Lionshead Fire

2020

Northwest Incident Management Team 13

Lightning sparked the Lionshead Fire, which began August 16, 2020, in Lionshead Canyon on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation approximately 14 miles west of the Warm Springs community. An historic windstorm arrived in the area on Monday, September 7, rapidly spreading the fire west onto the Willamette, Deschutes and Mt. Hood National Forests. The Lionshead Fire has heavily impacted several communities in the Santiam drainage and Breitenbush area, including the loss of 264 resident homes in Detroit. Highly valued natural and cultural resources were also threatened.

Lionshead Roars

Mike Leecy, Lead Resource Advisor (READ) and Forestry Technician for the Warm Springs Agency

A manzanita tree burns near the origin of the fire. Creeping fire burning light flashy fuels and brush.

The fire quickly burned through this area consuming ground vegetation leaving charred brush. Hot spots of burning roots remain.

Fire Mapping and Progression

Lionshead Fire progression map showing the dynamic growth of wildland fuel consumption.

Public Information map shows containment lines established by October 15.

The 2020 fire season saw major fires around the region and across the Northwest.

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Fire Behavior

Fire Behavior Analyst, Dean Warner, speaks to the fire behavior observed on the Lionshead Fire.

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Hand crews develop an operational plan to directly engage the fire.

Firefighter carries equipment to the fireline.

A firefighter prepares for the work day.

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Firefighter pulls hose from the line.

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Crew members work on lava flows to remove hose from the fire line.

Firefighter carries hose off the line.

Air Resources Help Slow Spread

Samantha Challburg, a pilot with Helicopter Express, speaks about her work on the Lionshead Fire.

Helicopters help slow fire progression to assist firefighters on the ground.

Samantha Challburg looks over the burn area during a reconnaissance mission.

Fire burning in a mosaic pattern.

Natural features, like the Jefferson Lake Lava Flow, serve as fire breaks to slow the progression of the fire.

Firefighters

Crews monitor fire behavior as they prepare to engage.

Brian Cole, of the Metolius Wildland Fire Module, hauls a pump and fuel can out of the woods along the Jefferson Lake Trail in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness in Division Romeo on October 2, 2020.

Suppression Repair

Suppression repair returns our public lands to its natural habitat to prevent damage to natural resources.

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Forest Regeneration

Forest regeneration begins immediately after the fire moves through an area.

Fire does not burn evenly. Often, fires burn portions of an area but leave much of it green.

Heritage Resources

Resource Advisors are an integral component of fire restoration.

Soil Burn Severity mapping shows where the fire burned hot and how restoration needs are prioritized.

New plant growth in the fire area within weeks of active burning.

Examples of previously burned areas show how a forest regenerates.

Fall arrives on the Lionshead Fire.

Fire Information and Updates

Sunset over the Lionshead Fire and Mt. Jefferson

Credits: Northwest Incident Management Team 13 Information and Situation