Whitewater Fire
{{Short description|2017 wildfire in the U.S. state of Oregon}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox wildfire
| title = Whitewater Fire
| image = 2017 08 20-21.49.38.566-CDT.jpg
| caption = Smoke from Whitewater Fire around Mt. Jefferson in August 2017
| cost =
| injuries =
| fatalities =
| date = {{Start date|2017|7|23}} –
| location = Mount Jefferson Wilderness, Oregon, United States
| coordinates = {{coord|44.708|-121.856|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = USA Oregon
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of fire in Oregon.
| area = {{Convert|11493|acre|km2|0}}
| buildings =
| cause = Lightning
| landuse =
| perps =
| motive =
}}
The Whitewater Fire was a wildfire in and near the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, approximately 13 miles east of Detroit, Oregon, United States. The fire, which was caused by a lightning strike and first reported on July 23, 2017, has burned approximately {{Convert|14500|acre|km2|0|abbr=}} and is currently no longer active. It is one of eight fires to burn in Willamette National Forest in the Fall of 2017.
Events
The Whitewater Fire was started by a lightning strike in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness near the Whitewater Creek. The fire was first reported on July 23, 2017, at 5:35 PM by a commercial airplane that spotted the smoke. By the next day, the fire had grown to {{Convert|67|acre|ha|0|abbr=}} due to high winds, low humidity and high temperatures.{{cite web|title=Whitewater Fire|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420/|website=InciWeb|publisher=Willamette National Forest|accessdate=10 December 2017}}{{cite web|title=New wildfire burns 65 acres in Mt. Jefferson Wilderness|url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/new-wildfire-burns-65-acres-in-mt-jefferson-wilderness/592206619|website=KTVZ|accessdate=10 December 2017|date=25 July 2017}} The US Forest Service closed numerous trails in response to the fire's growth, including portions of Whitewater, Cheat Creek, Triangulation and Crag trails. Two days later, on July 25, a forest service road off of Highway 20 was closed.{{cite web|last1=Paul|first1=Alex|title=Air, hand crews battle fire in Mt. Jefferson Wilderness|url=http://democratherald.com/news/local/air-hand-crews-battle-fire-in-mt-jefferson-wilderness/article_2ae57a2d-dac8-5466-b9fa-e6fef8f9c420.html|website=Albany Democrat Herald|date=25 July 2017 |accessdate=10 December 2017|language=en}} The fire grew somewhat, but calm weather kept it under 100 acres and the Hoodoo ski area became an Incident Command Post.{{cite web|last1=Urness|first1=Zach|title=Wildfire could impact eclipse plans in Mount Jefferson Wilderness|url=http://www.kgw.com/news/wildfire-could-impact-eclipse-plans-in-mount-jefferson-wilderness/459668492|website=KGW|accessdate=10 December 2017}}
By August 1, the fire had grown to {{Convert|167|acre|km2|0}} and 11-miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and South Breitenbusch Trail were closed due to concerns with the fire's growth due to hot and dry weather.{{cite web|title=Fire managers to close Jefferson Park and portion of Pacific Crest Trail Monday morning|url=http://kval.com/news/local/fire-managers-to-close-jefferson-park-and-portion-of-pacific-crest-trail-monday-morning|website=KVAL|date=30 July 2017 |accessdate=10 December 2017}} Due to the heavy fuels and hot, dry weather the fire grew to {{Convert|1,500|acre|km2|0}} overnight and was 10% contained. Air resources began to be utilized due to the growth.{{cite web|title=Whitewater Fire Update August 2, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5420/37305/|website=Whitewater Fire News Release|publisher=Willamette National Forest|accessdate=10 December 2017}} By August 3, the Whitewater Fire expanded north and south to {{Convert|4579|acre|km2|0}} acres, and reaching Woodpecker and Breitenbush creeks. Fire crews began digging firelines and clearing roadside vegetation.{{cite web|title=Whitewater Fire Update August 3, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5420/37381/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=10 December 2017}} The air quality in nearby Detroit declined rapidly, with ash falling from the sky. Aircraft were unable to provide air support due to low visibility.{{cite web|title=Whitewater Fire Update August 4, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5420/37433/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=10 December 2017}} On August 5, Super Scoopers began collecting water from Detroit Lake and select trailheads were closed in Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest.{{cite web|title=Whitewater Fire Update Aug. 5, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5420/37519/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=10 December 2017}}{{cite web|title=Whitewater Fire Update - August 6, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5420/37585/|website=InciWeb|publisher=Willamette National Forest|accessdate=10 December 2017}} By mid-August, the Little Devil Fire started about two miles northwest of the Whitewater Fire.
By mid-August, the Little Devil Fire started about two miles northwest of the Whitewater Fire.{{cite web|title=Whitewater Fire Update – August 17|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5420/38291/|website=InciWeb|publisher=Willamette National Forest|accessdate=10 December 2017}} Air quality still remained poor in Detroit and declined in Breitenbush. The final Willamette National Forest update on the Whitewater Fire was on September 26, 2017. The fire had burned {{Convert|11493|acre|km2|0}} and was 64% contained. Forest Service Road 45 reopened to traffic with all other trail and road closures remaining in place. By the end of October, the Whitewater Fire had grown to {{Convert|14463|acre|km2|0}}.{{cite web|url=https://oregonforests.org/sites/default/files/2018-01/OFRI%202017%20Wildfire%20Report%20-%20FINAL%2001-02-18.pdf|title=Willamette Fire Update - September 2|website=InciWeb|publisher=Willamette National Forest|accessdate=10 December 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{2017 American wildfires}}
{{Oregon wildfires}}
Category:2017 Oregon wildfires