September 27, 2013
CONTACT:
Kyle Reed
Douglas Forest Protective Association 541-672-6507 X 136
kreed@odf.state.or.us
Even though fire season ended earlier in the week in the Douglas Forest Protective Association jurisdiction, hunters and other recreationalists are reminded to be cautious with fire in wildland areas. During the fall months, several warm, windy days are all it takes to dry vegetation out enough for a fire to get out of control.
Campfires are one of the leading causes of wildfires this time of year. To prevent your campfire from becoming a wildfire, follow these tips:
– Always get landowner permission before having a campfire on private property. This includes private timber land.
– When selecting a site for a campfire, avoid areas near buildings, fallen trees, heavy vegetation, and overhanging branches.
– Remove all leaf litter and vegetation down to mineral soil for at least 5 feet on all sides of the fire.
– If a fire ring is not present, make one with rocks.
– Build your campfire downwind and at a safe distance from your tent and vehicle.
– Campfires should be kept small so they are easily manageable.
– Never leave your campfire unattended.
– At a minimum, keep a shovel and bucket of water nearby.
Before leaving the campfire, make sure it is 100 percent out. To do this, drown the embers and coals with water. Then stir everything together with a shovel, and then drown with water again. If any heat or smoke remains, the fire is not completely out. Continue to drown, stir, and drown until the heat and smoke are no longer present.
September 24, 2013
If the summer wildfire season seemed especially busy, the numbers bear it out: The contract fire crews of the Pacific Northwest logged more than 4,700 crew days on 98 wildfires in 2013. The 20-person hand crews – most of them based in Oregon – fought fire in seven western states. Equipped with shovels and Pulaskis, the yellow-shirted firefighters dug and scraped mile upon mile of containment line to stop the spread of fast-moving fires through the forest.
The wildfire agencies of Oregon and Washington began the season with 168 20-person crews on their contract, known as the Interagency Firefighting Crew Agreement. But demand exceeded supply and they added 17 more at the end of July. Ninety contract crews were deployed just on the Douglas Complex fires in southern Oregon.
“Having these trained crews available, fully equipped and ready to be at a fire within short notice, is a very valuable resource for government,” said Cindy Beck, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) contract services unit coordinator. “Due to the large fire activity in Oregon this year the crews exceeded the normal 14-day assignments, and continuously received favorable performance reviews.”
ODF developed the original agreement in the late 1980s, when downsizing in Oregon’s timber industry resulted in fewer woods workers and federal agency personnel available to fight fire. Other state and federal wildfire agencies in Washington and Oregon subsequently joined the agreement.
Though the Department of Forestry administers the interagency crew agreement, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and other agencies have used the crews more extensively in the past. But in 2013, forestlands protected by ODF appeared in the crosshairs for lightning, and the state agency logged 3,214 contract crew days on 30 fires across its jurisdiction.
During a moderate fire season, Beck frequently gets calls from contractors, asking why their crews haven’t been dispatched yet. Lack of work was not the case this summer, and the industry stepped up to meet the need.
“In Oregon well over 40 percent of the fire resources that are available come from the professional private fire industry,” said Deborah Miley, executive director of the Lyons, Oregon-based National Wildfire Suppression Association. “These resources provide a highly qualified and trained workforce that has a shared goal to complete the mission and ensure that all of our firefighters go home.”
September 23, 2013
Contact: Brian Ballou, (541) 665-0662 or (541) 621-4156
Several days of rain across the southwest Oregon region has brought fire season to an end effective Tuesday, Sept. 24, on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties. The public regulated use fire danger level drops to “low” (green) after midnight tonight, and all public and industrial fire prevention regulations will be lifted.
It was a busy summer for firefighters across southwest Oregon. Crews responded to more than 330 fires, 126 of which were caused by lightning. More than 43,000 acres of forestland burned on the district, much of it in the Big Windy and Douglas complexes in northern Josephine County. People caused more than 200 fires this fire season, which started June 3, and human-caused fires burned nearly 800 acres. Lightning caused the summer’s biggest wildfires.
