September 6, 2014
Kyle Reed, Douglas Forest Protective Association
(541)
672-6507 X 136 CELL: (541) 580-2789
I-5 Northbound
Fires
Reports of multiple fires between I-5 milepost 108
northbound to the top of Roberts Mountain came into 911 dispatch starting at
6:30 p.m. Thursday evening.
Approximately 10 fires were burning in the area. The total number of fire starts have not yet
been determined as several fires burned together. It is estimated that the fires have burned a
total of 80 acres, but more accurate mapping will be completed Friday. The cause of the fires appear to be vehicle
related.
As of Thursday night, all the fire spread was stopped and
crews were working on securing fire trails and mopping up hot spots near the
lines. Firefighters will remain on scene
overnight working on the fires.
Motorists pasting through the area are advised to use caution due to the
heavy fire traffic.
While multiple homes were threatened by the fires, no homes
were actually evacuated and no structures were burned. Douglas County utilized their reverse 911
system to advice all residence within a 2 mile radius of the fires of the
situation.
The Douglas Forest Protective Association responded to the
fires, as did a majority of Douglas County Fire Departments, Oregon State
Police, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Creek Police Department, and
ODOT.
September 6, 2014
Firefighters
made good progress today securing the Clarks Branch Complex, which originally
started Thursday, September 4. The Clarks Branch Complex was
made up of nine fire perimeters that burned a total of 55 acres between I-5
milepost 108 and 115 northbound. The change in fire size is due to more
accurate mapping.
Today’s
main objective was to improve control lines around all nine fire perimeters and
to eliminate all smokes and hot spots within the fires. Reports back from
the field indicate that firefighters completed the line improvements and made
significant progress extinguishing interior heat.
Firefighters
are expected to remain on scene until late this evening, and then return first
thing in the morning to check the fires. Douglas Forest Protective Association will continue to check the
fires over the next week to make sure the fires are completely out.
DFPA
would like to thank the multiple fire departments, law enforcement agencies,
Douglas County, and ODOT who all helped with this incident.
Contact:
Kyle Reed
Fire Prevention
Specialist
Douglas Forest
Protective Association
Office: (541)
672-6507 ext. 136
Cell: (541)
580-2789
September 5, 2014
“Now is not the time to let our guard down,” says
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Fire Prevention Coordinator Tom Fields when
asked about the pending arrival of fall. “We are still experiencing
extreme fire danger conditions throughout much of the state and we need
everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to prevent human caused
fires.”
The National Weather Service is predicting continued hot weather through the
weekend with much of western Oregon under a Red Flag Warning through Saturday.
Combined with off shore winds and dry vegetation, the recipe for large fires is
still a concern.
While the 525 human-caused fires in 2014 reflects the 10-year average on lands
protected by ODF, the 13,000 acres burned is 10,000 more than the average. The
Two Bulls Fire near Bend in early June and the Moccasin Fire near Klamath Falls
in mid-July were two human caused fires that accounted for 9,500 of those
acres. The Moccasin Fire also destroyed 17 homes.
“That’s just a testament to the type of conditions we have faced all
summer,” says Fields. “Just one spark can lead to a fire, and that
fire has the potential to grow exponentially in a very short amount of
time.”
State Fire Marshal Jim Walker is encouraging Oregonians to use extreme caution
and to practice safe outdoor equipment use. “The impact of these fires has
been far reaching to citizens and communities. Following a few basic outdoor
safety tips can keep the final days of summer enjoyable and safe.”
As always, check what fire restrictions are in place before you head out. Most
areas prohibit campfires outside approved campgrounds. Where campfires are
allowed, be sure and build them in a safe area and most importantly, put them
completely out before leaving.
Smoking and off road driving is also prohibited. Even vehicles idling over dry
grass along the side of the road can start a fire. Earlier this week, a motor
home ignited 10 small fires along Highway 97 when hot particles from a faulty
catalytic converter spewed out into nearby dry grass.
Each year Oregon is faced with the challenge of wildfires impacting our forests
and communities. We all have a stake in protecting what we feel is important to
quality of life. In that vein, two opponents on the field are teaming up
together to help put an end to careless human caused fires. Football coaches
Mike Riley of Oregon State University and Mark Helfrich of the University of
Oregon are spreading the word to “tackle” wildfires. Join the team
today by visiting www.keeporegongreen.org.
