August 2, 2018
DUFUR, Ore. –
The South Valley Fire was reported Wednesday afternoon around 1:30 p.m.,
burning in ponderosa pine, oak, and wheat, southwest of Dufur on Oregon
Department of Forestry (ODF) protected lands.
Dry fuels and steady winds have contributed to the fire’s spread. It was estimated at 10,000 acres. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Governor
Kate Brown has invoked the Conflagration Act in response to the fire’s threat
to homes and infrastructure. Tonight Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) mobilized
resources to the fire and is in Unified Command with ODF. Tonight firefighters will take advantage of
increased humidity and reduced wind to engage the fire and build fireline while
the fire behavior is moderated.
The fire originated
approximately five miles southwest of Dufur, and spread to the southeast,
crossing Highway 197 south of Dufur. Potential spread of the fire overnight toward
the Deschutes River prompted the Bureau of Land Management to implement a Level
3 evacuation order in Segment 3 of the river corridor from Sandy Beach to Mack’s
Canyon.
Resources on
the fire yesterday included large air tankers, very large air tankers, Washington
Department of Natural Resources FireBoss scoopers, ODF Single Engine Air
Tankers (SEATs), several helicopters, ground crews and engines from ODF and the
U.S. Forest Service, additional engines from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue and
other local rural fire departments, and contract dozers. Approximately 150 fire personnel have engaged
in the fire this afternoon and evening, with more resources arriving tonight
with OSFM. Additional resources have
been ordered and will arrive tomorrow.
Aerial resources will be supporting ground suppression activities
Thursday morning.
Fuel conditions throughout ODF’s Central Oregon District
continue to be very dry with the potential for rapid fire growth from every
spark. Regulated Closure is in effect
for the district.
Specific restrictions can be found at www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
August 2, 2018
MILTON-FREEWATER, Ore. – A fire near Milton-Freewater started Thursday, Aug. 1 and is currently estimated to be 200-300 acres in size. While not currently on land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Lincton Mountain Fire is encroaching towards the protected area. Milton-Freewater Rural Fire District is operating in Unified Command with ODF.
The fire is moving east towards Walla Walla River Road, but the forward progression of the fire has been slowed by air attack, including helicopters and single-engine airtankers. Farm equipment and dozers are also being used to stop the blaze.
Evacuation of residents in the immediate area of the fire as well as Harris Park residents have been notified to evacuate with a Level 3 evacuation notice – “Go!”. Residents along the South Fork of the Walla Walla River Road are currently at a Level 1 “Ready” evacuation notice.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The public is reminded that ODF is currently in Regulated Use Closure in Northeast Oregon and federal lands are currently under public use restrictions. Current fire restrictions for forestlands in Northeast Oregon can be found at www.bmidc.org.
http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/ is your spot for current fire information in the Blue Mountains. To report a fire, call Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch at (541) 963-7171 or dial 9-1-1.
Notes on evacuation
Level 1 Evacuation – means “Be ready” for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. This is the time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons with special needs, mobile property and (under certain circumstances) pets and livestock. if conditions worsen, emergency services personnel may contact you via an emergency notification system.
Level 2 Evacuation – means ‘Be set” to evacuate. You must prepare to leave at a moment’s notice. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area. Residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or stay with family/friends outside of the affected area. If choosing to remain, be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to personally notify everyone to evacuate if conditions rapidly deteriorate.
Level 3 Evacuation – means “Go” – evacuate now and leave immediately. Danger is current or imminent and all people in the area should leave immediately. People choosing to ignore this warning must understand that emergency services may not be available to assist you further. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home.
August 1, 2018
|
Above: Oregon National Guard members like these in 2017
receive training in wildland firefighting and safety
before being sent to help at Oregon wildfires.
|
SALEM,
Ore. – An additional 147 members of the Oregon National Guard and Air National Guard later this week will join firefighting efforts at the Graves Creek Fire, part of the Garner Complex in
southwest Oregon.
The Oregon National Guard and Air National Guard members have already been trained thanks to federal funding through
Oregon’s congressional delegation.
“Our Oregon National Guardsmen consider it an honor to serve their state in
its time of need and assist our partners in fighting wildfires,” said Chris
Ingersoll, spokesman for the Oregon National Guard.
Gov. Kate Brown’s Proclamation of State of Emergency Due to Imminent Threat
of Wildfire paved the way for the National Guard to make members
available to help in what is already an extreme fire season.
