OR-FWF-Little Yamsay ???

[ghost7]

Reported Sat Apr 20th.

Lightning fire, managed for resource benefit, with detailed and ongoing documentation on Watch Duty.

Little Yamsay Fire - Incident Commander Update and Overview - May 30, 2024

Update from South Central Oregon Management Partnership

Little Yamsay Fire Update

May 1, 2024

Size: 240 acres

Total Personnel: 100

Location: 15 miles southeast of Chemult, OR on the Fremont-Winema NF

Start Date: Detected April 20, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Forest officials and fire managers are utilizing the Little Yamsay Fire as an opportunity to responsibly and systematically expand the footprint of this naturally-ignited wildfire to mimic a historical low-intensity fire. Some of the resource benefits include enhancing meadows, minimizing the spread of insects and disease, and protecting communities.

Fire reintroduced into the landscape creates significant buffers which will break up the landscape into 10,000 to 20,000 acre treated parcels that will protect against catastrophic wildfires like the Bootleg Fire in 2021. The desired effect of a treated buffer was observed in the Blackhills Project Area that the Bootleg Fire burned through.

With ideal spring burning conditions, crews initiated firing operations on the northeast portion of the fire in the phase one block, burning approximately 200 acres. While favorable conditions are present, firing operations will continue in the phase one block with the potential for aerial ignitions from Unstaffed Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones to help burn interior areas that are difficult for ground personnel to access.

Elsewhere on the incident, firefighters felled hazard trees along roads in the southeast portion of the management area in the phase two block to create a more safe work environment. Heavy equipment prepared control lines along the south flank. Tree felling and line preparation will continue during today’s operational shift.

Smoke may impact the Chiloquin, Chemult, and Klamath Falls areas due to wildfire activity as well as prescribed fire simultaneously being conducted on the Forest.

There are no closures or evacuations associated with the Little Yamsay Fire. However, residents and visitors are encouraged to stay out of the fire area and reminded to drive carefully as emergency vehicles may be present on the roads.

Fire Information: 541-977-2756

Email: 2024.littleyamsay@firenet.gov

Fremont-Winema National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema/

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0fjh6wyLbAyHWziScp5J67dxnbJ71cxmopw67ToP6fm2qBSU3aJUpoRJbn59A3hzul&id=100064626554326&mibextid=cr9u03

[matthew3474]

2009 acres this morning, additional firing operations planned.

[trishaswcfirewx]

Forgot to post this here when I updated WD

Little Yamsay Fire Update
May 4, 2024
Fire Information: 971-978-9558
Email: 2024.littleyamsay@firenet.gov

Size: 2,009 acres
Location: 15 miles southeast of Chemult, OR near Klamath Marsh
Start Date: Detected April 20, 2024
Cause: Lightning
Total Personnel: 120
Crews: 3 Engines: 5 Heavy Equipment: 8 Water Tenders: 4

A combination of optimal weather, dry fuels, and skilled resources aligned Friday leading to a productive day where firing operations treated an additional 1,350 acres. The fire consumed needle cast, brush, and dead and downed logs while torching out small-diameter conifers. The footprint of the Little Yamsay Fire remains within established control lines.

During Friday’s operational shift, La Grande Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC), assisted by aerial ignitions from an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) module, completed ignitions on the phase one and brought fire into phase three, treating more than 700 acres.

Baker River IHC, Union IHC, and an additional UAS module commenced firing operations on phase two. Baker River hand lit the east flank with drip torches and then worked their way north along roads, Union lit the south road system moving westward. The UAS module dropped incendiary devices, also known as dragon eggs, to burn the interior portion. An estimated 550 acres or half of phase two were treated.

Engine crews cooled down large-diameter pines and patrolled the roads to ensure no fire crossed the lines. Heavy equipment continued fuels reduction along Forest Road 49.

A cold front arrived Friday night and into Saturday morning bringing mixed snow and rain to the fire area. With the change in weather, firefighters will focus on preparing lines for firing operations in phases two and three as conditions allow.

There are no closures or evacuations for the Little Yamsay Fire. Residents and visitors are encouraged to stay out of the fire area and reminded to drive carefully as emergency vehicles and smoke may be present on the local roads.

