B&B Complex Fires
Encyclopedia
The B&B Complex Fires were a linked pair of wildfire
s that together burned 90769 acres (367.3 km²) of Oregon
forest during the summer of 2003. The fire complex began as two separate fires, the Bear Butte Fire and the Booth Fire. The two fires were reported on the same day and eventually burned in-sync, forming a single fire area that stretched along the crest of the Cascade Mountains between Mount Jefferson
and Mount Washington
. On the western side of the Cascades, the fire consumed mostly Douglas-fir
and western hemlock
. On the eastern side of the mountains, the fire burned mostly Ponderosa pine
, lodgepole pine
, and jack pine
. Most of the burned area was on public land administered by the United States Forest Service
including 40419 acres (163.6 km²) within the Mount Jefferson Wilderness
. The fire also burned forest land on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation
and small areas of state and private land. Firefighters battled the blaze for 34 days. At the peak of the firefighting effort, there were over 2,300 personnel working on the fire. The cost of fire suppression was over $38 million.
. In early August 2003, a series of thunderstorm
s passed over the central Cascades. Lightning
strikes were recorded on 4, 5, 6, and 7 August. Over the next several weeks, a number of fires resulted from this lightning activity.
Following the storms in early August, local temperatures in central Oregon ranged from 80 to 90 degrees with relative humidity
dropping below 20 percent. During this period, winds were 10 mi/h to 20 mi/h, peaking on 19 August at approximately 30 mi/h. This combination of hot dry weather and high winds created extreme fire conditions. As a result, creeping fires ignited by the early August lightning storms began to burn more actively. On 15 August a small fire was reported on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. On 18 August, two more small fires were reported south of Santiam Pass
near Hoodoo Ski Area. All three fires were quickly contained.
The B&B Complex Fires occurred in August and September 2003 in the central Cascades, west of Sisters, Oregon
. The fire complex began as two separate wildfires; both were caused by lightning striking in early August. The Bear Butte
Fire started at the north end of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness area ( 44.63486°N 121.75628°W ), approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) northwest of Sisters. It was reported by a helicopter crew from Warm Springs on 19 August at 1309 PDT. The Booth Fire started near Henkel Butte ( 44.42449°N 121.82568°W ), about 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Sisters. It was reported by the Henkel Butte Lookout the same day at 1523 PDT. The next day, the fire suppression efforts on these two fires were consolidated because of their size and proximity, creating the B&B Complex Fires.
, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
, and various private owners were also burned.
The burned acreage was identified as follows:
After carefully mapping the burned area, the Forest Service changed the official total of acres burned to 90769 acres (367.3 km²). During the course of the B&B Complex Fires, there were 13 structures destoyed and 8 firefighters injured. The total cost of the fire suppression effort was over $38.7 million.
On the west side of the Cascades, most of the burned forest was Douglas-fir
and western hemlock
. On the east side of the mountains, the fire burned mostly Ponderosa pine
, lodgepole pine
, and jack pine
. The two largest Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir
trees in the United States are located in the area where the Bear Butte and Booth fires burned together, well within the fire’s perimeter. Both forest giants survived the fire, probably due to their size and thick bark. Oregon Department of Forestry
keeps track of the record trees within the state and nominates the largest to the National Register of Big Trees
. The larger of the two Douglas-fir trees in the B&B burn area is 24 in 7 in (7.49 m) in circumference and 114 feet (34.7 m) tall.
s, hydrologists, soil scientists
, and forest engineers. The team assessed the environmental damage caused by the fire and related fire suppression activities. Following their report the Forest Service allocated $1.5 million for emergency stabilization and recovery of the effected area.
Shortly after the fire, smokejumpers and professional timber fallers cut hazard snags along Forest Service roads. Approximately 950 fire-killed trees were removed, allowing survey teams and rehabilitation crews to safely conduct their work.