Southwest Oregon residents are urged to use caution when burning debris this fall. Many structural fire protection districts require a permit to burn piled debris or to use burn barrels, and both counties issue daily air quality advisories. Call your county’s open burning line before burning to find out whether open burning is allowed. In Jackson County, the number to call is (541) 776-7007. In Josephine County, call (541) 476-9663.
For more information about wildland fire prevention, contact your local Oregon Dept. of Forestry unit office:
• Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd: (541) 664-3328
• Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr: (541) 474-3152
Fire danger regulations are also posted online at www.swofire.com.
September 18, 2013
Even though fall is in the air, careless actions can spark a wildfire this time of year. Grasses, brush and other fine fuels parched by the summer’s heat can ignite from a variety of sources – an errant spark from a campfire or warming fire, a discarded cigarette, or a hot exhaust system contacting vegetation. And under fall conditions, these fire starts often don’t become apparent until hours or even days later.
For hunters, a warming fire built on a hillside in the early morning hours takes the chill off. But before you move on, is the fire really out? Even when there is no smoke the ashes can retain heat. On the next sunny day, a little wind can rekindle that “dead” fire and cause it to spread into a wildfire.
Before heading to the forest, be sure to check the rules to learn whether warming fires and campfires are allowed. The safest place for a campfire is in a campground with established fire pits. Before leaving a fire, be sure to douse it repeatedly with water, stirring the ashes each time to ensure it is completely extinguished.
When driving a full-sized vehicle or ATV in the forest, always carry fire equipment required by the jurisdictional land management agency. And before heading to your hunting location, check the current rules on vehicle use. In some areas, off-road use of motorized vehicles may be prohibited.
Likewise with smoking: Check the rules. Depending on the fire danger level, smoking may be restricted to inside a closed vehicle or building. In any case, never discard smoking materials in grass or other vegetation.
For additional fire safety tips and current fire restrictions, contact the Oregon Department of Forestry or the Keep Oregon Green Association.
September 8, 2013
The 85-acre Postage Stamp Fire reported Saturday burning in The Dalles Unit of the Central Oregon District was contained and in mop-up by Sunday. The fire is burning in grass, brush and oak fuels. Cause is under investigation.
September 6, 2013
The recent rainfall across parts of Oregon raised hopes, but it wasn’t enough to put the 2013 wildfire season in the rear-view mirror, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Tom Fields.
“This was not a season-ending event,” the fire prevention coordinator said. “Coming off of such a dry summer, we’ll need thorough saturation of the forest fuels to truly change conditions.”
A warming trend forecast to begin Sept. 7 and continue for up to a week could elevate fire danger once again. While the precipitation helped moderate fire conditions in the forest by moistening light fuels such as grasses, he said, just a day or two of sun and warmth can return the vegetation to a flammable condition.
For many Oregonians, the impulse to burn yard debris kicks in with the first rain. But burning restrictions remain in place across the state and aren’t likely to be lifted anytime soon. While conditions may be calm when holding a match to a pile of shrub trimmings, a gust of wind can transform that burn pile into a wildfire in mere minutes.
And in spite of widespread news coverage this summer of Oregon’s giant wildfires, some forest visitors apparently didn’t get the message. The department’s field districts are regularly finding campfires left burning by recreationists who headed for home without attempting to put them out.
Fire danger will moderate as the seasonal transition takes hold with shorter days and cooler temperatures. But careless activity can still trigger wildfires this time of year. And the firefighting force present during the peak of the summer is shrinking. Students who worked on fire crews to pay tuition have returned to college, and contracts for air tankers and helicopters are running out.
Fall is a great time to visit Oregon’s forests. As you enjoy the state’s unrivaled natural heritage, please exercise caution to prevent fires.
August 25, 2013
Current situation:
Firefighters woke to rain on their tents today, which is good news for those who’ve been working since July 26 to contain the Douglas Complex. Precipitation will certainly speed up the mop up process – stump holes and other dug-in hot spots can be opened up so the rain can cool the embers – reducing the firefighters’ reliance on hoses.
But the rain will cause some problems. Land sloughing and rockfalls will likely occur, and crew supervisors will need to carefully scout their assigned areas and flag the hazards they find – or move their workers to a safer area.
