Whitewater Fire
Whitewater Fire | |
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![]() Smoke from Whitewater Fire around Mt. Jefferson in August 2017 | |
Location | Mount Jefferson Wilderness, Oregon, United States |
Coordinates | 44°42′29″N 121°51′22″W / 44.708°N 121.856°WCoordinates: 44°42′29″N 121°51′22″W / 44.708°N 121.856°W |
Statistics[1] | |
Date(s) | July 23, 2017 – |
Burned area | 11,493 acres (47 km2) |
Cause | Lightning |
Map | |
![]() ![]() Location of fire in Oregon. |
The Whitewater Fire is a wildfire currently burning in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, approximately 13 miles east of Detroit, Oregon, United States. The fire, which was caused by a lightning strike and first reported on July 23, 2017, has burned 11,493 acres (47 km2) and is currently 64% contained. It is one of eight fires to burn in Willamette National Forest in the fall of 2017.
Events
The Whitewater Fire was started by a lightning strike in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness near the Whitewater Creek. The fire was first reported on July 23, 2017, at 5:35 PM by a commercial airplane that spotted the smoke. By the next day, the fire had grown to 65 acres (0 km2) due to high winds, low humidity and high temperatures.[2][3] The US Forest Service closed numerous trails in response to the fire's growth, including portions of Whitewater, Cheat Creek, Triangulation and Crag trails.[3] Two days later, on July 25, a forest service road off of Highway 20 was closed.[4] The fire grew somewhat, but calm weather kept it under 100 acres and the Hoodoo ski area became an Incident Command Post.[5]
By August 1, the fire had grown to 167 acres (1 km2) and 11-miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and South Breitenbusch Trail were closed due to concerns with the fire's growth due to hot and dry weather.[6] Due to the heavy fuels and hot, dry weather the fire grew to 1,500 acres (6 km2) overnight and was 10% contained. Air resources began to be utilized due to the growth.[7] By August 3, the Whitewater Fire expanded north and south to 4,579 acres (19 km2) acres, and reaching Woodpecker and Breitenbush creeks. Fire crews began digging firelines and clearing roadside vegetation.[8] The air quality in nearby Detroit declined rapidly, with ash falling from the sky.[5] Aircraft were unable to provide air support due to low visibility.[9] On August 5, Super Scoopers began collecting water from Detroit Lake and select trailheads were closed in Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest.[10][11] By mid-August, the Little Devil Fire started about two miles northwest of the Whitewater Fire.[12]
At the start of September, the Whitewater Fire had grown to 10,445 acres (42 km2).[13] Air quality still remained poor in Detroit and declined in Breitenbush.[14] The final Willamette National Forest update on the Whitewater Fire was on September 26, 2017. The fire had burned 11,493 acres (47 km2) and was 64% contained. Forest Service Road 45 reopened to traffic with all other trail and road closures remaining in place. Fire crews continue to implement cleanup, suppression and repair.[1]
References
- 1 2 "FINAL Update Whitewater fires Sept 26, 2017". InciWeb. Willamette National Forest. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Whitewater Fire". InciWeb. Willamette National Forest. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- 1 2 "New wildfire burns 65 acres in Mt. Jefferson Wilderness". KTVZ. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ Paul, Alex. "Air, hand crews battle fire in Mt. Jefferson Wilderness". Albany Democrat Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- 1 2 Urness, Zach. "Wildfire could impact eclipse plans in Mount Jefferson Wilderness". KGW. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Fire managers to close Jefferson Park and portion of Pacific Crest Trail Monday morning". KVAL. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Whitewater Fire Update August 2, 2017". Whitewater Fire News Release. Willamette National Forest. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Whitewater Fire Update August 3, 2017". InciWeb. US Forest Service. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Whitewater Fire Update August 4, 2017". InciWeb. US Forest Service. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Whitewater Fire Update Aug. 5, 2017". InciWeb. US Forest Service. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Whitewater Fire Update - August 6, 2017". InciWeb. Willamette National Forest. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Whitewater Fire Update – August 17". InciWeb. Willamette National Forest. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Willamette Fire Update - September 2". InciWeb. Willamette National Forest. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Willamette Fire Update - September 3". InciWeb. Willamette National Forest. Retrieved 10 December 2017.