More information:
www.keeporegongreen.org
www.firerestrictions.net
http://www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/fire/precautionlevel.aspx
Contact Info:
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT: Tom Fields, Fire Prevention Coordinator,
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
503) 945-7440
tfields@odf.state.or.us
August 30, 2014
The Lost Hubcap Fire has burned 1,200-1,500 acres nine miles south of the community of Monument in the Central Oregon District’s John Day Unit. The Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF) deployed an incident management team Friday evening to take command of the firefighting effort. The fire was reported around 1:30 p.m. Friday burning in grass, sagebrush and juniper fuels. ODF has two heavy air tankers, four single-engine air tankers and one helicopter fighting the fire, along with six fire engines, four bulldozers and district hand crews. Additional resources from the South Fork Complex are assisting. The Monument and John Day Rural Fire departments are successfully protecting residences threatened by the wind-driven fire. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
August 25, 2014
Whether it’s human nature or just wishful thinking, we tend to relax
our guard against wildfire this time of year at the first signs of the seasonal
transition. In the heart of summer amid triple-digit temperatures, we almost expect
raging blazes like the Oregon Gulch Fire that consumed 1,000 acres an hour at
its peak. While such extreme fire behavior may be less likely now, the dragon
can still breathe flames.
This week, both the Douglas Forest Protective Association and the
Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District announced a rise in
the Industrial Fire Precaution Level in their jurisdictions due to hot, dry
conditions in the forest. A map charting significant fire potential (http://nfdrs.smkmgt.com/sfp/ODF_Significant_Fire_Potential.htm)
shows most of the state at “high,” with the southwest corner registering “extreme.”
Lands in either classification can spawn a large, destructive fire.
The potential for dry lightning – the cause of Oregon’s largest fires
– historically diminishes in late summer. As the threat from Nature recedes,
though, human activity comes to the fore as the chief wildfire concern. Forest
fuels are still bone-dry and primed to burn. If we take extra care when
recreating or working in the forest, human-caused fires can be prevented.
The Keep Oregon Green Association (www.keeporegongreen.org/) offers
common-sense advice on how to prevent fires when camping and recreating in the
forest.
August 22, 2014
With
cooler weather forecasted, fire officials with the Douglas Forest Protective
Association are reminding the public that the fire danger is still high
throughout Douglas County.
“The
prolonged drought conditions throughout the area, along with the above normal
temperatures for much of the summer have made our forests very dry” says DFPA
Fire Prevention Specialist Kyle Reed. “Even with the cooler weather that
we are expecting, wildfires can easily start and spread quickly.”
Reed reminds that DFPA’s
Regulated Use Closure remains in effect for the general public. The
Regulated Use Closure restricts or prohibits certain high fire risk activities
on all private, county, state, and BLM land protected by DFPA.
Restrictions include:
- Open
fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires are
prohibited except at designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves
using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
- Chain
saw use is prohibited, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. in areas
subject to Industrial Fire Precaution Level I and II. Non-industrial
chainsaw use is prohibited during IFPL III or IV. When chainsaws are
being used, an 8-oz. fire extinguisher and shovel must be on site and a fire
watch is required when the chainsaw use is done.
- The
use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, is
prohibited, except on improved roads.
- A
shovel AND one gallon of water or one operational 2½ lb. or larger fire
extinguisher is required in each vehicle when traveling in wildland
areas. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one
operational 2½ lb. or larger fire extinguisher.
- The
use of fireworks, tracer ammunition, exploding targets, and sky lanterns are
prohibited.
- The
cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.
- The
mowing of dried and cured grass with power driven equipment is prohibited,
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Any
electric fence controller in use shall be: 1) Listed by a nationally recognized
testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business
Services; and 2) Operated in compliance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Due to the fire
danger, many large landowners in Douglas County have imposed additional fire
restrictions or closures on their lands. These restrictions and closures
are in addition to DFPA’s Regulated Use Closure. Reed suggests that
residents check with the landowner for the location they plan to recreate on,
before they head to the woods.
DFPA
has suppressed 92 fires this year which have burned about 31 acres. 63 of
those fires have been human caused.
###
Kyle Reed
Fire Prevention
Specialist
Douglas Forest
Protective Association
Office: (541)
672-6507 ext. 136
Cell: (541)
580-2789
August 21, 2014
This morning, the Douglas Forest Protective Association received a report of a wildfire just outside of Roseburg. But when DFPA firefighters arrived on scene, they found that local shop workers already had the blaze well in hand. After all, they worked for a fire extinguisher business. When the fire broke out right in front of their shop, the workers quickly put it out using extinguishers off the shelf.
August 21, 2014
Fire officials monitoring the Old Blue Mountain Fire today will remove the Level 1 evacuation alert from homes on Humbug Creek Rd at 6:00 p.m. The portions of road affected by the alert include homes on the main fork (address 2542 and up) and the entire left fork.
