BS Summary: This article contains 10 faulty reasoning types, including Recency Bias, Negativity Bias, and Framing Effect, with Appeal to Authority as the most egregious example at 16.6% saturation with 136 hits. Analysis detected 453 faulty-reasoning hits from 817 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 13.3% and a BS Rank of 4% (24,349 of 25,266 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 96.40% of the article peer group.
The 17,799 people stationed across the northwest region of the United States make up around 65% of all wildfire personnel in the country, according to the Incident Management Situation Report published by the National Interagency Fire Center.
Across Oregon and Washington, 1,975,785 acres have burned, accounting for around 70% of the 2,814,679 acres burned across the country.
Sens.
Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are demanding the Federal Emergency Management Agency explain why it denied Oregon Fire Management Assistance Grants for the East Evans Creek Fire and Rowe Creek Fire Complex.
Here's the latest on Oregon's largest wildfires.
Rowe Creek Fire Complex near Fossil
The 304,832-acre Rowe Creek Fire Complex, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied a funding request for, is now 42% contained, though the Crosswhite fire, the largest in the complex, is at 33% containment and 287,228 acres.
The Camel Hump Fire is 6,614 acres and 68% contained while the Incident 594 Fire is at 298 acres and 100% contained.
Most of the complex’s heat is in the south, according to a release posted to the Rowe Creek Complex Facebook page.
Crews are continuing to mop-up along Highway 26, where one lane was reopened during the day July 29 but closed again overnight, and monitoring containment lines.
Evacuation warnings and orders remain active in areas in Crook, Jefferson, Wasco and Wheeler counties.
Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters
Firefighters on the Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters have made progress advancing into the fire’s interior and expanding mop-up depth throughout, bringing containment to 19%.
The fire is now 27,429 acres, a 27-acre increase from the previous morning, and personnel has dropped to 1,232 from 1,398 as support is redeployed to other fires in the state.
Firefighters are continuing to mop up the perimeter of the fire, extinguish lingering heat and strengthen control lines.
They are also monitoring unburned pockets of vegetation to see if additional fire lines are needed.
Evacuation warnings and orders stand in parts of Deschutes and Jefferson counties.
Bench Fire near Warm Springs
The Bench Fire near Warm Springs is currently “very active,” according to a release posted to the Bench Fire Facebook page.
The fire, for which Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on July 25, is burning on 64,407 acres, a 4,136 increase from the previous day, and is now 22% contained.
Crews continue to work 200-300 feet from structures to extinguish remaining heat, and new structural task forces arrived the evening of July 29 for reinforcement.
Evacuation warnings and orders stand in areas around Warm Springs.
Grasshopper Fire east of Government Camp
The Grasshopper Fire burning in the Mt.
Hood National Forest has grown to 21,126 acres and is 0% contained.
An additional 142 people joined the fight, bringing total personnel assigned to the fire to 373.
Firefighters will continue efforts on all sides of the fire, including preparing indirect handline in the northwest and mopping up the east and west.
Evacuation warnings and orders remain for areas in Hood River and Wasco counties.
Second Flat and Coleman Creek Fires near Burns
The two largest Burns Basin fires are each over 100,000 acres, with the Coleman Creek Fire at 180,688 acres, a 14,361-acre increase from July 29, and the Second Flat Fire, for which Kotek invoked the Conflagration Act on July 26, is 100,977 acres.
They are 0% and 18% contained, respectively.
Five structure task forces from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are on the scene of the Second Flat Fire and crews are continuing to strengthen containment lines.
The Coleman Creek Fire temporarily closed Highway 20 near Saddlehorse Creek after fire activity increased in the area, and efforts to control the fire near the highway are ongoing.
The north and west ends of the fire have seen limited growth as crews and dozer lines keep growth limited.
The California Incident Management Team 4, which is at the helm of the firefighting effort, predicts near critical fire weather conditions through July 31, according to a release posted to the Burns Basin Fire Facebook page.
Evacuation warnings and orders stand for areas in Harney and Malheur counties.
Big Grass Fire
The 301,572-acre Big Grass Fire on the Oregon-Idaho border 25 miles from Jordan Valley is currently threatening 615 residential structures and just 15% contained.
CIMT5, which oversees the fire, said in a release posted to the Big Grass Facebook page that it is implementing “an aggressive full-suppression strategy” to “protect communities, structures, critical infrastructure, and other valuable resources at risk.”
Moderated fire activity allowed firefighters to make progress on the northeast perimeter, which had previously displayed extreme behavior.
Crews will continue working to build and strengthen containment lines.
Stay vigilant and informed regarding local fire safety practices.
To track red-flag warnings and check smoke activity, check out The Register-Guard's wildfire smoke map.
Bettina Wu is a reporting intern at The Register-Guard.
Reach her at bwu@usatodayco.com.
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