2011 fire season ends Oct. 24

Fire season 2011 ended statewide today, when the last Oregon Department of Forestry district remaining in season, Northeast Oregon District, announced its closure.

The season started out slow with a cool, wet spring that delayed the onset of fire activity several weeks. By mid-July when Oregon’s fire season typically hits full stride, 144 fires had burned just 136 acres on the lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) – low numbers compared to the running 10-year average of 388 fires burning nearly 13,000 acres. ODF protects a total of 16 million acres of private and public lands from fire.

By the middle of August, the summer weather pattern had finally set in. But the statistics - 279 fires burning 244 acres – still lagged behind the 10-year mark for that point in the year: 699 fires burning nearly 23,000 acres.

Dry lightning, the cause of most large Oregon wildfires, remained relatively light through mid-summer. Then on Aug. 25 – late in the season for intense thunderstorm activity – an onslaught of 8,500 strikes ignited numerous fires. Aggressive response by firefighters stopped most of the lightning starts on ODF-protected lands, and none of them grew into large fires.

In summary, the generally favorable weather, lack of drought conditions, higher live-fuel moistures across the state (which limited rapid fire growth), pre-staging of key firefighting resources, and an aggressive initial-attack approach led to a successful fire season for ODF, its partner agencies and Oregon’s forest landowners.

Wildfire update - October 19, 2011

Statewide, only the Northeast Oregon District remains in fire season. While fire conditions have moderated with the onset of fall weather patterns, the combination of a sunny day and wind can quickly dry out fine fuels such as grasses and shrubs and create the opportunity for a wildfire to start. Please be mindful of fire safety when recreating or working in the forest.

Fire update, Oct. 12, 2011

No new fires 10 acres or larger have been reported so far this week on the lands protected by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry.

Wildfire update - Oct. 9, 2011

The 97-acre Albee Road Fire reported Oct. 8 burning one mile northeast of Ukiah in the Pendleton Unit of the Northeast Oregon District was fully lined on Sunday and in mop-up. Cause of the fire was an escaped debris burn.

Fire update - Oct. 7, 2011

No new fires 10 acres or larger were reported on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands during the past 24 hours. With the onset of fall weather patterns statewide, only the Central Oregon District, Northeast Oregon District and Coos Forest Protective Association remain in fire season.

Wildfire update for Oct. 6, 2011

No new fires 10 acres or larger were reported in the past 24 hours on the lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Rain fell yesterday on the Bologna Canyon Fire in the Central Oregon District, aiding firefighters. The fire is currently in mop-up.

With the onset of fall weather patterns, most forest protection districts across the state have ended fire season.

Bologna Canyon Fire burns 30 acres in central Oregon

The 30-acre Bologna Canyon Fire reported Tuesday burning on steep terrain nine miles west of Monument in the Central Oregon District is nearly contained. Winds complicated the firefighting effort. The fire is burning in grass, juniper and juniper slash. Resources fighting the fire at the peak of activity included one air tanker, a lead plane (guide to the tankers), two helicopters, four fire engines, a squad of firefighters and a bulldozer. The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management assisted the Oregon Department of Forestry with aerial and ground firefighting resources. Cause of the fire is under investigation.