Driving inside the burned area will also be tricky. Many of the dirt-and-rock backcountry roads will be turned into mud by the rain, and most of these roads will have to be avoided. Even the paved roads will need to be scouted, as rocks will invariably tumble off the steep hillsides as burned topsoil sloughs away in the rain. Bigger landslides are also possible, as are isolated flooding problems where debris may clog road culverts.
For detailed information about the road closures in the Douglas Complex area in Douglas County, contact the BLM district office in Roseburg at 541-440-4930.
For road closure information on the Josephine County side of the Douglas Complex, call the BLM’s Grants Pass office at 541-471-6500.
Maps of the road closure areas are posted online at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/newsroom/index.php
http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/medford/newsroom/index.php
Tomorrow, management of the Douglas Complex will be returned to the Douglas Forest Protective Association.
Complex at a Glance
Size: 48,679 acres
Fires in the Complex:
Rabbit Mountain Fire: 23,952 acres
Dad’s Creek Fire: 24,464 acres
Farmer Gulch Fire: 249 acres
Misc small fires: 14 acres
Cause: Lightning on July 26
Containment: 87%
Expected Containment: 9/01/2013
Crews and Equipment:
Crews: 9 Type 2
Helicopters: 2 Type 2 (Medium Lift)
1 Type 3 (Light)
Engines: 28
Dozers: 7
Water Tenders: 4
Total personnel: 648
Estimated Cost: $50.9 million
Local fire activity and fire prevention information online:
Douglas Forest Protective Association -www.dfpa.net
Twitter – www.twitter.com/DouglasFPA
Facebook – www.facebook.com/DouglasForestProtectiveAssociation
InciWeb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3559/
August 23, 2013
The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) has had a busy Friday, suppressing four fires across the county.
This morning, DFPA located a lightning fire in the Cavitt Creek area, east of Glide. DFPA located a second lightning fire this afternoon from yesterday’s storm in the Thunder Mountain area, also east of Glide. Both fires were stopped at less than an acre in size. Firefighters remain on scene of the fires, improving containment lines and mopping up hot spots. DFPA continues to monitor the area where 16 lightning strikes hit on DFPA protected land from yesterday’s storm with ground resources, aviation resources, and their camera detection systems.
Around 12:30 this afternoon, DFPA and Tenmile Fire Department responded to a natural cover fire in the Tenmile area, on Horseshoe Lane. Firefighters arrived on scene of a grass fire threatening a home, a fifth-wheel trailer, and an outbuilding. The fire burned around three sides of the house, and up to the trailer and the outbuilding, but all three were saved. Investigators determined that the fire was started from an arching transformer on a power pole near the property. The fire burned about 1/2 acre.
DFPA responded to their fourth fire of the day a little after 1 p.m. Firefighters from DFPA and Azalea Rural Fire Department responded to a slash pile that had rekindled near Russel Creek, off of Upper Cow Creek Road. While the fire did not spread from the previously burned area, there was potential. The pile had reportedly been burned a considerable time ago. With two such rekindled debris pile fires in the past week, DFPA is asking residents to check any burn pile which has been burned earlier this year. If any heat or smoke is detected, immediately call DFPA or 911.
With more seasonable temperatures predicted for the area, DFPA is reminding residents that the fire danger is still extreme on the Douglas District, and that the Regulated Use Closure for the general public remains in effect. Hunters and recreationalists heading out to the woods are also reminded that many landowners have closed their land to motorized and foot traffic due to the extreme fire conditions. The Bureau of Land Management also has a closure in effect around the Douglas Complex Fires, as firefighters continue to work on the fire.
August 19, 2013
The Government Flat Complex is estimated at 3,000 acres with no predicted date of full containment. The Complex is being managed under a unified command of Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Team.
Gov. John Kitzhaber issued a Conflagration Act proclamation on Saturday evening. This action, based on the potential threat to the community and its infrastructure, has allowed a Federal Emergency Management Agency declaration to be made. FEMA provides an avenue for reimbursements of some of the cost by the federal government. This assistance starts when homes and infrastructure become threatened and ends when the threat is eliminated.