The next stage of the recover work focused on high and moderate severity burn areas where there was an increased risk of runoff damage. Special attention was given to preventing water pollution and soil degradation in the Metolius River watershed. Forest Service crews removed fire debris from the banks of Abbot Creek, Bear Valley Creek, Bush Creek, Canyon Creek, Davis Creek, First Creek, Link Creek, and Jack Creek. They also replaced a number of small culvert
s with larger ones. This helped minimize drainage onto roads and ensured streams were able to accommodate increases flow from surface runoff. This was especially critical in streams with native bull trout
, which are a threaten species. Crews also cleared forest recreation sites and hiking trails. This included a project that improved drainage along 33 miles (53.1 km) of the Pacific Crest Trail in order to reduce surface erosion. Finally, the Forest Service posted 40 new signs warning visitors of post-fire hazards.
Forest botanists identified fifty noxious weed sites within the fire area, covering 305 acres (1.2 km²). To deal with this problem, the Deschutes National Forest implemented a program to prevent the spread of noxious weeds especially along roads, trail, and in heavy use areas. These efforts helped encourage the return of native grasses and herbaceous
shrubs throughout the burned areas.
In 2005, the Forest Service approved a plan for salvage logging
on 6823 acres (27.6 km²) burned by the B&B Complex Fires. The plan allowed commercial loggers to harvest trees killed by the fire. There was some criticism of the plan; however, the Forest Service determined that in the specific areas identified for post-fire timber harvest, the prescribed operations would utilize valuable timber assets, prevent the build-up of light fuels in burned areas, and help prevent soil degradation by encouraging rapid reforestation
.
In 2007, interpretive exhibits describing the B&B Complex Fires and post-fire forest recovery were installed at three locations along Route 20. The exhibits were jointly sponsored by Forest Service, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State University
, and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute
.
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
s that together burned 90769 acres (367.3 km²) of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
forest during the summer of 2003. The fire complex began as two separate fires, the Bear Butte Fire and the Booth Fire. The two fires were reported on the same day and eventually burned in-sync, forming a single fire area that stretched along the crest of the Cascade Mountains between Mount Jefferson
Mount Jefferson (Oregon)
Mount Jefferson is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, part of the Cascade Range, and is the second highest mountain in Oregon. Situated in the far northeastern corner of Linn County on the Jefferson County line, about east of Corvallis, Mount Jefferson is in a rugged wilderness and is...
and Mount Washington
Mount Washington (Oregon)
Mount Washington is a deeply eroded shield volcano in the Cascade Range of Oregon. The mountain dates to the Late Pleistocene. However, it does have a line of basaltic andesite spatter cones on its northeast flank which are approximately 1,330 years old according to carbon dating...
. On the western side of the Cascades, the fire consumed mostly Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
and western hemlock
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla. the Western Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California.-Habitat:...
. On the eastern side of the mountains, the fire burned mostly Ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
, lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
, and jack pine
Jack Pine
Jack pine is a North American pine with its native range in Canada east of the Rocky Mountains from Northwest Territories to Nova Scotia, and the northeast of the United States from Minnesota to Maine, with the southernmost part of the range just into northwest Indiana...
. Most of the burned area was on public land administered by the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
including 40419 acres (163.6 km²) within the Mount Jefferson Wilderness
Mount Jefferson Wilderness
The Mount Jefferson Wilderness is a wilderness area located on and around Mount Jefferson in the central Cascade Range of Oregon in the United States. It is situated where the Willamette, Deschutes, and Mount Hood National Forests meet...
. The fire also burned forest land on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation
Warm Springs Indian Reservation
The Warm Springs Indian Reservation consists of 1,019.385 sq mi in north central Oregon, in the United States, and is occupied and governed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.-Tribes:...
and small areas of state and private land. Firefighters battled the blaze for 34 days. At the peak of the firefighting effort, there were over 2,300 personnel working on the fire. The cost of fire suppression was over $38 million.
Origin
The weather in the central Cascade Mountains in the area where the B&B Complex Fires occurred is highly seasonal and heavily influenced by local topographyTopography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
. In early August 2003, a series of thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
s passed over the central Cascades. Lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
strikes were recorded on 4, 5, 6, and 7 August. Over the next several weeks, a number of fires resulted from this lightning activity.
