Oregon's Deception Complex Fire Update

A Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity is in effect through 8:00 p.m. Sunday.

Firefighter on the Deception Complex fire. Photo: Oregon Department of Forestry

(EUGENE, Ore.) - The Deception Complex fire is expected to become more active, especially from noon through 5:00 p.m., as relative humidity drops to 10 to 15%. Winds will generally be out of the southwest to west at 10 miles per hour. However, as a surface low pressure system moves over the area around mid-day Saturday, winds could become very gusty and erratic.

Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 4 with Incident Commander Brian J. Watts assumed management of the fire at 6 a.m. Saturday morning. This team managed the fire previously so they are very familiar with the area and the tactics being used to suppress the fire.

Fire suppression standards were met on the Staley and Davey Fires and have been turned back to the Willamette National Forest. The acres have from yesterday have been reduced to reflect this transfer.

Yesterday, mop up continued on the east, north, and northwest containment lines. Firefighters continued to hold and improve fire lines along the west edge of the fire. No heavy-lift helicopters were used yesterday, due to heavy smoke concentrations to cool down hot spots within containment lines.

Fire in the Kueger Rock, Fivepoint Hill, and Little Deception Rock areas burned within the established fire lines until 2:30 this morning, helping to further secure the western perimeter containment lines.

Mop up (extinguishing all burning material) along the east, north and northwest side of the fire will continue today. Timber fellers made significant headway along the western edge of the fire yesterday falling hazardous trees that have fire weakened root systems. Firefighters will be then able to safely move into those areas to begin mop up. Helicopter activity may be observed over the next few days extinguishing hot spots inside the fire perimeter. The 856 firefighters, eight helcopters, 41 engines, three dozers, and thirteen water tenders assigned to the Deception Complex are poised to respond if the fire makes active runs toward the west flank.

Smoke is expected to settle into low-lying areas over night and remain through mid-morning. Additionally, winds out of the southwest will periodically push smoke into the Westfir and Oakridge areas throughout the day. For additional air quality information see the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency website at oregonsmoke,blogspot.com or http://www.lrapa.org.

Public use restrictions, area, road and trial closures are in effect and can be viewed at:

Willamette National Forest

Umpqua National Forest

Fire Summary

Size: 5,286 acres

Fire Information: 541-782-5545

DeceptionComplex@gmail.com

www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4093/