2023 Oregon wildfires explained

2023 Oregon wildfires
Total Fires:1,731
Total Area:259725acres
Is Season:yes
Year:2023
Season Name:Oregon wildfires

This article is a summary of the 2023 Oregon wildfire season, comprising the series of significant wildfires that have burned in the U.S. state of Oregon since the beginning of the calendar year. Fire season officially began in all areas of the state by July 1, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)., the state had recorded 1,731 fires, which had burned a total of 159991acres.[1]

Outlook

Fire season in the Pacific Northwest often lasts from May until October.[2] The National Interagency Coordination Center, in its seasonal fire assessment and outlook released in July, forecast above-normal significant fire potential in the Pacific Northwest through September.[3] The August outlook continued this forecast, predicting that "Significant fire potential will be above average for the entire geographic area in August and September. In October, elevated risk of significant fires will shift west of the Cascades due to the likelihood of dry easterly winds in autumn. By November, significant fire risk will decrease back to normal (i.e., low) for the entire geographic area as cooler and wetter weather arrives."[4]

All Oregon Department of Forestry districts declared the beginning of fire season by July 1.[5] The Northwest Coordination Center upgraded the region's preparedness level (referring to the availability of firefighting resources) from PL 1 to PL 2 on July 3, PL 3 on July 23, PL 4 on August 12, and PL5—the highest level—on August 19.[6]

Impacts

Highway closures and wildfire smoke affected businesses in the vicinity of the Smith River Complex fire, burning in northern California and southern Oregon.[7]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of Oregon wildfires in 2023 that have burned more than 1000acres, have resulted in casualties or significant damage to structures, or have otherwise been notable. Acreage and containment figures may not be up-to-date.

