{{Short description|2017 wildfire in the U.S. state of Oregon}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = Whitewater Fire |partof=the [[2017 Oregon wildfires]] | image = 2017 08 20-21.49.38.566-CDT.jpg | caption = Smoke from Whitewater Fire around Mt. Jefferson in August 2017 | cost = | injuries = | fatalities = | reference =<ref name="IW92617">{{cite web|title=FINAL Update Whitewater fires Sept 26, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5420/41850/|website=InciWeb|publisher=Willamette National Forest|accessdate=10 December 2017}}</ref> <!-- ONLY FOR INDIVIDUAL FIRES --> | 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|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and first reported on July 23, 2017, has burned approximately {{Convert|14500|acre|km2|0|abbr=}} and is currently no longer active.<ref name="IW9217" /> 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 River (Oregon)|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.<ref name="InciWeb">{{cite web|title=Whitewater Fire|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420/|website=InciWeb|publisher=Willamette National Forest|accessdate=10 December 2017}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name="KTVZ724">{{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}}</ref> The [[US Forest Service]] closed numerous trails in response to the fire's growth, including portions of Whitewater, Cheat Creek, Triangulation and Crag trails.<ref name="KTVZ724"/> Two days later, on July 25, a [[forest service road]] off of Highway 20 was closed.<ref name="Paul725">{{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}}</ref> The fire grew somewhat, but calm weather kept it under 100 acres and the [[Hoodoo (ski area)|Hoodoo]] ski area became an [[Incident Command Post]].<ref name="Urness">{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref name="KVAL73017">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="InciUp8217">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="IW8317">{{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}}</ref> The air quality in nearby [[Detroit, Oregon|Detroit]] declined rapidly, with ash falling from the sky.<ref name="Urness"/> Aircraft were unable to provide air support due to low visibility.<ref name="IW842017">{{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}}</ref> On August 5, [[Super Scooper]]s began collecting water from [[Detroit Lake]] and select trailheads were closed in [[Willamette National Forest]] and [[Deschutes National Forest]].<ref name="InciWeb121017">{{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}}</ref><ref name="IW8617">{{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}}</ref> By mid-August, the Little Devil Fire started about two miles northwest of the Whitewater Fire.<ref name="InciWeb121017" /><ref name="IW8617" />
By mid-August, the Little Devil Fire started about two miles northwest of the Whitewater Fire.<ref name="IW81717">{{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}}</ref> 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}}.<ref name="IW9217">{{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}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{2017 American wildfires}} {{Oregon wildfires}}
[[Category:2017 Oregon wildfires]] [[Category:2018 Oregon wildfires]] [[Category:Willamette National Forest]]