Aerial units and their role in wildland firefighting

Having dumped its load of water on the fire, a helicopter returns to fill its reservoir from a creek. The Tyee Ridge Complex Fire consists of 19 wildfires that were ignited by lightning on August 24 at 9:12 p.m. As of Tuesday, August 29, the fires covered 2,899 acres in the hills surrounding the community of Umpqua, approximately 10 miles west of Sutherlin. The fires are being managed by a unified command that includes the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Team 1 and the Oregon State Fire Marshall Red Team. The fires are in rugged, steep, and difficult terrain, but the firefighters are making progress and five percent of the fire is now contained. Currently the evacuations are: Level 3 (Go Now!) from the 11000 block of Hubbard Creek Rd. to Millwood Dr. Level 2 (Be Set) from Hubbard Creek Rd. from the Millwood Dr. intersection to Melqua Rd. Level 1 (Be Ready) for Tyee Road at the intersection with Rock Creek Road to Fanchin Lane. Closures: On Hubbard Creek Road at Millwood Drive. Photo by Dan Morrison.