The evacuation alert was ordered early Tuesday afternoon by Applegate Valley Fire District No. 9 and the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Grants Pass Unit.
The roadblock near the 4 mile marker on the right fork of Foots Creek Rd remains in place.
ODF Southwest Oregon District fire activity information and current fire prevention regulations are posted online at www.swofire.com.
August 20, 2014
Thousands of gallons of helicopter-borne water was poured on the Old Blue Mountain Fire Tuesday, significantly knocking out numerous hot spots within the 99-acre blaze that broke out late Monday during a thunderstorm.
Early this morning, Incident Commander Steve Wetmore (ODF) reported “Old Blue is one hundred percent lined and one hundred percent plumbed,” meaning the fire line was completed overnight and a system of fire hoses now encircles the burned area.
The fire is 30 percent contained.
The firefighters’ objective today is to mop-up hot spots 300 feet inside the fire line and patrol outside of the fire line to watch for spot fires. Helicopters and air tankers are available, if necessary.
No new fires were reported yesterday on ODF’s Southwest Oregon District. Reconnaissance flights are in the air today to search for holdover fires from Monday’s thunderstorms.
A Level 1 evacuation alert (Be Ready) remains in effect for portions of Humbug Creek Rd. in Jackson County:
· All homes on the left fork of Humbug Creek Rd;
· Addresses 2542 and above on the main fork of Humbug Creek Rd (the dirt portion).
The status of the evacuation level will be reviewed this afternoon. More progress on perimeter mop-up is necessary before removing the evacuation alert.
Also, the roadblock near the 4 mile marker on the right fork of Foots Creek Rd remains in place today.
ODF Southwest Oregon District fire activity information and current fire prevention regulations are posted online at
www.swofire.com.
###
August 8, 2014
Gov. John Kitzhaber will visit the Rowena Fire at 10 a.m. today. The 3,372-acre blaze west of The Dalles has prompted the evacuation of numerous residents in recent days. Firefighters have been making headway on the fast-moving fire and have attained 35 percent containment.
The governor
will meet with incident commanders and firefighters
during a field briefing to be held at Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue in The Dalles.
An Oregon Dept. of Forestry incident management team is leading the firefighting effort at the Rowena Fire, and task forces with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office are providing protection to homes and other structures.
The briefing is open to news media.
August 6, 2014
The 90 to 120-acre Rowena Fire broke out late Tuesday evening a few miles west of The Dalles. ODF’s Incident Management Team 1 is enroute to take over management of the firefighting operation. Westerly winds are driving the fire, which is burning on steep, rugged terrain. Five hand crews as well as air tankers and helicopters have been ordered.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office reports that seven homes are under an evacuation order. Highway 30 between Mosier and Rowena is
closed.
Three Oregon State Fire Marshal’s task forces have been dispatched to the fire to provide structural protection.
August 5, 2014
Finding the Fire at Night
John Flannigan, Night Operations Chief
Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1
Finding the fire at night can be one of the most challenging parts of fire, and in his 34 years of experience Night Operations Chief, John Flannigan has gotten to be an expert at it. Part detective, part firefighter Flannigan says getting there “can be an adventure at night.” On the Haystack Complex with four new fires in three days it made his work even more challenging.
Using nighttime to fight wildfires has some special advantages, less heat from the sun and sometimes humidity recovery (dew) that can slow the fire down. In his years working often at night he has seen “lots of time when the fire lays down and we can get tight to it.” Getting tight to the fires edge and removing one of the three legs of the fire triangle, heat by using water, or fuel by digging a fire line will stop the fire from growing.
But you have to get there, and just looking at the orange glow in night sky doesn’t often show you the way.
If the fire was found in the daytime there may be directions, but what looks obvious then can look completely different at night with dust and darkness. Plastic flagging, bright in the daytime can look like crumbs at night and to get to the Beard Canyon Fire he needed to slow down at every intersection and look for dozer tracks in the dust that would lead his way in. Technology can help with GPS integrated into tablet computers but that doesn’t show if the road is passable or has a gate. Local knowledge really helps.
John Flannigan takes the big view of firefighting at night “finding the new fires and getting going on them is challenging, but just what we do.”
–Dave Wells, IMT 1 PIO
August 5, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2014 AM
A Level 1 Evacuation Notice was issued by the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office for the town of Imnaha and for residents along the Imnaha River Road 5 miles south of Imnaha near Freeze out Creek to 10 miles north of Imnaha near Fence Creek this morning. This is an advisory warning that current or projected threats associated with the approaching fire are severed and this is the time for preparations and precautionary movement of persons with special needs and livestock.
