Single Publication

The Homestead Complex includes seven fires totaling 5,597 acres with an overall containment of 26%. There are 646 personnel currently working on the fire. Fire managers continue directing resources to fires based on threats to property, infrastructure, industry, and areas with the highest probability of success while providing for firefighter and public safety. The fire is being managed by Northwest Incident Management Team 8.

Yesterday, on the No Man Fire (1,899 acres), tactical burning operations were postponed due to conditions not being favorable for an effective burnout because of high nighttime relative humidity recovery, resulting in greater fuel moistures. Work continued with both mop-up operations and building contingency line on the 3806 and 3815 roads aimed at tying into control lines adjacent to the Salmon 33 Fire to the southeast. The Salmon 33 Fire (250 acres) remained within its footprint as firefighters strengthened control lines and mopped-up. Work continued on improving additional control lines that will tie into lines coming south from the No Man Fire. On the Horse Heaven Creek Fire (2,240 acres), the newly formed firing group (burnout specialists) that moved over from the No Man fire earlier in the day had good success conducting tactical burnouts down the eastern flank of the fire heading to the southeast corner. Fire managers scouted for opportunities to establish control lines around a “slopover” in the northwest corner of the fire near Horse Heaven Creek. Work continued on improving contingency control lines with heavy equipment along the 5850 road. Holding and mop-up operations continued along the southern flank. On the Bullpup Fire (456 ac.), additional dozer line was established off of the 200 Road and crews worked on handlines off of the 300 Road. Work also continued on improving contingency lines using the 300 Road and the 5850 Road. On the Fuller Lake Fire (383 acres), along the eastern flank of the fire, crews were engaged in holding the fire within control lines as it backed down and burned along the 5851 Road that is serving as a control line. Reynolds Butte Fire (335 acres) continued to show little activity and crews continued mopping up in that area.

Today, on the No Man and Salmon fires, the firing group will be looking for opportunities on the north and south flanks of No Man Fire to continue tactical burnouts. Work will also continue on prepping contingency lines on the 3806 and 3815 roads; this work is progressing east then south, with the objective of connecting into control lines along the Salmon 33 Fire. Holding and mop-up efforts continue on both fires.

On the Horse Heaven Creek Fire, fire managers will continue scouting for opportunities to establish control lines around the slopover in the northwest corner of the fire near Horse Heaven Creek. They will also be scouting for locations to establish additional direct, indirect and contingency control lines to the north. Work will continue on improving existing contingency lines with heavy equipment along the 5850 Road. Holding and mop-up operations will continue. Firefighters plan to continue with tactical burnouts progressing south toward the southeast corner of the fire, then continuing west to tie-in with existing control lines on the western flank of the fire. Firefighters assigned to the Bullpup and Fuller fires will continue working to keep the fires within the control lines along roads and dozer lines. Work will continue on improving control lines along the 300 and 200 road systems. Crews will continue patrolling and holding along the 5851 Road as the fire moves downslope and along the road. On the Reynolds Butte Fire, mop-up operations have made great progress to the point where the fire will likely be put in a patrol status in the near future requiring minimal staffing. This will allow other resources working the fire to be reallocated to more active fires on the complex. The Lost Bucket Fire (34 acres) was contained on July 29 and remains in a patrol status.

Today’s weather: Patchy clouds early, mostly clear skies in the afternoon. Smoke/haze will persist in the drainages and sheltered areas. Temperature highs in the mid-70s to 80s in the valleys, and upper 60s to mid-70s for upper elevations. Winds will be terrain driven in the morning, then changing to upper northwest winds 5 to 9 mph.

Current forest fire restrictions and danger ratings are-

Fire Danger Rating: Very High 

Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL): 3 

Public Use Fire Restrictions (PUR): 3

CLOSURES: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Roseburg District, has issued a closure order for portions of BLM land which border the Umpqua National Forest Emergency Fire Closure north of Steamboat. The closure order can be viewed here: https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-fpo-rbg-072624.pdf. The Umpqua National Forest has Emergency Fire Closures in place impacting every district of the forest. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices.

FIRE PREVENTION: Even with cooler weather, the vegetation is still dry and very susceptible to an unwanted fire start. Please continue to use extreme caution when recreating and working outdoors. 9 out of 10 wildfires nationally are started by a human, mostly all accidental. It only takes one spark!