August 18, 2013 @ 8 p.m.
Information: 541-298-9899
govflatfire@gmail.com
Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 (IC Chris Cline) and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Team (IC John Ingrao) are coordinating fire suppression efforts for the three wildfires comprising the Government Flat Complex approximately six miles southwest of The Dalles. All three fires, Blackburn, Government Flat, and Wells, are lightning-caused fires detected on August 16. All fires are burning in grass, brush and oak, with some Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine on north-facing slopes.
The Blackburn Fire is approximately 1500 acres burning within the City of The Dalles Watershed on a mixed ownership of private and public land (SDS Lumber, LLC; Bureau of Land Management; and City of The Dalles).
The Upper Mill Creek Road and Reservoir Road, from their junction upstream, are closed to all public access except for area residents.
A Level II Evacuation notification was placed in effect earlier on Sunday for this area. Residents of 35 homes in the Reservoir Road and Upper Mill Creek Road were asked to make final preparations and get SET to evacuate if the need arises. (Level I – Ready; Level II – Set; Level III – Go Now!).
Two outbuildings were confirmed to have been destroyed in the Upper Mill Creek drainage. The outbuildings were not reachable by fire apparatus due to inaccessibility.
The Incident Management teams are coordinating their efforts with Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and the American Red Cross, in the Sheriff’s Level II notification.
Protection of the downstream City of The Dalles water treatment facility and structures in the vicinity of the Blackburn Fire continues to be high priorities for work efforts. The Dalles Public Works Department is working closely with the fire suppression personnel in protecting the Treatment Facility located 1 mile east of the fire.
On the Government Flat Fire, crews are holding the fire within its’ current lines at 229 acres. The Incident Management personnel are expecting the risk of further fire spread to be low.
The Wells Fire remains contained at 66 acres and will continue to be patrolled.
Fire personnel will continue their suppression efforts through the night.