Following the storms in early August, local temperatures in central Oregon ranged from 80 to 90 degrees with relative humidity
Relative humidity
Relative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...
dropping below 20 percent. During this period, winds were 10 mi/h to 20 mi/h, peaking on 19 August at approximately 30 mi/h. This combination of hot dry weather and high winds created extreme fire conditions. As a result, creeping fires ignited by the early August lightning storms began to burn more actively. On 15 August a small fire was reported on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. On 18 August, two more small fires were reported south of Santiam Pass
Santiam Pass
Santiam Pass is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range in central Oregon in the United States. It is located on the border between Linn and Jefferson counties, about northwest of Sisters, between the prominent volcanic horns of Three Fingered Jack to the north and Mount Washington to the south...
near Hoodoo Ski Area. All three fires were quickly contained.
The B&B Complex Fires occurred in August and September 2003 in the central Cascades, west of Sisters, Oregon
Sisters, Oregon
Sisters is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 959 at the 2000 census, but more than doubled to 2038 as of the 2010 census.- History :...
. The fire complex began as two separate wildfires; both were caused by lightning striking in early August. The Bear Butte
Butte
A butte is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; it is smaller than mesas, plateaus, and table landform tables. In some regions, such as the north central and northwestern United States, the word is used for any hill...
Fire started at the north end of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness area ( 44.63486°N 121.75628°W ), approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) northwest of Sisters. It was reported by a helicopter crew from Warm Springs on 19 August at 1309 PDT. The Booth Fire started near Henkel Butte ( 44.42449°N 121.82568°W ), about 15 miles (24.1 km) west of Sisters. It was reported by the Henkel Butte Lookout the same day at 1523 PDT. The next day, the fire suppression efforts on these two fires were consolidated because of their size and proximity, creating the B&B Complex Fires.
Chronology
- On August 19, 2003, two fires were reported in the central Cascades about 15 miles (24.1 km) apart. The Bear Butte Fire was reported in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. Heavy winds prevented smoke jumpers from reaching the fire; however, a helicopter dropped water on it throughout the day. By the end of the day, the fire had burned approximately 1000 acres (4 km²) at the north end of the wilderness area and on the southwest side of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. The Booth Fire was reported near Henkel Butte. During the day, Forest Service crews battled the blaze with hand tools, pumper trucks, and bulldozers. Aerial tankers also dropped retardant on the fire. Due to heavy smoke, U.S. Route 20U.S. Route 20U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
was closed between Santiam PassSantiam PassSantiam Pass is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range in central Oregon in the United States. It is located on the border between Linn and Jefferson counties, about northwest of Sisters, between the prominent volcanic horns of Three Fingered Jack to the north and Mount Washington to the south...
and the Black Butte RanchBlack Butte Ranch, OregonBlack Butte Ranch is a resort community in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is located in the Cascade Range, eight miles northwest of Sisters. Black Butte Ranch is unicorporated and classed by the USGS as a populated place...
. By the end of the day, the fire had consumed 1200 acres (4.9 km²), and it was still actively burning north of Route 20. Because the two fires were burning out of control, the Forest Service requested a National Type I Incident Management Team be dispatched to take charge of the fire suppression effort.
- A burn-out operation planned during the night of 19–20 August was cancelled due to high winds. During the night, the Booth Fire jumped Route 20 and began burning on both sides of the highway near Suttle Lake and Blue Lake. As a result, the highway remained close. The fire also crossed the Pacific Crest TrailPacific Crest TrailThe Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
heading west. In the early afternoon of August 20, the two fires were joined into a single firefighting effort, becoming the B&B Complex Fires. During the day, the Governor of OregonGovernor of OregonThe Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
invoked the Conflagration Act allowing structural firefighters to be dispatched to Black Butte Ranch, Suttle Lake Camp Ground, Suttle Lake Resort, Camp Tamarack, Blue Lake properties, Santiam Lodge, and Hoodoo Ski Area. These areas were all evacuated except Black Butte Ranch. A Red Cross evacuation shelter was established at the Sisters Elementary School. By the end of the day, the Bear Butte portion of the fire had increased to over 3000 acres (12.1 km²) and the Booth Fire area had grown to 3000 acres (12.1 km²).