“We appreciate the Oregon National Guard and Gov. Brown for this much-needed
added capacity. Our long standing partnership has, once again, proven its
value at a time of high demand for firefighting resources in Oregon and nationally,”
said Nancy Hirsch, deputy state forester for the Oregon Department of Forestry.
August 1, 2018
Low humidity and wind gusts up to 15 miles per hour led to increased activity overnight on fires within the Garner Complex in Jackson County.
An unburnt area inside the control lines caught fire and burned, but did not cross control lines.
Large fuels, such as downed logs, stumps and roots, continue burning above and below ground. Heat in some of these areas can be difficult to see with the naked eye, so crews use infrared scanners that sense heat and make it visible to firefighters. Using the scanners overnight, firefighters found over 70 hot spots in burned over areas, according to ODF’s Night Operations Section Chief Jason Pettigrew. The scanners make mopping up large areas more efficient, with hand crews following up to extinguish any hot spots that are located. A total of 1,444 personnel remain engaged on the Complex, including 45 fire engines, 17 water tenders, 8 dozers and 46 hand crews. The 8,886-acre Complex is 68% contained.
ODF Incident Management Team 1 is holding a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2 at Evans Valley Education & Community Center, 8205 East Evans Creek Road in Rogue River. The team encourages residents to attend to hear from fire officials about the fire’s status.
August 1, 2018
|
Above: Smoke obscures the sky
above fire personnel tents in the Garner Complex
incident command post in Merlin, Ore. |
The north, east and west sides of the Garner Complex are holding well according to the ODF Incident Management Team in command of the fire. The south side of the fire was the last place where control lines were built so has more heat close to those lines. Remaining fire crews are methodically mopping up and ensuring that heat sources are cooled well inside the fire perimeter. Plans are already in the works for suppression repair work. A significant number of personnel, fire engines, water tenders and aircraft have moved to more active wildfires.
With the Taylor Creek Fire now being managed by an interagency team, the size of the Complex is stable at 8,886 acres.
Air quality in many parts of Josephine, Jackson, Klamath and Lake counties remains unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy for anyone. Statewide air quality results can be seen at https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
Ignition date: July15, 2018
Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 1,872
Containment: 65%
South Umpqua Complex – southern Douglas and northern Jackson counties
ODF, Douglas Forest Protective Association, the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are sharing helicopters, crews, camps, strategies, and radio frequencies in order to more effectively and efficiently suppress fires in the South Umpqua Complex.
Ignition date: July 15, 2018
Cause: Lightning
Acres burned: 14,196
Containment: 16%
Personnel: 1,281
Fires in the Complex include:
Miles Fire – crews will continue to hold and improve control lines on and near the 1610 road along the north side of the fire. Mop up and snag mitigation will continue. Snags in the fire area and along the roads are significant safety hazards. Many of the snags are left from the Timbered Rock Fire of 2002. Firing operations will be used where needed as weather permits. There has been active fire toward the southeast with spotting up to a half mile east toward Gobblers Knob.
Snowshoe Fire – personnel continue hose lays into areas that are inaccessible by fire engines and are mopping up within 200 to 300 feet from the outer edge. On the north side, crews are chipping larger piles of brush that were created during fireline construction. Equipment is being back hauled and repositioned for reuse.
Columbus Fire -mop-up continues along the western edge while preparation and burnout operations will be underway along the north side. Crews will continue to prep and improve lines on the south side. On the northern edge a slop over was secured and no more spots were detected outside the line.Other recent wildfires
Klondike Fire – Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
A community meeting is being held tonight at 6 p.m. in Selma at the Selma Center to inform residents about this fire. Burning primarily in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, this lightning-caused fire is now sized at 17,987 acres and is only 5% contained. Fire crews are patrolling control lines on the fire’s east side and looking to keep spot fires from establishing across the Illinois River. Structures are threatened and evacuations are in effect, with some road and area closures.
Ignition date: July 15, 2018
Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 403
Containment: 5%
Containment on Long Hollow Fire reaches 95%
There is minimal fire behavior and no new growth on the Long Hollow Fire. The fire scorched 33,451, acres in Wasco and Sherman counties in north-central Oregon before it was stopped. Long Hollow is not far from the Boxcar and Substation wildfires. Together, these three have burned over 200,000 acres in north-central Oregon, making that part of the state one of the hardest hit by wildfire so far this year. Almost none of the land burned was protected by ODF.
Fire restrictions reflect high to extreme fire danger