The Blackburn Fire grew on all sides, working its way downslope into the Mill Creek drainage overnight. Firefighters today will continue to work on holding and checking the fire spread, building on their successful efforts of yesterday and last evening.
Acreage is estimated at 2,700 acres, based on the infrared flights last evening. The fire is expected to continue making upslope runs today with similar weather conditions to what occurred yesterday. Crews were warned to expect wind gust above 25 mph today. The “Gorge” wind influence leaves no part of the fire unaffected.
Good progress is being made in pre-triaging of structures and the Water Treatment Plant. This effort aims to lower the potential for fire damage of buildings and other infrastructure.
A Level II (get Set) Evacuation notification remains in place today for the Upper Mill Creek area. A roadblock has been installed at the Upper Mill Creek Road and Reservoir Road junction. Only area residents will be allowed in to access their property.
No growth was seen on the Government Flat Fire or the Wells Road Fire. Work efforts on these two fires will be to continue patrol and dealing with hot-burning areas within the control lines. Spread of the two fires is considered a low risk, but the wind continues to concern fire managers.
There are 500 firefighters and support personnel working the complex. Five task forces of structural fire engines from Clackamas County, Washington County, Hood River County, Marion County and Multnomah County are assisting local resources from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue. Each task force includes five engines and a leader. In addition 14 hand crews, 16 wildland fire engines, five bulldozers, five water tenders and five helicopters are working the fires on day and night shifts.
Cooperators working the incidents include: The Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, Bureau of Land Management, City of The Dalles, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, Wasco County Emergency Operations Center, American Red Cross, U.S. Forest Service and Oregon State Police.
August 19, 2013
Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1- Tom Savage, Incident Commander
Phone Numbers: 541-832-0136; 541-832-0137
Douglas County Information Number: 888-459-3830
Hours of operation: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
August 19, 2013
8:00 am
Current Situation: After 24 days on the fire, Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2 is transferring command at noon today to Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1. The incoming team members will spend the day shadowing the outgoing team members while crews continue mop-up operations and securing the remaining uncontained lines.
National Guard crews will be released but road closures are still in effect until September 1, 2013. BLM has posted signs and maps at road blocks. For more detailed information about the closure contact the BLM Districts in Roseburg at 541-440-4930 or http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/newsroom/index.php, or in Grants Pass at 541-471-6500 or http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/medford/newsroom/index.php.
Rabbit Mountain – 23,952 acres
Crews will be working to hold and patrol containment lines while focusing on extinguishing remaining hot spots.
Dad’s Creek – 24,168 acres
A few unburned pockets of fuel still exist in the southwest portion of the fire. Crews will complete hand lighting in order to finish the burnout operations started several days ago. Containment lines in the Rattlesnake Creek, Dry Creek and Poorman Creek areas are being patrolled to ensure containment lines are secure.
Weather: The warmer and drier weather will test the fire lines. Afternoon winds may create smoky conditions in the Reuben Creek area today.
Evacuations and Closures: remain the same
• Cow Creek Road from Riddle into the fire area and from Glendale into the fire has been closed except for residents. The National Guard will be conducting traffic control at the road blocks to limit public interference with firefighters working in the area.
• The Level 2 evacuation remains for McCullough Creek Road, Reuben Road, and Mt. Reuben Road in Douglas County and Lower Grave Creek, Grave Creek, and Lower Wolf Creek in Josephine County.
• Glendale is at a Level 1 evacuation.
• The area from the community of Wolf Creek to Watertank Gulch is at a Level 1 evacuation.
• Residences in the area are still considered threatened. This means evacuations could be necessary at some point in the future. Any official evacuation orders would be issued by the Douglas County or Josephine County sheriff’s offices.
Public Safety/Prevention: Firefighters are contending with the following hazards: rolling boulders, falling trees, old mine shafts, and narrow roads which are affecting access into some of the fire area. Values at risk include: homes, commercial timberland, and critical wildlife habitat. To date, no homes have burned, but two outbuildings have been lost. Ten minor injuries and two minor vehicle accidents have been reported.