- On the morning of August 21 at 0600 PDT, the national interagency Incident Management Team officially took charge of the B&B Complex fire operation. By that time, over 1,000 people had been evacuated from the fire area. During the day, Black Butte Ranch was given a precautionary evacuation advisory while the residents of Camp Sherman, OregonCamp Sherman, OregonCamp Sherman is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Oregon, United States. It is located on the Metolius River. The population consists of a few hundred year-round residents, swelling to several thousand during the summer. The community includes an elementary school, Black Butte...
were ordered to evacuate. Approximately 300 people were evacuated from the Camp Sherman area. By the end of the day, there were 862 firefighters working on the fire. This included 24 handcrews, 21 pumper trucksWildland fire engineWildland fire engines use special equipment to spray water, foam, and chemicals. The engines are able to carry up to of water. Many wildland fire engines are also equipped with four wheel drive and special equipment for off-road use.*...
, 2 bulldozerBulldozerA bulldozer is a crawler equipped with a substantial metal plate used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, etc., during construction work and typically equipped at the rear with a claw-like device to loosen densely-compacted materials.Bulldozers can be found on a wide range of sites,...
s, and 4 helicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s plus 150 management and support personnel. In addition, both President George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Oregon Governor Ted KulongoskiTed KulongoskiTheodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
visited the fire area on 21 August.
- At the beginning of August 22, the size of the B&B Complex Fires was estimated at approximately 24000 acres (97.1 km²). It was burning actively in heavy timber and spreading in multiple directions. The fire area included forest on both sides of the Cascade Mountains, primarily Deschutes National ForestDeschutes National ForestThe Deschutes National Forest is a United States National Forest located in parts of Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Jefferson counties in central Oregon. It comprises 1.8 million acres along the east side of the Cascade mountains. In 1908, the Deschutes National Forest was established from parts...
land on the east side of the mountains and Willamette National ForestWillamette National ForestThe Willamette National Forest is a National Forest located in the central portion of the Cascade Range of US state of Oregon.It comprises 1,675,407 acres making it one of the largest national forests. Over 380,000 acres are designated wilderness which include seven major mountain peaks...
on the west side. During the day, firefighters concentrated on the fire’s eastern and southeastern perimeter because there were structures and communities at risk in those areas. It was announced that Oregon National Guard personnel and equipment were being deployed to the fire. The National Guard assets include three helicopters. During the day, several cabins, an auditorium, and a shower house were destroyed at the Round Lake Christian Camp. Fire crews successfully protected structures at Hoodoo Ski Area and around Suttle Lake as well as Santiam Lodge. By the end of the day, the fire was 4 miles (6.4 km) from Camp Sherman and 3 miles (4.8 km) from Black Butte Ranch.
- On August 23, scattered showers and lower temperatures increased relative humidity. This allowed firefighters to utilized existing forest roads to conduct burn-out operations along the eastern and southeastern perimeter of the fire. Firefighters also performed mop-up operations and patrolled along established fire lines; however, Route 20 remained closed.
- By August 24, there were 1,422 personnel fighting the fire. This included 32 fire crews, 78 pumper trucks, and 9 helicopters. The fire continued to spread slowly all day. Firefighters completed the fire line on the south flank of the Booth Fire and continued burn-out operations. Fire crews began to mop-up around structures in the Suttle Lake area. Residents of Camp Sherman were permitted to return to their homes for several hours to pick up personal belongings. By the end of the day, the size of the B&B Complex Fires was estimated to be 36400 acres (147.3 km²).