NameCounty <-- Burning in -->AcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRefs
MadeuceMorrowHuman-caused.
Dillon CreekKlamathCaused by lightning. This fire was allowed to burn at a low intensity, within a confined footprint, for ecological benefits. Estimated cost of suppression is $1.38 million.[8] [9]
Hat RockUmatilla, Walla Walla (WA)Cause under investigation. Burned in grass and sagebrush, causing evacuations as it burned into Washington. Estimated cost of suppression is $663,000.[10] [11]
Alder CreekWheelerCause under investigation. Estimated cost of suppression is $2 million.[12] [13]
Devil's ButteGilliamCaused by lightning. Burned in rangelands and wheat fields, destroying two fire engines. Estimated cost of suppression is $800,000.[14] [15]
FlatCurry2023Human-caused; under investigation. Burning partially in the footprint of the 2002 Biscuit Fire. Estimated cost of suppression is $59 million.[16] [17]
SimnashoWascoUnknownCause unknown. Estimated cost of suppression is $2 million.[18] [19] [20]
GoldenKlamathCause under investigation. 117 structures destroyed, including at least 43 homes. The fire also damaged six miles of fiber-optic cables and more than 100 power poles in Klamath County. Estimated cost of suppression is $8.5 million.[21] [22] [23] [24]
BedrockLaneCause under investigation. Estimated cost of suppression is $50.2 million.[25] [26] [27]
CorbieHarney, MalheurCause unknown. Estimated cost of suppression is $350,000.[28] [29] [30]
LookoutLane, LinnCaused by lightning. Evacuations in effect. Estimated cost of suppression is $18.2 million.[31] [32]
Smith River ComplexCurry, Josephine, Del Norte (CA)Burning mostly in California. Caused by lightning. Consists of the Holiday, Diamond, Kelly, and Prescott fires, as well as many smaller fires. [33] [34]
Camp CreekClackamas, Multnomah2023Caused by lightning. Burning in the Bull Run Watershed in the Mount Hood National Forest.[35] [36]
Tyee Ridge ComplexDouglas2023Consists of the Cougar Creek Fire, Tyee Mountain Fire, Big Tom Fire, and Lighthouse fires.[37] [38]
ChilcootDouglas2023Burning in the Umpqua National Forest.[39] [40]
AnvilCurryOctoberBurning in the Grassy Knob Wilderness.[41]
Petes LakeLane2023Burning in the Three Sisters Wilderness.[42] [43]
Cottonwood CanyonShermanBurned on both sides of the John Day River.[44] [45]
MorganLake2023Burning in the Fremont–Winema National Forest.[46] [47]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wildland Fire Statistics . August 22, 2023 . ODF Wildfire News . . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720191634/https://odffire.com/ . live .
  2. Web site: Oregon/Washington Fire Management . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230619150828/https://www.blm.gov/orwafire . June 19, 2023 . July 20, 2023 . . Department of the Interior.
  3. North American Seasonal Fire Assessment and Outlook: Outlook Period July through September 2023 . July 12, 2023 . National Interagency Coordination Center . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720195712/https://www.nifc.gov/sites/default/files/NICC/2-Predictive%20Services/Outlooks/NSWF%20-%20Potential%20Outlook/2023/July/NA_Outlook.pdf . July 20, 2023 . live.
  4. Web site: August 1, 2023 . National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook: Outlook Period – August through November 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230804020953/https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf . August 4, 2023 . August 9, 2023 . National Interagency Fire Center.
  5. Web site: July 5, 2023 . All ODF districts have entered fire season . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720170809/https://odffire.com/2023/07/05/all-odf-districts-have-entered-fire-season/ . July 20, 2023 . July 20, 2023 . ODF Wildfire News . Oregon Department of Forestry.
  6. Northwest Preparedness Levels . 2023 . Northwest Coordination Center . August 22, 2023 . August 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827155519/https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/content/products/intelligence/NW%20PL%20YTD%20%26%20Historical%20Charts.pdf . live .
  7. News: Hutcherson . Ella . Battaglia . Roman . August 26, 2023 . Tourist businesses heavily impacted by Smith River Complex fires . . live . September 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230915142503/https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/26/smith-river-complex-fires-oregon-illinois-river-valley-impact/ . September 15, 2023.
  8. News: Gailey . Brian . May 23, 2023 . Natural fire start offers fuels reduction opportunity; Dillon Creek Fire . Klamath Falls News . live . July 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230719184950/https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/news/natural-fire-start-offers-fuels-reduction-opportunity-dillon-creek-fire . July 19, 2023.
  9. News: June 8, 2023 . Dillon Creek fire fully contained; recent lightning sparks second blaze . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609080815/https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/dillon-creek-fire-fully-contained-recent-lightning-sparks-second-blaze/article_b247e6c2-0648-11ee-8df1-1762de0932a3.html . June 9, 2023.
  10. News: June 14, 2023 . Hat Rock Fire in Umatilla County grows to 15,000 acres; Evacuations continue . Central Oregon Daily News . live . June 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230614214653/https://centraloregondaily.com/hat-rock-fire-mount-hebron-fire-6-14-23/ . June 14, 2023.
  11. News: June 17, 2023 . Hat Rock Fire fully contained, Oregon officials said . . live . July 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230629203426/https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/hat-rock-fire-fully-contained-oregon-officials-said/article_7ecc322e-0d43-11ee-a772-f3c23bb8391b.html . June 29, 2023.
  12. News: July 10, 2023 . Alder Creek Fire 50% contained; Highway 19 fully reopened between Spray and Service Creek . . live . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720155226/https://www.bluemountaineagle.com/news/wildfires/oregon/alder-creek-fire-50-contained-highway-19-fully-reopened-between-spray-and-service-creek/article_da3b584c-1f77-11ee-adfa-1b689a9128bb.html . July 20, 2023.
  13. Web site: July 15, 2023 . Incident Management Situation Report . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720155513/https://www.nifc.gov/sites/default/files/NICC/1-Incident%20Information/IMSR/2023/July/IMSR_CY23_07_15_23.pdf . July 20, 2023 . July 20, 2023 . National Interagency Fire Center.
  14. News: Plante . Aimee . July 11, 2023 . Devil's Butte Fire destroys 2 fire trucks as it spreads to 3,000 acres . . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720153048/https://www.koin.com/news/wildfires/devils-butte-fire-blazes-in-gilliam-county-oregon/ . July 20, 2023.
  15. Web site: July 18, 2023 . Incident Management Situation Report . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720153317/https://www.nifc.gov/sites/default/files/NICC/1-Incident%20Information/IMSR/2023/July/IMSR_CY23_07_18_23.pdf . July 20, 2023 . July 20, 2023 . National Interagency Fire Center.
  16. Web site: Flat Fire . July 31, 2023 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155637/https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/xx1002-flat-fire . live .
