July
16, 2014 7:30 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
WHITE RIVER FIRE NEARS
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT
Despite withering heat, fire crews working to extinguish the
652-acre White River Fire significantly expanded their mop-up operation,
bringing the containment level to 80 percent today. Full containment is
expected by the end of the week.
652-acre White River Fire significantly expanded their mop-up operation,
bringing the containment level to 80 percent today. Full containment is
expected by the end of the week.
The cause of the fire, which started July 12, is being
investigated.
investigated.
Resources assigned to the White River Fire suppression effort
include:
include:
·
458
personnel
458
personnel
·
Two Type II
(medium) helicopters
Two Type II
(medium) helicopters
·
Two Type
III (light) helicopters
Two Type
III (light) helicopters
·
Ten engines
Ten engines
·
Two
bulldozers
Two
bulldozers
· One water tender
Costs so far have reached $1.5 million.
Some resources, mostly personnel, will be released from the White
River Fire today. It is likely that firefighters and equipment will get
reassigned to other fires burning in the region.
River Fire today. It is likely that firefighters and equipment will get
reassigned to other fires burning in the region.
Firefighters today will be working under Red Flag Warning
conditions: 100-degree heat, humidity below 20 percent and stronger winds. This
will raise the likelihood of increased fire activity deep inside the fire line
where there are scattered unburned fuels and numerous hot spots. Hose lines and
portable water ponds have been set up to stretch mop-up capabilities deep into
the White River Canyon.
conditions: 100-degree heat, humidity below 20 percent and stronger winds. This
will raise the likelihood of increased fire activity deep inside the fire line
where there are scattered unburned fuels and numerous hot spots. Hose lines and
portable water ponds have been set up to stretch mop-up capabilities deep into
the White River Canyon.
Night shift firefighters have been using hand-held infrared
devices to detect buried pockets of heat.
devices to detect buried pockets of heat.
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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