July
17, 2014 6:45 a.m.
17, 2014 6:45 a.m.
NEWS RELEASE
WHITE RIVER FIRE
OREGON DEPT OF FORESTRY
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 1
WHITE RIVER FIRE
OREGON DEPT OF FORESTRY
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 1
Contact: Brian Ballou, public information officer, (541) 621-4156
DEMOBILIZATION OF WHITE
RIVER FIRE BEGINS
RIVER FIRE BEGINS
Nearly 460 firefighters and support personnel awoke in the White
River Fire Camp this morning but many of them will hit the road today and
tomorrow, either to another fire suppression assignment or to return to their
home units. The 652-acre wildfire, which burned in a portion of the White River
Wild and Scenic area 12 miles west of Tygh Valley, is 95 percent contained. Full
containment is expected by Friday morning.
River Fire Camp this morning but many of them will hit the road today and
tomorrow, either to another fire suppression assignment or to return to their
home units. The 652-acre wildfire, which burned in a portion of the White River
Wild and Scenic area 12 miles west of Tygh Valley, is 95 percent contained. Full
containment is expected by Friday morning.
Day shift crews will focus on mopping up interior hot spots on the
south side of the White River Fire; the north side of the fire will be
patrolled by engine crews. Tonight, there will not be a full night shift operation;
engines will patrol the perimeter and use hand-held infrared devices to detect
heat.
south side of the White River Fire; the north side of the fire will be
patrolled by engine crews. Tonight, there will not be a full night shift operation;
engines will patrol the perimeter and use hand-held infrared devices to detect
heat.
Firefighters, engines and helicopters assigned to the White River
Fire are also poised to respond to new fires, should any occur, in support of
the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s protection unit in The Dalles.
Fire are also poised to respond to new fires, should any occur, in support of
the Oregon Dept. of Forestry’s protection unit in The Dalles.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect today across the region for
westerly winds to 10-20 mph, gusts to 30 mph, and relative humidity below 20
percent.
westerly winds to 10-20 mph, gusts to 30 mph, and relative humidity below 20
percent.
The cause of the White River Fire, which started July 12, is being
investigated.
investigated.
Fire suppression equipment available to the crews today include:
·
One Type II
(medium) helicopter
One Type II
(medium) helicopter
·
One Type
III (light) helicopter
One Type
III (light) helicopter
·
Eight
engines
Eight
engines
·
Two
bulldozers
Two
bulldozers
· One water tender
Costs so far have reached $1.8 million.
The White River Fire is on land protected by the Oregon Dept. of
Forestry’s Central Oregon District. Much of the land is wilderness inside the
White River Wild and Scenic Area, under the administration of the Bureau of
Land Management. The Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife administers other lands
inside the fire area for wildlife conservation purposes.
Forestry’s Central Oregon District. Much of the land is wilderness inside the
White River Wild and Scenic Area, under the administration of the Bureau of
Land Management. The Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife administers other lands
inside the fire area for wildlife conservation purposes.
Fire suppression operations are run by the Oregon Dept. of
Forestry Incident Management Team 1 led by Incident Commander John Buckman.
Crews and support personnel from across the state have been running the fire
suppression operation out of an incident command post at Wasco County
Fairgrounds in Tygh Valley.
Forestry Incident Management Team 1 led by Incident Commander John Buckman.
Crews and support personnel from across the state have been running the fire
suppression operation out of an incident command post at Wasco County
Fairgrounds in Tygh Valley.
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