South Central Oregon Interagency Fire Incident Management Team 3 expects to have fulfilled its objectives early next week and restore management of the Watson Creek Fire to the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Paisley Ranger District.

Fire crews continue to mop-up and perform suppression repair along the fire boundary and within the interior.

The Level 1 – Be Ready – evacuation status for Lakeview Estates will be lifted at noon today. Fire managers ask that only residents and property owners use the roads, as there is significant traffic from fire crews, heavy equipment, ranchers and logging trucks.

There will be a community meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Paisley Community Center to update the public on the Watson Creek Fire. The most current information available will be shared, as well as next steps, followed by questions and answers.

Friday’s early morning infrared imagery showed a hot spot outside of fire lines near Mill Creek. “There was heat in the ground that hadn’t shown up yet as smoke or flame,” said Vince Grace, field operations chief for Team 6. “Our day crew was able to find it and dig it out. It was a good catch.”

Chipping operations continue in the northern portion of the Watson Creek Fire to reduce the concentration of roadside slash left over from suppression operations. Crews are watching for hot spots outside the lines while working to mop up 100 feet or more in from the perimeter in all areas.  Some stumps are still burning and isolated tree torching is visible in the interior portion of the fire.

A helicopter and ground crews quickly extinguished a small spot fire caused by interior torching yesterday near the Sycan River. Burning of interior islands may create smoke visible in the Paisley area today.  Crews will continue to hold and improve fire lines while mopping up and remaining vigilant for new spot fires.  Rehabilitation needs are being assessed and addressed.

Crews working on the Watson Creek Fire connected fire lines yesterday around the entire perimeter of the fire and are strengthening the lines to achieve full containment as soon as possible.  There will be continued work in and around the fire holding the lines, mopping up and patrolling.

Incident Meteorologist Matt Mehle accurately forecast the windy conditions experienced over the fire area on Sunday. In the northwest corner of the fire, crews were able to take advantage of favorable wind directions by utilizing controlled burning to strengthen the lines. Some spot fires were detected in the morning but contained by end of shift. All aircraft were able to fly the entire day and containment lines held.

Fire activity will moderate as the fire transitions from large patches of beetle-killed lodgepole to open-understory canopy with grasses, sage, and ceanothus. Group and isolated torching with lower surface spread rates are expected.

The Watson Creek Fire was subdued overnight, according to night operations chief Vince Grace.  However, light winds from the southwest this morning are expected to increase in velocity and vary in direction throughout the day.  Fire lines on the east side may be tested by the wind and engines will patrol as a precaution.

Firefighters constructed more than a mile of dozer line on Friday to connect with Forest Road 3372-022 and cut off spread of the fire to the northwest, reducing the expected footprint of the Watson Creek Fire by 5 to 6 square miles if the line continues to hold.

Doug McKay, Silver Lake and Paisley District Ranger, said, “Thursday’s defensive holding action during the wind event allowed the team to return to the offensive on Friday, and they are making safe and significant strides toward stopping the fire.” Containment of the fire increased to 15%.

The Watson Creek Fire is holding at approximately 5.5 to 6 air miles from the town of Paisley.  Fire crews prepared for firing operations last night along Forest Road 28 to the 3315 and 3411.  On the Forest Road 33-014, firefighters will work today to continue holding that area.  Spot fires yesterday were managed on the ground quickly.  The total acreage is now at 46,525.