5 Mile and Somers Fires– Joseph, Oregon
Contact Number: 541-670-0812
Location: Two fires near Imnaha, Oregon.
Current situation: Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Doug Johnson, assumed command of the 5 Mile and Somers Fires this morning. The incident command post is located at the Chief Joseph Rodeo Grounds in Joseph, Oregon. Additional firefighting resources are on order to fill critical needs on the fires but limited resources are available due to high fire activity in Oregon Washington, Idaho, and California. Resources will be prioritized to protect high value assets and the community of Imnaha.
5 Mile Fire – 3,700 acres, 5% contained. The operational priority is to secure the town of Imnaha and keep the fire from the Oregon Department of Forestry protected private lands of ranches and homes along the Imnaha River Road. Yesterday, retardant was heavily applied in a wide strip to check the movement of the fire toward Imnaha. Night shift patrolled. Today, firefighters will provide structure protection; remove fuels away from homes, and burn out around structures where necessary. Air resources usage will be limited this morning until the smoke inversion lifts. Aerial resources are on loan for use from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Retardant planes are available for use.
Somers Fire – 400 acres, 0% contained. Ten rappellers have been deployed and are staffing this fire.
Closures:
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has closed Hat Point Road FR4240. Wallowa County has closed the Upper Imnaha Road, private landowners be allowed access.
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): Two TFRs are in place over the two fires. Please check the NOTAM for current information.
For more information on the 5 Mile and Somers Fires visit:
Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4048/ and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4053/
Look us up on Facebook 5Mile Fire
August 1, 2014
Tom
Fields, Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Northwest
Interagency Coordination Center
While
firefighters continue to battle dozens of wildfires throughout the Northwest,
there’s one thing they don’t need: Help from careless people.
Many
of the large, difficult-to-fight wildfires have been caused by lightning. One
cell, generally moving from northern California up through the Cascades across
Oregon and Washington, can leave multitudes of fire starts in its wake. But
most fires are still caused by people.
Lightning
accounts for 20-30 percent of all fires, while 70-80 percent of wildfires are
human-caused.
Oregon
and Washington have already had 1,642 fires (835 human-caused) that have
collectively burned more than 485,000 acres. So how can the public lend a hand
in the fight? Simple, don’t be part of the problem.
“We
always remind forest visitors and residents to do all they can to prevent
wildfires,” said Nancy Hirsch, chair of the Pacific Northwest Coordinating
Group and fire protection division chief with the Oregon Department of
Forestry. “But this is paramount—for everyone—right now. We’re working hard to
control many lightning-caused fires across the region, and more are expected.
Resources are stretched very thin, and we can ill afford to divert them to
fight human-caused fires that could have been prevented.”
Leading the way in human-caused fires is debris burning.
“Even
during the most severe fire danger, we continue to see illegal burning take
place in backyards,” says Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Prevention
Coordinator Tom Fields. “When these fires escape, they not only threaten and
burn homes and our natural resources; they also cost a lot of money to put
out.”
Anyone
responsible for starting a fire, accidental or not, is potentially liable for
those fire suppression costs, not to mention the civil liability for damages to
neighboring property owners. Combined, these costs could run into the millions.
If burning is prohibited where you live, and you witness someone burning, call
911 immediately.
“Some of the largest fires we have fought this summer have been human-caused,”
adds Hirsch. “This is disconcerting, and all the more reason to reiterate a
call for care and caution.”
Outdoor
debris burning is one of many fire related activities that is prohibited
throughout much of the region.
There
have also been a number of abandoned campfires left to go out on their own, but
don’t. Campfires, warming fires, and cooking fires are not allowed throughout
much of the region as well, unless conducted in an approved location, such as a
designated campground. Campers and visitors should check on the restrictions in
place at individual parks.
Be
sure and check fire season regulations where you live or where you may be
going. There are several resources on the internet to gain additional
information and to learn more about fire prevention practices. Keep Oregon
Green, Oregon Department of Forestry, Washington Department of Natural Resources
and the offices of the state fire marshal for both Oregon and Washington are
great places to start.
August 1, 2014
The Oregon Gulch Fire was reported burning July 31 about 15 miles SW
of Ashland. By late afternoon it had grown to 1,000 acres in size. The fire is burning on the Bureau of Land Management’s
Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The Oregon Dept. of Forestry provides fire protection to BLM lands in western Oregon. ODF is currently working the fire with heavy air tankers and helicopters.
