ODF’s Team 1 takes over Corner Creek Fire

July 2, 2015

July 2, 2015, 11 a.m.

                                                                            

Oregon
Department of Forestry                                                                                                     

Incident
Management Team 1                                                                                                        

John
Buckman, Incident Commander                                                                                            

Fire
Information: (541) 987-2348                                                                                                   

Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team
1 has assumed suppression responsibility for the Corner Creek Fire. It is
burning on the west side of the South Fork John Day River, about 11 miles south
of Dayville. The Corner Creek Fire has burned
12,750 acres on the Ochoco National Forest, Bureau of Land Management
Prineville District, and private lands. Part of the fire is in the Black Canyon
Wilderness.

The Corner Creek Fire is
growing rapidly, spreading to the south and southwest. Strong and highly
visible pyro-cumulus clouds formed over the fire in the afternoon, towering to
more than 20,000 feet. Firefighters are protecting structures in the vicinity.
Fire crews are looking for opportunities to control the fire spread, including
clearing fuels near forest roads to the south and west of the fire. These may
be used as fire lines for burnout operations.

The South Fork
Road/Hwy 42 has been closed to the general public from Dayville to the US
Forest Service 58 Road junction due to fire activity. Local traffic should
drive with caution due to heavy fire-related traffic.

The Sugarloaf Fire is now at 5,057 acres and 65 percent
containment. Most of the active fire is on the northeastern edge, where burnout
operations continue to secure the fire line. Heavier fuels in the forested
areas are requiring extensive mop-up. Firefighters continue to patrol and mop
up around structures along Dick Creek Road. The western part of Sugarloaf Fire,
Blue Basin Fire, and Schoolhouse Gulch Fire are being patrolled by
firefighters.
The camp for firefighters assigned to these fires is
on Highway 26 about 2.5 miles west of Dayville. Please drive with caution and
watch for heavy fire traffic.
The forecast for the rest of the week is a concern for
fire managers. The forecast calls for continuing hot weather with low humidity
and northwest winds gusting 20 to 25 mph. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued
for Friday and Saturday due to expected hot, dry weather with wind gusts to 30
mph.
Information about the Sugarloaf Fire is posted online
at
www.centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com.
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