Social Media Links:
South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) Facebook: South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership - SCOFMP | Lakeview OR
SCOFMP YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/@scofmpfireinformation6729
Fremont-Winema National Forest Facebook: U.S. Forest Service - Fremont-Winema National Forest | Lakeview OR
Fremont-Winema National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema/

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Yg3hDwXU4HXDA1inuggVpDXW9ys6YaZEK4m8mrfNYXcTU7Dzpuo1B4ZpZntw2XEgl&id=100064626554326&mibextid=Nif5oz

[ghost7]

VEHICLE TREE STRIKE NARRATIVE: As firefighters were traveling to the fireline Saturday morning at approximately 7:30 am, a tree fell onto the cab of a vehicle contacting the windshield. None of the four passengers sustained injuries and were evaluated by incident medical staff. The vehicle sustained significant damage and needed to be towed. The tree was determined to be a live 19-inch (Diameter at Base Height) Ponderosa Pine that failed due to interior rot and strong winds from the cold front.

According to Safety Officer Cory Thompson, “We had a tree strike that could have been a lot worse. The employees are good, a little shaken up. It was a green tree and it was rotten in the middle. If you looked at that tree you probably could not identify that it would have been a hazard tree.”

[trishaswcfirewx]

Photo- A firefighter from Woodpecker Contracting out of Prineville, OR cools a Ponderosa Pine near the Silver Lake Highway. While Ponderosa Pines are adapted to low-intensity fire, an existing scar or damage to the bark can allow fire to become established in the tree.

Photo Credit: Ari Lightsey, SCOFMP PIO

Little Yamsay Fire Update- May 12, 2024

Fire Information: 971-978-7899
Email: 2024.littleyamsay@firenet.gov

Size: 4,791 acres - Location: 15 miles southeast of Chemult, OR near Klamath Marsh - Start Date: Detected April 20, 2024 - Cause: Lightning - Total Personnel: 102 - Crews: 3 - Engines: 5 Heavy Equipment: 1 - Water Tenders: 3

Crews completed roughly 1,500 acres of firing operations in phase 3 during Saturday’s shift. Favorable wind from the west kept smoke away from the Silver Lake Highway and allowed firefighters to work from east to west, carefully and methodically introducing fire onto the landscape. LaGrande, Union, and Lakeview Interagency Hotshot Crews utilized drip torches along roadways and Unmanned Aircraft Systems for firing within the interior in order to facilitate treatments in a coordinated manner.

Sunday, crews hope to complete firing operations on phase 3, closing in on the southwest corner of the planned treatment area. Several engine crews are in place to hold the fire within established control lines and protect legacy Ponderosa Pines by spraying out pre-existing fire scars or cat faces that catch fire.

Please use caution when travelling along the Silver Lake Highway. Drive slowly and adhere to signs on the side of the road. Firefighters will be working in close proximity to the roadway and visibility may be limited. Near the fire area, a pilot car will escort vehicles one-way to reduce the flow of traffic near the firing operations.

While these treatments may output significant smoke, fire activity is still consuming mostly ground fuels, brush, and ladder fuels. Larger ponderosa pines have adapted to fire- they have biological characteristics that allow them to withstand less severe ground fire. A regular cycle of low intensity burning enhances the health of these trees by reducing competitive plants, slowing the spread of insects and disease, and recycling nutrients to enhance soil health. A more open overstory allows light to enhance the growth of grasses on the forest floor, attracting wildlife and providing forage for deer and elk. As the narrative of “fighting” fire shifts in the west, utilizing natural starts as an opportunity to re-introduce a natural fire regime will be necessary to promote forest health, thus “fighting” large and destructive wildfires.

There are no closures or evacuations for the Little Yamsay Fire. Residents and visitors traveling to the area are encouraged to drive responsibly as emergency firefighter vehicles will be present. Expect delays as traffic control may be implemented due to smoke and/or hazards.

Facebook: South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership - SCOFMP | Lakeview OR

Inciweb: Orfwf Little Yamsay Fire Information | InciWeb

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@scofmpfireinformation6729

Fremont-Winema NF Facebook: U.S. Forest Service - Fremont-Winema National Forest | Lakeview OR

#littleyamsayfire2024 #oregonwildfires2024 #PonderosaPine

South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership - SCOFMP