Douglas Forest Protective Association has increased prevention restrictions for both industry and the public. Check www.dfpa.net before commencing your activities.
Fire Statistics:
Location: 7 miles north of Glendale, OR
Percent Contained: 76%
Complex Size: 48,383 acres
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: 7/26/13
Total Personnel: 1,380
Estimated cost to date: $48,262,245
Resources Include: 33 Type 2 hand crews, 1 Type 1 hand crews, 53 engines, 14 dozers, 16 water tenders, numerous overhead personnel, and National Guard resources.
Air Resources: 1 Type 1 helicopters, 2 Type 2 helicopters, 3 Type 3 helicopters, 1 Type 3 helicopter for Infra-red and 1 National Guard Medivac
Places to get more fire information:
Douglas Forest Protective Association -www.dfpa.net
Twitter – www.twitter.com/DouglasFPA
Facebook – www.facebook.com/DouglasForestProtectiveAssociation
InciWeb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3559/
Douglas Complex Photos – To view: http://tinyurl.com/DouglasFire2013
ODF PIO Blog – http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/.
ODF Southwest Oregon District – www.swofire.com
Air Quality – www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
August 19, 2013
August 18, 2013 @ 8 p.m.
Information: 541-298-9899
govflatfire@gmail.com
Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 (IC Chris Cline) and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Team (IC John Ingrao) are coordinating fire suppression efforts for the three wildfires comprising the Government Flat Complex approximately six miles southwest of The Dalles. All three fires, Blackburn, Government Flat, and Wells, are lightning-caused fires detected on August 16. All fires are burning in grass, brush and oak, with some Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine on north-facing slopes.
The Blackburn Fire is approximately 1500 acres burning within the City of The Dalles Watershed on a mixed ownership of private and public land (SDS Lumber, LLC; Bureau of Land Management; and City of The Dalles).
The Upper Mill Creek Road and Reservoir Road, from their junction upstream, are closed to all public access except for area residents.
A Level II Evacuation notification was placed in effect earlier on Sunday for this area. Residents of 35 homes in the Reservoir Road and Upper Mill Creek Road were asked to make final preparations and get SET to evacuate if the need arises. (Level I – Ready; Level II – Set; Level III – Go Now!).
Two outbuildings were confirmed to have been destroyed in the Upper Mill Creek drainage. The outbuildings were not reachable by fire apparatus due to inaccessibility.
The Incident Management teams are coordinating their efforts with Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and the American Red Cross, in the Sheriff’s Level II notification.
Protection of the downstream City of The Dalles water treatment facility and structures in the vicinity of the Blackburn Fire continues to be high priorities for work efforts. The Dalles Public Works Department is working closely with the fire suppression personnel in protecting the Treatment Facility located 1 mile east of the fire.
On the Government Flat Fire, crews are holding the fire within its’ current lines at 229 acres. The Incident Management personnel are expecting the risk of further fire spread to be low.
The Wells Fire remains contained at 66 acres and will continue to be patrolled.
Fire personnel will continue their suppression efforts through the night.
August 18, 2013
August 18, 2013 @ 08:30 a.m. Contact: Tom Fields, 503-983-8897, govflatfire@gmail.com
Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 (IC Chris Cline) and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Team (IC John Ingrao) have assumed fire suppression responsibility for the three wildfires comprising the Government Flat Complex approximately seven miles southwest of The Dalles. All three fires, Blackburn, Government Flat, and Wells are lightning-caused fires detected on August 16.
The Blackburn Fire has increased in size to 700 acres. It is burning within the City of The Dalles Watershed in steep terrain with limited access for firefighters. The fire is on a mixed ownership of private and public land (SDS Lumber, LLC; Bureau of Land Management; and City of The Dalles.)
Despite work by ground crew since detection and three air tankers dropping retardant continuously on Saturday, strong afternoon winds resulted in spot fires and an increase in fire spread into both the South Fork of Mill Creek and Upper Mill Creek drainages.
Protection of the downstream City of The Dalles water treatment facility and structures in the vicinity of the Blackburn Fire are high priorities for today. Establishing defensible control lines to halt the fire’s continued spread will be challenging in the rugged terrain. Rattlesnakes and poison oak are additional safety hazards for fire crews.