A Level 1 evacuation has been ordered for the Copco Road. Residents have been notified to be prepared to evacuate in the event it becomes necessary. No homes have been destroyed by the fire.
More information available at: http://www.swofire.com/
July 31, 2014
New lightning-caused wildfires
prompted the Oregon Dept. of Forestry to deploy two of its incident management
teams July 30, one to multiple fires in the John Day Unit of the Central Oregon
District, and the other to fires in the Southwest Oregon District.
ODF Team 1 was
dispatched to the Haystack Complex of three fires located near the communities
of Dayville, Spray and Monument.
ODF Team 2
went to the Salt Creek Fire within the Beaver Complex about 10 miles north
of the community of Central Point. Multiple fires make up the complex, but
Salt Creek is the fire of primary concern. The Oregon National Guard Dispatched
three
helicopters in support of the Beaver Complex.
ODF has bolstered
its firefighting capacity with some overhead (fire-line supervisors) drawn from
Alaska, along with fire engines obtained from other states to maintain adequate
initial attack capability. These resources help enable the department to
continue to support suppression operations on large fires.
July 30, 2014
Klamath
Falls, Oregon – On
July 29, a firefighter from a contract fire crew assigned to the Launch Fire
suffered a fatal injury not related to fire suppression activities.
An
investigation into the death is being led by the Klamath County Sheriff’s
Office, and the victim’s family has been notified.
Specific
details surrounding the investigation, including the victim’s name and the
nature of the circumstances leading up to his death, will be released through
the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office. Any additional details will be released as
soon as they become available.
The Forest and the entire wildland fire
community are saddened by the tragic loss of one of our firefighters,” said
Connie Cummins, Forest Supervisor for the Fremont-Winema National Forest. “Our
hearts go out to their family, friends and co-workers.”
“We
are saddened by this news,” added Acting Regional Forester Becki Lockett Heath.
“The death of anyone involved with protecting life and property from
wildfire affects us all. We send our thoughts and prayers from the Forest
Service to all who knew and cared for him.”
On
July 28, the Launch Fire started in the Sky Lakes Wilderness on the
Fremont-Winema National Forest. It is estimated to be around 100 acres. An
investigation of the origin of the fire determined that it was human
caused. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations has gathered
evidence at the fire origin, is interviewing witnesses, and is following up on
several leads.
July 17, 2014
July
17, 2014 6:45 a.m.
NEWS RELEASE
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
The cause of the White River Fire, which started July 12, is being
investigated.
Fire suppression equipment available to the crews today include:
·
One Type II
(medium) helicopter
·
One Type
III (light) helicopter
·
Eight
engines
·
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.
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.
###
July 16, 2014
July
16, 2014 7:30 a.m.
NEWS RELEASE
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
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.
The cause of the fire, which started July 12, is being
investigated.
Resources assigned to the White River Fire suppression effort
include:
·
458
personnel
·
Two Type II
(medium) helicopters
·
Two Type
III (light) helicopters
·
Ten engines
·
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.
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.
Night shift firefighters have been using hand-held infrared
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.
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.
###
July 15, 2014
July
15, 2014 7:30 a.m.
NEWS RELEASE
WHITE RIVER FIRE
OREGON DEPT OF FORESTRY
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 1
Contact: Brian Ballou, public information officer, (541) 621-4156
MOP-UP OPERATIONS WIDEN
ON WHITE RIVER FIRE
Significant progress was made overnight by crews mopping up the
652-acre White River Fire, located 12 miles west of Tygh Valley, increasing the
number of acres inside the fire line that are fully extinguished.
The increase in acreage is due to more accurate information and
not to further spread of the fire. The fire is 65 percent contained.
Day shift crews will work to hold the recently completed fire
lines on the east and west sides of the White River Canyon and run hoselays
deeper into the canyon. Mop-up also continues on the high ground on the north
and south sides of canyon.
Nearly 460 personnel are assigned to the White River Fire, and
crews have the following equipment available to assist them in fire
suppression:
·
Three Type
II (medium) helicopters
·
Two Type
III (light) helicopters
·
Eight
engines
·
Three
bulldozers
· Four water tenders
The cost of suppression so far is estimated at $1.1 million.
Crews heading for the fire lines have been reminded to keep
hydrated as a defense against working in 100-degree temperatures on blackened
ground. Yesterday, a firefighter was treated for a heat-related injury. Firefighters
were also cautioned to watch for and avoid rattlesnakes and poison oak. Other
hazards to firefighters include falling trees and snags, rolling rocks, and
poor footing on the steep slopes inside the river canyon.
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.
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.
###
