Oregon-Washington Fire Restrictions page
https://www.blm.gov/.../oregon.../fire-restrictions...
FIRE PREVENTION: Forests and grasslands may place some areas off limits to hunting. Check local fire restrictions, alerts, and area closures in the area you are planning to visit. Please Know Before You Go.
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