Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

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Greg_Lewis
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Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by Greg_Lewis »

This map indicates fire down to TM property. Does anyone have better information?

https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=42.5706 ... a=modis_mp
Greg Lewis, Prop.
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Glenn Brooks
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Here is the link to the TM camera page.

http://trainmtn.org/tmrr/cameras/camera1.shtml

And the main page: http://trainmtn.org/tmrr/

As of Sep 7, the fire had burned onto the northern portion of the property, and is being fought with an air attack. An initial report indicates ROW in the northern and NW sections of the property have burned, however, the fire may be still be confined to undergrowth and ground cover. The prevailing winds are blowing the fire predominately to the west, towards the lake. Last published report indicate the fire has spread to 1,000 acre size and is uncontained.

Reports on the TM web site and FB page indicate the fire edge is primarily on the ground, spreading in grass and brushy undergrowth. No fire crowning in the trees as of that moment. The fire has burned over the Steiger butte. The Steiger Butte cameras stopped functioning as of 9/8/20 at 02:00hrs.

The TM facility is now closed and has been evacuated under a stage 3 immediate evacuation order- so apparently no one is on site, and we have no updated reports as to spread of the fire or ground conditions.

Glenn
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by Greg_Lewis »

Thanks, Glenn.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
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rkcarguy
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by rkcarguy »

It looks like the cameras are back up and live, about 15 mins ago there was some forest service guys and a truck there surveying the damage and then they moved on. Steiger Butte did burn and the extent of the damage can be seen on the two camera's. The rest of TM's camera's appear to show everything being ok, looks like they dodged the bullet (mostly).
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NP317
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by NP317 »

I received an email message indicating that Crane siding and facilities burned. And some track was damaged by firefighting equipment.
Time will reveal the extent of damage.
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Ryan, Good to hear. TM released an update couple of days ago. Two of the local TM people held a fire line inside the north side of the property and kept the fire from burning south of the Steiger Butte area. The winds were blowing out of the east, forcing the fire westward towards the lake, not southerly into the property - so that was favorable for holding the fire line.

The fire had grown to 12,000 acres in 2 or 3 days.Within the last couple of days the USFS and Oregon Forestry set up a unified fire command center at the TM camping area- a good thing as they undoubtedly will be inclined to defend their staging area against further fire threats.

Local reports suggest the fire didn’t crown out into the forest cover in the TM area, rather burned through the ground cover and underbrush. Which is good from the standpoint of reducing dead and dry fuel load on the ground, and burning out dead limbs and deadfall on the understory of the forest. So positive results from a forest ecology standpoint. And hopefully reducing future fire threats in the area.

Glenn
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AnthonyDuarte
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by AnthonyDuarte »

Follow Train Mountain on facebook for the most up-to-date info. The structures at crane survived the fire.

Most recent from their FacebookPage:

“The Steiger Butte cameras are back! These are the first pictures we have from Train Mountain areas impacted by the Two Four Two fire. We also have a correction to make from yesterday, the structures at Crane didn’t burn. Hopefully tomorrow the restrictions will be lifted and we can get a better assessment of the north end of the property. Information will be shared as it becomes available, thanks for everyone’s concern and well wishes for Train Mountain and our neighbors.“
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NP317
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by NP317 »

Great news. I also got an update with the same info as Anthony.
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by marshall5 »

I just copied this from TM's website. Seems like it could have been a lot worse.


FIRE INCIDENT "TWO FOUR TWO FIRE"

Sept. 11, 2020, UPDATE
Train Mountain is no longer under evacuation orders.

The Train Mountain south side is now again open to Members provided they follow the Government's Covid 19 requirements.

The North Side remains closed to Members until the fire suppression and mop-up activities are completed, and the Fire Services release the area.

Current information is that the fire burned on the north side of a road running from the Dobbs property toward Schubert Junction. Yesterday, two spot fires, totalling 3 acres, occurred south of that road near Witcombe. There is significant damage to both the landscape and track north of that road. The buildings at Crane Siding survived.

As can be seen on the web cams, Central Station is fine at this time.

Ray
Glenn Brooks
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Today’s Update, forwarded by Jeff Mills, TM RR president:

“Just received this link. This is the best coverage I have seen.

https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/news/2 ... 2000-acres

Make sure you watch the whole video on full screen. There are two Train Mountain gates with cabooses shown north of Dobbs that look quite different with the brush gone.


On Thu, Sep 10, 2020 at 8:29 AM Tom Watson <twatson703@gmail.com> wrote:
As the wind keeps changing direction, the 2-4-2 Fire also changes hot spot areas. Last night Rainbow Park was again evacuated, and the fire line was again held thanks to the hard working firefighters.

Richard made it to Crane yesterday, and reported the Crane Station, Crane Water Tower, and the Porta Potty all survived the fire. The picnic tables did not survive.

The Track and Ties are covered with soot and ash but have not been damaged by the fire in the areas Richard has been able to access.

Many panels have been damaged by both our Dozers and those operated by the Forest Service and ODF.

Some Members are anxious to go north to inspect the damage. However I have been informed that it is still an active fire area in control of the Joint Management Team. Presently, "civilians" are not allowed north of Witcombe. The Forest Service and/or ODF is patrolling the area, and if they see someone enter the restricted area, they will come after them as they must cease their operations when civilians are present.

I did a time lapse video of a drive around Caboose Ridge that will be uploaded to YouTube soon. There is no fire damage on Caboose ridge, but the fire line is visible from there through the smoke.

--
Tom

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Glenn Brooks
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Re: Is Train Mountain OK? Fire @ Collier St. Pk.

Post by Glenn Brooks »

And a second report by Tom, with some photos of the TM North property, in the fire affected area:

**********************

The wind has calmed down, which means the smoke is really bad. The fire continues to spread to the north west. Many areas remain under the Level 3 evacuation status. There were no new spot fires at Train Mountain today, but many hot spots remain and some flare-ups occurred. They were quickly attacked by the Dustin or USFS and ODF fire personnel. Richard and I were doing a drive-through inspection.

Yesterday, Dustin and Richard both received on the job showers. Some sort of a heavy pink stuff.

All but one house on Hwy 422 apparently survived, many out buildings did not.

Part 1, a 40 minute video, of the drive from the south end of TM to Steiger, and then to Crane, that will be uploaded tomorrow. Part 2 will be the drive from Crane to Hope, and then to New England.

In the meantime, here are some teasers:

I believe I found the problem with the power at Steiger:
D9347262-AAF3-4639-9E27-E03967BDADF4.jpeg
Crane survived:
81B66C02-C580-4B62-854C-D9A8A785A5E5.jpeg
Very lucky! Note the scorch marks:
4D325C9B-398A-44E4-8BAC-A656D13B513D.jpeg
From Steiger looking west:
68E97124-2F59-49AA-B871-E18365451E5C.jpeg

credit: images and text curtesy of Tom Watson

- Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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