- On August 25, both of the B&B fires burned actively as they passed through areas of heavy fuel. During the day, the size of the fire grew to 38881 acres (157.3 km²). The Bear Butte Fire area continued to spread slowly southward while gusty winds spread the fire more rapidly on its northeast front. The Booth Fire area expanded on the north and northeast flanks, igniting islands of unburned fuel. The fire became active on the south flank drawing firefighters back to Hoodoo and Santiam Pass to protect structures in those areas. The fire also expanded its west perimeter, burning into thick timber near Lost Lake. However, firefighters successfully defended existing lines on the southern and eastern perimeters of the fire. By the end of the day, the interagency incident management team estimated that the fire was 20 percent contained.
- On August 26, the B&B fires were active throughout the day. High temperatures and low humidity combined with gusty winds created extremely dangerous fire conditions. The result was numerous spot fires. Firefighters were forced to withdraw from some areas for safety reasons. However, most of the spot fires were contained by the end of the day. The Bear Butte Fire continued to burn in heavy timber. Crews constructed fire lines with hand tools and bulldozers, connecting fire lines to existing roads in an attempt to contain the fire. Due to the remote location, crews were forced to camp near their fire lines. In the Booth Fire area, gusty winds caused spot fires along its northeast perimeter. Fire crews cleared fuels from the path of the fire near Big Lake and worked in conjunction with air support to establish a line around the west end of the fire near Potato Hill.
- On August 27, the B&B Complex Fires continued to burn on the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests and on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. During the day, there were 2,081 firefighters on scene including 60 hand crews, 75 pumper trucks, and 10 helicopters. Both the Bear Butte and Booth fires were very active with many spot fires and a number of short crowning runs fanned by gusty winds. In the Bear Butte area, the fire continued to burn in thick forest. Crews continued building lines along the flanks of the fire using hand tools and bulldozers. In the Booth Fire area, firefighters controlled a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) spot fire along the southeast front, reducing the threat to Camp Sherman. Crews held their lines near Hoodoo while other firefighters extended the fire line along the west end of the fire, north of Potato Hill. At the end of the day, the total acreage burned was 40815 acres (165.2 km²) while the interagency incident management team estimated that the fire was 30 percent contained.
- The fires continued to burn actively on August 28; however, the 2,137 firefighters on scene were able to hold all established fire lines. The Bear Butte fire burned actively on its southern flank, closing the gap between the two fires to about 3 miles (4.8 km). Prevailing winds continued to push the Booth Fire slowly to the north and west while firefighters construct fire line in advance of the fire. Firefighters continued mopping up along the southern flank. On the western flank, crews built new fire line north from Lost Lake. Crews also finished falling hazardous snags along Route 20 and worked on spot fires all around the perimeter. At the end of the day, the interagency incident management team estimated the total acreage burned to be 41311 acres (167.2 km²).
- On August 29, crews worked on a fire line across the north side of the fire as well as a contingency fire break between the eastern flanks of the two fires. In the Bear Butte area, mop-up operations continued along completed fire lines. However, easterly winds increased fire activity in the northwest. On the west side of the Booth Fire, crews built fire line north from Lost Lake running towards Craig Lake while burn-out operations began on the northeast corner of the fire.
- On August 30, the western front of the B&B fires burned actively all day. As a result of dry weather conditions a number of spot fires and crowning runs were observed. Firefighters were able to hold established lines, except for a small spot fire in the Booth Fire area. High temperatures combined with moderate easterly winds continued pushing both fires west into the Jefferson wilderness area. Firefighters worked all day to construct fire line in advance of the fire. The evacuation order for most of the Camp Sherman area was lifted.
- The Oregon Department of TransportationOregon Department of TransportationThe Oregon Department of Transportation is a department of the state government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for systems of transportation. It was first established in 1969. It had been preceded by the Oregon State Highway Department which, along with the Oregon State Highway...
re-opened Route 20 on August 31. During the day, the Bear Butte Fire continued to burn in heavy fuels especially on its northwest front while firefighters made good progress along the northeast and southeast flanks. Brisk easterly winds push the Booth Fire over the crest of the Cascades at Minto Pass, between Three Fingered JackThree Fingered JackThree Fingered Jack, named for its distinctive shape, is a Pleistocene volcano in the Cascade Range of Oregon. It is a deeply glaciated shield volcano and consists mainly of basaltic andesite lava...
and Mount Jefferson. The fire also burned actively in the Canyon Creek area. However, fire crews made good progress mopping up along the southern and eastern fire perimeter.
