This
afternoon firefighters from the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership
(SCOFMP) responded to several fires along U.S. Highway 395 and Oregon State
Highway 31 from north of Lakeview to north of Paisley.
There are four fires total.
The largest is the Withers Fire, northwest of Paisley,
which started on Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District lands. The fire is moving towards private and
Fremont-Winema National Forest lands.
which started on Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District lands. The fire is moving towards private and
Fremont-Winema National Forest lands.
It is currently estimated at approx. 800
acres. It is potentially threatening the
town of Paisley and is burning on the southeast side of Winter Rim.
acres. It is potentially threatening the
town of Paisley and is burning on the southeast side of Winter Rim.
Currently there is a Level 1 Evacuation in place in
Paisley. This means residents should “Be
Ready” for potential evacuation, monitor local media and should make
preparations if an evacuation becomes necessary.
Paisley. This means residents should “Be
Ready” for potential evacuation, monitor local media and should make
preparations if an evacuation becomes necessary.
There are 19 fire engines, four bulldozers, one hand crew, three
single-engine air tankers, four heavy air tankers, three helicopters, and a lead plane working the fire this evening. Additional resources have been ordered.
single-engine air tankers, four heavy air tankers, three helicopters, and a lead plane working the fire this evening. Additional resources have been ordered.
A Type 3 incident management team has been ordered and is
expected to arrive Thursday morning.
expected to arrive Thursday morning.
The other three fires pose no threat at this
time. The first fire located on Highway 395
was contained at a quarter-acre, and the second fire along the highway was lined
at a little over two acres and is being mopped-up. The J.V fire is located off Hwy 31, west of
the Withers Fire, and is approximately six acres.
time. The first fire located on Highway 395
was contained at a quarter-acre, and the second fire along the highway was lined
at a little over two acres and is being mopped-up. The J.V fire is located off Hwy 31, west of
the Withers Fire, and is approximately six acres.
Cause of the fires is currently under investigation.
Area visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings
and to be prepared for changing conditions.
This includes reporting visible smoke that could be from a wildfire.
and to be prepared for changing conditions.
This includes reporting visible smoke that could be from a wildfire.
To report a fire, please call 911.
With hot, dry weather forecast through the end of the week
and into the weekend, fire conditions remain extreme throughout the SCOFMP area. The agencies ask that the public be careful with anything that can throw
a spark while out on federal or state public lands.
and into the weekend, fire conditions remain extreme throughout the SCOFMP area. The agencies ask that the public be careful with anything that can throw
a spark while out on federal or state public lands.
Fire danger remains extreme in Lake and Klamath counties. The area is also under Industrial Fire
Precaution Level 3 and there are Public Use Restrictions in place on Forest
Service, BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands in the area and Stage 1
Fire Restrictions in effect at Crater Lake National Park.
Precaution Level 3 and there are Public Use Restrictions in place on Forest
Service, BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands in the area and Stage 1
Fire Restrictions in effect at Crater Lake National Park.
For more information on the IFPL restrictions, please
visit www.scofmp.org/lifc.shtml. For information on specific restrictions in
areas under Oregon Dept. of Folrestry’s fire protection, please visit www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx. Visitors are also advised to be aware of
Personal Use and Fire Restrictions when planning a visit to their public lands.
visit www.scofmp.org/lifc.shtml. For information on specific restrictions in
areas under Oregon Dept. of Folrestry’s fire protection, please visit www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx. Visitors are also advised to be aware of
Personal Use and Fire Restrictions when planning a visit to their public lands.
For more information on SCOFMP, please visit www.scofmp.org, on Twitter @scofmpfireinfo or
on Facebook at http://facebook.com/scofmpfireinfo.
on Facebook at http://facebook.com/scofmpfireinfo.
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