The Government Flat Fire is 168 acres, a reduction from Sunday’s less accurate estimate of 200 acres. This fire has been lined and officials are expecting the risk further fire spread to be low. The public may see increased smoke this morning from a planned burnout operation on the eastern flank of this fire.
The Wells Fire remains contained at 66 acres and will continue to be patrolled.
All fires are burning in grass, brush and oak, with some Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine on north-facing slopes.
Governor Kitzhaber issued a Conflagration Act proclamation Saturday evening. State Fire Marshal’s Office Green Team will be coordinating with Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue and resources from 24 other assisting Oregon fire departments on structural fire protection associated with these three wildfires. Today they will inventory and assess the threat to structures near the fires.
This morning 11 20-person crews, 10 engines, 6 dozers, 3 water tenders and 3 helicopters are assigned to the fire. Three air tankers are available, as needed.
The Wasco County Sheriff has not issued any evacuation notices at this time. The City of The Dalles water supply is not affected at this time.
An incident command post has been established at Wahtonka High School in The Dalles.
August 14, 2013
Timely work by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) firefighters saved a Burns-based juniper reclamation business from losing equipment during the Grouse Mountain Fire’s active run towards the city of John Day on August 8.
Joseph’s Juniper Inc. had been conducting a 116-acre juniper harvesting and processing project on private rangeland in the Little Beech Creek drainage. About one-quarter of the project area had already been treated, with rows of thousands of felled and bunched juniper logs scattered throughout the unit as well as bundles of finished juniper poles for game fencing near a central processing site. Owner Gerard Joseph LaBrecque, also known as Gerard Joseph, was on the site on Wednesday evening as the lightning fire burned in grass, brush and juniper to come to within 300 yards of his portable sawmill, skidder and three trailers. He estimated over 5,000 of the bunched juniper stems were burned during the first evening of the fire. He and his three-person crew evacuated the area just before midnight.
On Thursday morning, Joseph and his crew were granted access by ODF to the fire area to check on the status of the fire and their equipment. The equipment was still intact and the owner left the work site later in the day to return to Burns. His crew remained to continue monitoring the fire. Then late in the afternoon, with winds shifting and the fire building energy for its run towards John Day, the crew informed Joseph that the fire was on the move again, even re-burning some of the rangeland scorched the night before. They had left the work site in a hurry, not feeling it was safe to stay. Joseph anxiously contacted ODF’s John Day Unit Office for assistance in learning the fate of his equipment.
Meanwhile on the fire lines, Kirk Ausland, ODF division supervisor, was closely tracking the fire’s behavior in the same area and directing his firefighters towards the same work site.
“The timing was critical,” said Ausland. “Extreme fire behavior was occurring on three sides of the equipment when I arrived. Our priority at that time immediately shifted to saving Mr. Joseph’s business property.”
Embers from the fire were already burning under the trailers. Ausland estimates that if firefighters had gotten there five minutes later, all of the equipment could have been lost. Instead, the actions taken by the firefighters prevented any of the equipment or trailers from being burned. However, six bundled units of finished fence posts were lost as the fire front passed by.
“I was pleased when fire officials called me and told me our equipment had been saved,” said Joseph. “The actions of the firefighters on the ground were outstanding.”
“In this day and age, for an agency to talk the talk and then walk the walk is unheard of,” Joseph went on to say. “I am grateful to ODF for their efforts.”
Joseph also said he was proud of his crew for putting safety first and making the right decision to leave the fire area when they did.
Ultimately, the Grouse Mountain Fire also burned one barn that firefighters determined was not defensible during the fire’s Thursday evening run. No other structures have been reported damaged on the 12,076-acre blaze. Losses of livestock and grazing resources have yet to be quantified.
August 10, 2013
News Release from Oregon State Fire Marshal
August 10, 2013 9:00 AM
Cool weather and light precipitation overnight, combined with the work of firefighters has resulted in lifting the threat to structures in John Day and the surrounding area.