- On September 1, there were 2,292 personnel working on the fire including 65 fire crews, 79 pumper trucks, and 12 helicopters. The fire activity was reduced during the day. However, individual trees and small groups of trees continued to torch and a number of small spot fire required attention. The primary areas of fire activity were on the western flank within the Mount Jefferson Wilderness area. In the Bear Butte area, the east and northeast flanks remained secure while crews worked on fire lines on the south and southwest perimeters of the fire. However, active fire behavior was observed in the northwest corner of the fire. In the Booth Fire area, operations continued along the western flank between Lost Lake to Canyon Creek. At the end of the day, the total acreage burned was estimated to be 50883 acres (205.9 km²). The interagency incident management team announced that the fire was 45 percent contained.
- On September 2 the weather was hot and dry, creating extreme fire conditions. The primary areas of activity continue to be along the western flank of the fires in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. Mop-up operations continued on the eastern and southern flanks of both fires and on the northern flank of the Bear Butte Fire.
- Continued hot dry weather allowed the both fires to grow significantly on September 3. The Booth Fire advanced on the west side of the Cascades, southeast of Marion Forks, OregonMarion Forks, OregonMarion Forks is an unincorporated community on the North Santiam Highway, 15 miles south of the city of Detroit, in Linn County, Oregon, United States....
. As a result, the Willamette National Forest closed roads in the area and residents of Marion Forks were evacuated. A bulldozer line was cut around Camp Pioneer to protect structures at the Boy ScoutBoy ScoutA Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
campground. The Booth Fire also advanced to the northeast through the Brush Creek drainage and crossed a contingency fire line. Mop-up operations continued on the eastern and southern flanks of both fires and on the north side of the Bear Butte Fire. The interagency incident management team estimated that the fire covered 61962 acres (250.8 km²).
- On September 4, the two fires merged together. In addition, the fire behavior was extreme all day. It included torching of large areas, numerous crowning runs, and spot fires igniting up to 0.75 miles (1.2 km) ahead of main fire fronts. Along the western front of the Bear Butte fire area, the advancing flames forced the evacuation of a fire campFire campAccording to the National Incident Management System , a fire camp is one of five predesignated temporary facilities. Fire camps provide certain essential auxiliary forms of support, such as food, sleeping areas, and sanitation for Wildland firefighters...
near Lower Bridge. The Booth Fire advanced to the northeast and crossed a well-developed fire line and a major Forest Service Road. This forced Camp Sherman residents to be evacuated for a second time. Route 20 was temporarily closed to facilitate the evacuation; however, it was later re-opened. Structural fire crews patrolled the Camp Sherman area all day. On the west side of the fire, crews constructed fires line north from Camp Pioneer toward Fir Lake. A contingency fire line was constructed from Marion Forks eastward to Marion Flats while structural fire crews patrolled the area. By the end of the day, the total acreage burned was estimated to be 70769 acres (286.4 km²), and the interagency incident management team revised its containment estimated to 40 percent.
- On September 5, the eastern front of the fire advanced to within 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) of the Metolius RiverMetolius RiverThe Metolius River is a tributary of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon, United States, near the city of Sisters. The river flows north from springs near Black Butte, then turns sharply east, descending through a series of gorges before ending in the western end of the lake...
. On the western front, firefighters continued constructing fire lines east of the Marion Forks and Oregon Route 22 while structural protection crews patrolled the area. Crews also completed a bulldozer fire line along the west boundary of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. In the Bear Butte area, fire activity was moderate on the west side; however, firefighters made progress mopping up on the north and east flanks. During the night, the acreage burned grew to 82888 acres (335.4 km²).