  17. News: Battaglia . Roman . July 19, 2023 . Flat Fire spreading quickly in Southern Oregon, growing to almost 13,000 acres . . . July 19, 2023 . July 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230719180538/https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/19/flat-fire-southern-oregon-rogue-river-siskiyou-national-forest-agness/ . live .
  18. Web site: Simnasho Fire . July 22, 2023 . Watch Duty . July 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230722175104/https://app.watchduty.org/i/7565 . live .
  19. News: July 22, 2023 . A wildfire burning on Warm Springs Reservation more than doubles overnight . Central Oregon Daily News . July 22, 2023 . July 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230722133012/https://centraloregondaily.com/simnasho-fire-warm-springs/ . live .
  20. Web site: August 3, 2023 . Incident Management Situation Report . August 3, 2023 . National Interagency Coordination Center . August 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801134827/https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf . live .
  21. Web site: Golden Fire . July 23, 2023 . Watch Duty . July 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230723160037/https://app.watchduty.org/i/7632 . live .
  22. News: July 22, 2023 . C.O., other task forces sent to Klamath County wildfire that's prompted Bly Mtn. evacuations, Conflagration Act . . July 23, 2023 . July 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230723053442/https://ktvz.com/news/klamath-county/2023/07/22/c-o-task-force-sent-to-200-acre-klamath-county-wildfire-thats-prompted-bly-mtn-evacuations-hwy-140-closure/ . live .
  23. Web site: Golden Fire . July 31, 2023 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155634/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/or98s-golden-fire . live .
  24. News: Taylor . Derrick Bryson . July 26, 2023 . Oregon Wildfire Destroys Dozens of Homes and Disrupts 911 Service . New York Times . live . August 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230731211355/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/us/oregon-golden-fire.html . July 31, 2023 .
  25. Web site: Incident Information – Northwest Large Fire Information Summary . July 24, 2023 . Northwest Interagency Coordination Center . July 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230727182526/https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/fire_info.php . live .
  26. News: Bonham . Ryan . July 24, 2023 . Public asked to avoid Big Fall Creek Road due to Bedrock Fire activity . . July 24, 2023 . July 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230724200302/https://www.kezi.com/news/public-asked-to-avoid-big-fall-creek-road-due-to-bedrock-fire-activity/article_24735f1e-2a49-11ee-a611-7b48277f8082.html . live .
  27. Web site: Bedrock Fire . July 31, 2023 . InciWeb . August 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801145316/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/orwif-bedrock-fire . live .
  28. Web site: Corbie Fire . August 3, 2023 . Watch Duty . August 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230803140125/https://app.watchduty.org/i/9050 . live .
  29. News: Gould . Mindy . August 2, 2023 . Corbie Fire update in Harney/Malheur County . Elkhorn Media Group . August 3, 2023 . August 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230803021553/https://elkhornmediagroup.com/corbie-fire-update-in-harney-malheur-county/ . live .
  30. 2023 Large Incidents Year-to-Date (ICS-209) . August 7, 2023 . Northwest Interagency Coordination Center . August 7, 2023 . January 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230123021602/https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/content/products/intelligence/Rpt_LgFiresYTD.pdf . live .
  31. Web site: Lookout Fire . August 14, 2023 . Watch Duty . August 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230814132547/https://app.watchduty.org/i/9770 . live .
  32. Web site: Lookout Fire Information . August 14, 2023 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155701/https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-lookout-fire . live .
  33. Web site: Smith River Complex Information . August 16, 2023 . Inciweb.
  34. Web site: SRF Smith River Complex . August 17, 2023 . Watch Duty . August 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230817131514/https://app.watchduty.org/i/10468 . live .
  35. Web site: Camp Creek Fire . August 27, 2023 . Watch Duty . August 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827161758/https://app.watchduty.org/i/11400 . live .
  36. Web site: Camp Creek Fire Information . May 13, 2024 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155639/https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormhf-camp-creek-fire . live .
  37. Web site: Tyee Ridge Complex Information . June 4, 2024 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155637/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/or75s-tyee-ridge-complex . live .
  38. Web site: Tyee Ridge Complex . August 28, 2023 . Watch Duty . August 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230828152501/https://app.watchduty.org/i/11391 . live.
  39. Web site: 2023 Chilcoot Fire Information . August 30, 2023 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155638/https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orupf-2023-chilcoot-fire-unf . live.
  40. Web site: Chilcoot/High Power Fire . August 30, 2023 . Watch Duty . August 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230830171414/https://app.watchduty.org/i/11448 . live.
  41. Web site: Anvil Fire Information . June 19, 2024 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155638/https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orrsf-anvil-fire . live.
  42. Web site: Petes Lake Fire Information . May 13, 2024 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101160146/https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-petes-lake-fire . live .
  43. Web site: Petes Lake Fire . September 15, 2023 . Watch Duty . September 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929151204/https://app.watchduty.org/i/11466 . live .
  44. Web site: Cottonwood Canyon Fire . August 31, 2023 . Watch Duty . August 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230831165556/https://app.watchduty.org/i/11773 . live .
  45. News: August 30, 2023 . 2,300-acre north-central Oregon fire 40% contained; Hwy. 206, Cottonwood Canyon State Park reopen . . August 31, 2023 . August 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230831165556/https://ktvz.com/news/fire-alert/2023/08/29/2300-acre-north-central-oregon-fire-40-contained-hwy-206-cottonwood-canyon-state-park-reopen/ . live .
  46. Web site: Morgan Fire . September 26, 2023 . Watch Duty . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926134917/https://app.watchduty.org/i/12757 . live .
  47. Web site: Morgan Fire Information . September 26, 2023 . InciWeb . November 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101160148/https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orfwf-morgan-fire . live .

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