Tumblebug Complex Fire Explained

Tumblebug Complex Fire
Injuries:2
Reference:[1] [2] [3]
Date: –
Location:Willamette National Forest, Oregon
Coordinates:43.432°N -122.241°W
Pushpin Map:USA Oregon
Area:14560acres
Cause:Lightning
Landuse:National Forest

The Tumblebug Complex Fire burned 14570acres of Willamette National Forest land in Lane County, Oregon, United States, from September 12, 2009 to October 2009.[4] The fire was located about 23miles southeast of Oakridge, Oregon, and roughly 5miles southwest of Crescent Lake.

Growth and containment

Fed by wind gusts of up to and extremely dry conditions, 25 small fires caused by lightning strikes grew and spread quickly, combining to form larger fires. Firefighters had difficulty fighting them due to the remote location and the rugged terrain, such as basalt cliffs. The fires primarily burned trees ranging from 10 to 45 years old.[5]

By September 16, the fires had combined into three fires that were about 30acres each in size. At that time, there were already 255 firefighters working to control the fires and the Willamette National Forest was forced to close several United States Forest Service roads.[6]

Nearly 600 firefighters were working to contain the fire by September 21, as the air became drier.[7] Two days later, on September 23, the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency rated the air quality in the "unhealthy" category for Eugene, and reported that the air quality was better in Oakridge. NASA satellite images showed that the smoke was being blown into British Columbia.[8]

The fire grew in size to 7700acres by September 24,[9] and had burned 9228acres by September 25.[10] The wind blew the smoke to the north, and created a hazy sky in Bend.

Firefighters had contained five percent of the fire by September 26, although it had spread to about 10500acres.[11] The fire continued growing, spreading to 11100acres by September 27. The 1,275 firefighters then working to put out the fire had it 12 percent contained, but predicted that it would continue burning until mid-October.[12] Two firefighters were injured as well.

By September 28, the fire had spread to 12000acres and was 18 percent contained. While wetter and cooler weather was forecasted, the fire continued to expand.[13] It was finally brought under control in October after burning a total of 14570acres.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Two firefighters injured fighting Tumblebug. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002061055/http://www.kval.com/news/local/62459902.html. October 2, 2011. KVAL News. September 28, 2009. Eugene, Ore..
  2. Web site: Barnack. Anthony. 2009 Oregon Forest Fire Smoke Exceptional Event: Concurrence Request. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. July 20, 2011. July 1, 2011.
  3. Web site: InciWeb: Tumblebug Complex. inciweb.nwcg.gov. 20 October 2016.
  4. Web site: Bailey. Tim. Middle Fork Ranger District. Tumblebug Complex Fire mortality assessment. https://web.archive.org/web/20111004182753/http://westinstenv.org/wp-content/Tumblebug%20Mortality.pdf. October 4, 2011. December 2009.
  5. News: Ramsayer. Kate. Smoke from wildfires to mar our skies awhile. https://web.archive.org/web/20120328083808/http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090925%2FNEWS0107%2F909250410%2F-1%2FRSSNEWSMAP. March 28, 2012. The Bulletin. September 25, 2009. Bend, Ore.. dead.
  6. News: Trio of forest fires burning south of Oakridge. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930220538/http://www.kpic.com/news/59544577.html. September 30, 2011. KPIC. September 16, 2009. Roseburg, Ore..
  7. News: Hot, dry weather fuels fires SE of Oakridge. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002061102/http://www.kval.com/news/local/60048902.html. October 2, 2011. KVAL News. September 21, 2009. Eugene, Ore..
  8. News: The smoke is making it … all the way to Canada. Adams. Tom. September 23, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002061131/http://www.kval.com/news/local/60698822.html. October 2, 2011. KVAL News. Eugene, Ore..
  9. News: Weather helps slow Oregon wildfires. https://web.archive.org/web/20090927042222/http://gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_fb74a3fe-a963-11de-ba78-001cc4c002e0.html. September 27, 2009. The Corvallis Gazette-Times. September 24, 2009. Associated Press. Corvallis, Ore..
  10. News: Guzik. Hannah. Smoke expected to linger. https://web.archive.org/web/20120323111115/http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090925%2FNEWS02%2F909250316%2F-1%2FNEWSMAP. March 23, 2012. The Ashland Daily Tidings. September 25, 2009. Ashland, Ore.. dead.
  11. News: Darling. Dylan. North state haze caused by Oregon wildfires. https://web.archive.org/web/20100413143918/http://www.redding.com/news/2009/sep/26/north-state-haze-caused-by-oregon-wildfires/. April 13, 2010. The Redding Record Searchlight. September 26, 2009. Redding, Cal..
  12. News: Drier conditions won't help battle against Tumblebug fire. https://web.archive.org/web/20111008003359/http://special.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/20749187-41/story.csp. October 8, 2011. The Register-Guard. September 27, 2009. Eugene, Ore.. B1.
  13. News: Two Oregon fires now partially contained. https://web.archive.org/web/20121014141649/http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/two_oregon_fires_now_partially.html. October 14, 2012. The Oregonian. September 29, 2009. Associated Press. Portland, Ore..

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