- On September 6, the B&B fire continued to burn in rugged country on both sides of the Cascades. During the day, there were 2,379 firefighters on scene supported by 112 pumper trucks and 14 helicopters. West of Camp Sherman crews worked with hand tools supported by pumper trucks and helicopters to improve containment lines. In the afternoon, gusty winds blew embers across the Metolius River, starting a 0.25 acre (0.001011715 km²) spot fire on the east side of the river near Lower Bridge Campground. The fire was extinguished by the end of the day. West of the Cascades, hand crews continued mopping up on the north and west sides of the fire near Table Lake and Bear Butte in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness area and on the neighboring Warm Springs Reservation. Crews improved fire lines near Marion Lake and continued providing on-site protection at Camp Pioneer. By the end of the day, the total acreage burned was estimated to be 88737 acres (359.1 km²).
- On September 7, about 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) of rain fell on the west side of the fire and lesser amounts fell on the east side. The precipitation allowed crews to work close to the fires, building and strengthening containment lines. Camp Sherman residents were allowed to return home; however, two structure protection task forces remain in place in Camp Sherman area. Also, a second smaller (Type-II) interagency incident management team began directing fire suppression efforts on the west side of the fire. The team set up headquarters in Idanha, OregonIdanha, OregonIdanha is a city on the Marion County/Linn County line in Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 22 and the Santiam River. The population was 232 at the 2000 census....
on Route 22, east of Detroit LakeDetroit LakeDetroit Lake is a reservoir impounded by the Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River southeast of Salem, Oregon, United States.The lake is adjacent to Oregon Route 22 near the city of Detroit....
. The interagency incident management team estimated the total acreage burned to be 90376 acres (365.7 km²). They also estimated the fire was 50 percent contained.
- It rained again on September 8, dropping up to 2 inches (50.8 mm) on some parts of the west side forest while the east side received about 0.2 inches (5.1 mm). This second day of precipitation gave fire crews the opportunity to extend and strengthen containment lines on all sides of the fire. Crews also began rehabilitation work on fire lines in the Hoodoo and in Suttle Lake areas.
- Between September 9 and September 26, modest rainfall and cooler temperatures allowed firefighters to construct containment lines close to the fire on its slow moving northwest front in the vicinity of Marion Lake and along the western boundary of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. Crews then shifted focus from fire suppression to mop-up and rehabilitation throughout the B&B fire area. The number of personnel on the fire was reduced steadily from 2,134 on 9 September to 1,604 on 16 September. The number of personnel working on the fire dropped below 1,000 on 19 September. By 22 September, there were less than 500 troops working on the fire. On 26 September, the interagency incident management team declared the B&B Complex Fires contained and closed its headquarters camp at Sisters.
Fire area
The size of the fire was originally reported to be 90376 acres (365.7 km²). Most of the burned area was Federal land. However, forest lands belonging to the State of OregonGovernment of Oregon
The government of the U.S. state of Oregon, as prescribed by the Oregon Constitution, is composed of three government branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial...
, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is a federally recognized confederation of Native American Tribes who currently live on and govern the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in the U.S...
, and various private owners were also burned.
The burned acreage was identified as follows:
- Deschutes National Forest (non-wilderness), 42248 acres (171 km²)
- Deschutes National Forest (Mount Jefferson Wilderness), 23116 acres (93.5 km²)
- Willamette National Forest (non-wilderness), 2739 acres (11.1 km²)
- Willamette National Forest (Mount Jefferson Wilderness), 17303 acres (70 km²)
- Warm Springs Confederation Tribes, 3799 acres (15.4 km²)
- State of Oregon, 82 acre (0.33184252 km²)
- Private land, 1089 acres (4.4 km²)
After carefully mapping the burned area, the Forest Service changed the official total of acres burned to 90769 acres (367.3 km²). During the course of the B&B Complex Fires, there were 13 structures destoyed and 8 firefighters injured. The total cost of the fire suppression effort was over $38.7 million.
On the west side of the Cascades, most of the burned forest was Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
and western hemlock
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla. the Western Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California.-Habitat:...
. On the east side of the mountains, the fire burned mostly Ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
, lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
, and jack pine
Jack Pine
Jack pine is a North American pine with its native range in Canada east of the Rocky Mountains from Northwest Territories to Nova Scotia, and the northeast of the United States from Minnesota to Maine, with the southernmost part of the range just into northwest Indiana...