All three structural task forces (Baker/Union Counties, Yamhill County, and Hood River/Wasco Counties), as well as the OSFM Blue Incident Management Team have been demobilized from the fire.
Oregon Department of Forestry personnel and equipment continue to work on the wildfire portion of the GC Complex.
More wildfire information is available on the ODF wildfire blog:
http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/
Oregon’s conflagration may be invoked only by the Governor and allows the State Fire Marshal to dispatch structural firefighters and equipment. More information on Conflagration and Emergency and emergency mobilization is OSFM website: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Oregon_Mob_Plan.shtml.
Additional resources on surviving wildfires may be accessed at: http://www.oregon.gov/osp/SFM/docs/Comm_Ed/WUI/After_a_wildfire.pdf
August 9, 2013
At 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Gov. John Kitzhaber declared the Grouse Mountain Fire burning near John Day to be a conflagration. Approximately 75 structures are threatened. (Invoking the state Conflagration Act frees up state funding to send resources from structural fire departments outside the area to the fire to assist in protecting homes and other structures.)
The Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshal has activated its Blue Incident Management Team and three task forces to assist with structural protection.
Baker/Union County Task Force 1 is on scene and working. Hood River/Wasco County Task Force 2 and Yamhill County Task Force 3 should arrive on scene around noon on Aug. 9.
The Grouse Mountain Fire is part of the Grant County Complex of fires. Following is additional information as released from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) at 10 p.m. on Thursday:
The Grouse Mountain Fire, a branch of the GC Complex, made a significant push early this evening when wind direction abruptly changed. Aided by strong north winds, fire runs have approached the limits of John Day along the northern boundary of the city. At this time, there is no report of any damage to structures.
Fuels burning nearest to town are primarily grass and brush, with scattered juniper. Fire crews are engaging in aggressive initial attack, working through the night with bulldozers, fire engines, and hand crews to begin establishing containment fire lines. Steep terrain makes dozer and engine access difficult.
In addition to the threat to John Day, the fire – currently burning on private lands protected by ODF, is also threatening to cross over into the Malheur National Forest.
The fire is east of Highway 395, which remains open, but fire-related traffic in the area may be heavy.
Earlier today (Thursday, August 8), two cabins were known to be within the fire perimeter, as well as two other structures near the fire area at that time that were threatened, but there are no reports of damage. The Mt. Vernon Rural Fire District has been providing structural protection.
The Grouse Mountain Fire is one of a number of fire starts in Grant County called the GC Complex (“GC” for Grant County) from Wednesday, August 7. ODF provided initial attack yesterday and today, directing suppression actions on the wildfire. Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 4 was briefed on the situation earlier today and took over the complex of fire starts on various ownerships within Grant County at 6 p.m. tonight. ODF will continue working on the Grouse Mountain Fire as a branch of the larger GC Complex (GC for Grant County).
Current weather forecasts predict continued chances for lightning and erratic winds through the weekend. Safety hazards for fire fighters include rattlesnakes and falling snags.
The cause of the Grouse Mountain Fire remains under investigation.
August 8, 2013
WILDFIRE SMOKE FORECAST
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY WEATHER OFFICE
2 P.M. PDT THURSDAY, AUG. 8, 2013
AIR QUALITY:
Air quality is generally moderate to good across most of the state, consistent with the trend observed over the last several days. The notable exception continues to be extreme southwest OR including Grants Pass, Shady Grove, Cave Junction and Medford, where air quality remains “unhealthy” for many communities, especially locations in proximity and downwind of local wind flows in active wildfire zones. Some wildfire smoke is also continuing to affect portions of central (including Bend and Sisters)and northeastern Oregon.
Statewide air quality index readings are available at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx
SMOKE DISPERSION FORECAST:
Wildfire smoke dispersion depends on the stability of the atmosphere as well as wind direction and speed. A stable atmosphere holds smoke to the ground and an unstable atmosphere allows smoke to rise and dissipate. Smoke is typically mixed to higher altitudes during the afternoon, when daytime heating destabilizes the air mass. Conversely, smoke tends to settle near the ground and in drainages during the overnight and early morning hours.