. The two largest Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir
Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir
The Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. glauca, is an evergreen conifer native to the interior mountainous regions of western North America, from central British Columbia and southwest Alberta in Canada southward through the United States to the far north of Mexico...
trees in the United States are located in the area where the Bear Butte and Booth fires burned together, well within the fire’s perimeter. Both forest giants survived the fire, probably due to their size and thick bark. Oregon Department of Forestry
Oregon Department of Forestry
The Oregon Department of Forestry is the agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon which performs a wide variety of functions relating to the management, regulation and protection of both public and private forest lands in the state...
keeps track of the record trees within the state and nominates the largest to the National Register of Big Trees
National Register of Big Trees
The National Register of Big Trees is a list of the largest living specimens of each tree variety found in the continental United States. A tree on this list is often called a National Champion Tree....
. The larger of the two Douglas-fir trees in the B&B burn area is 24 in 7 in (7.49 m) in circumference and 114 feet (34.7 m) tall.
Post-fire activity
On 5 September, the Forest Service dispatched a Burned Area Emergency Response Team to begin evaluating the rehabilitation requirement for the B&B Complex Fires. The team consisted of archaeologists, botanists, geologistGeologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
s, hydrologists, soil scientists
Soil science
Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.Sometimes terms which...
, and forest engineers. The team assessed the environmental damage caused by the fire and related fire suppression activities. Following their report the Forest Service allocated $1.5 million for emergency stabilization and recovery of the effected area.
Shortly after the fire, smokejumpers and professional timber fallers cut hazard snags along Forest Service roads. Approximately 950 fire-killed trees were removed, allowing survey teams and rehabilitation crews to safely conduct their work.
The next stage of the recover work focused on high and moderate severity burn areas where there was an increased risk of runoff damage. Special attention was given to preventing water pollution and soil degradation in the Metolius River watershed. Forest Service crews removed fire debris from the banks of Abbot Creek, Bear Valley Creek, Bush Creek, Canyon Creek, Davis Creek, First Creek, Link Creek, and Jack Creek. They also replaced a number of small culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
s with larger ones. This helped minimize drainage onto roads and ensured streams were able to accommodate increases flow from surface runoff. This was especially critical in streams with native bull trout
Bull trout
The bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus, is a char of the family Salmonidae native to northwestern North America. Historically, S. confluentus has been known as the "Dolly Varden" , but was re-classified as a separate species in 1980. Bull trout are listed as a threatened species under the U.S....
, which are a threaten species. Crews also cleared forest recreation sites and hiking trails. This included a project that improved drainage along 33 miles (53.1 km) of the Pacific Crest Trail in order to reduce surface erosion. Finally, the Forest Service posted 40 new signs warning visitors of post-fire hazards.
Forest botanists identified fifty noxious weed sites within the fire area, covering 305 acres (1.2 km²). To deal with this problem, the Deschutes National Forest implemented a program to prevent the spread of noxious weeds especially along roads, trail, and in heavy use areas. These efforts helped encourage the return of native grasses and herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
shrubs throughout the burned areas.
In 2005, the Forest Service approved a plan for salvage logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
on 6823 acres (27.6 km²) burned by the B&B Complex Fires. The plan allowed commercial loggers to harvest trees killed by the fire. There was some criticism of the plan; however, the Forest Service determined that in the specific areas identified for post-fire timber harvest, the prescribed operations would utilize valuable timber assets, prevent the build-up of light fuels in burned areas, and help prevent soil degradation by encouraging rapid reforestation
Reforestation
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation....
.
In 2007, interpretive exhibits describing the B&B Complex Fires and post-fire forest recovery were installed at three locations along Route 20. The exhibits were jointly sponsored by Forest Service, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute
Oregon Forest Resources Institute
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute is an educational organization based in the U.S. state of Oregon dedicated to forestry issues, including improving public understanding of the state's forest resources and encouraging environmentally sound forest management. It provides education, training...
.