TODAY:
The upper-level closed low pressure system continues to slowly approach western Oregon from the southwest, resulting in cooler conditions with partly to mostly cloudy skies over much of south central and southwest OR. Also, scattered light showers have developed over south central OR, including activity east of Klamath Falls that is slowly moving to the NNW. Some lightning activity has also occurred in the last hour over Deschutes Co. within developing showers. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across southwestern and south central OR during the remainder of today. No organized surface wind pattern is in place, and local wind circulations are currently dominating the pattern.
Air quality should generally remain good-to-moderate for most of the state today as large-scale transport of smoke has continued to decrease. Lack of organized surface winds and only moderate mixing will cause persistence of surface smoke in those communities in the proximity of the major fires burning in SW Oregon. Those areas lucky enough to see rain showers today will see some improvement in air quality. Otherwise no major changes are imminent.
There is potential for some dry lightning development over southwestern and south-central OR this afternoon and evening away from existing showers; the new storms will initially be fairly dry and could cause brief gusty surface winds, potentially fanning wildfire smoke out in any direction. They also bring an increased potential for new fire starts. Showers that develop later today over far southwestern OR and near the CA border in south central OR could also bring beneficial local rainfall late.
FRIDAY – SUNDAY:
The upper-level trough will move very slowly north-northeastward during this period, and likely be centered over southwestern OR by Saturday. Generally this will provide a favorable scenario for improved air quality over southwestern OR. Low-level winds should generally remain unorganized, which will likely continue to confine surface smoke to those communities in proximity of active wildfires. Showers and thunderstorms are likely to increase in coverage Friday afternoon and evening for southwest and west central OR, and potentially into central OR on Friday night. This trend should persist through Saturday with some areas of western OR receiving significant rainfall at times. Areas that do receive rain will see improved air quality. Highest chances of beneficial rains appear to be the southern and central portions of the Cascade Range.
Chances for significant rain also increase for northwestern OR and the northern portion of the Cascades by late Saturday. The general trend will continue to be towards wet thunderstorms as the Saturday/Sunday time periods arrive for western OR. However, the thundershowers will have progressively less moisture to the east (over eastern OR) to work with, and this scenario also applies to the early stages of thunderstorms over central OR. For these areas the potential is significant for more wildfire starts as the storms initiate. The same applies across NE Oregon if the storms develop in that region.
By Sunday, shower and thunderstorm activity should begin to decrease over the state from the south.
Current weather forecasts from the Portland, Medford, and Pendleton National Weather Service offices are available at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/, http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mfr/, and http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pdt/ respectively.
This bulletin is also available on the web at
http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/DAILY/wfsmoke.htm
For more information, contact DEQ’s Brian Finneran at 503-229-6278 or brian.FINNERAN@state.or.us
ODF Smoke Management Meteorologist
August 6, 2013
Governor Kitzhaber today (Aug. 6) released the following statement on the death of Jesse Trader, a 19-year old who was working on the Big Windy fire in Southern Oregon:
“Jesse was part of the emergency response to one of the more serious fires burning in Oregon. Even at such a young age, he was already contributing mightily to his community, and we owe him our gratitude for his commitment to helping protect his fellow citizens. My prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time, and my thoughts are with all emergency responders on the front lines during this severe wildfire season.”
August 6, 2013
[Following is a news release issued Aug. 6 by the Josephine County Sheriff.]
It is with great sadness that we inform you of a firefighter fatality that occurred this morning at approximately 7:20 a.m. on the Big Windy Complex. The firefighter, 19-year-old Jessie Trader, was returning from the evening shift when the water tender he was driving hit the embankment and rolled over on the Bear Camp Road near Soldier Camp. Firefighters in vehicles driving behind Jessie immediately stopped to assist. An advanced life support ambulance arrived on scene within minutes and life flight was quickly launched; however, all efforts to save Jessie were unsuccessful.
Sheriff Gilbertson responded to the scene and confirmed that the driver of the water tender was deceased.
The water tender which is owned by “Ace Earthmoving” was being utilized by “County Fire”, a private fire suppression company serving the Merlin area and contracted to assist with the Big Windy Fire at the time.
Deceased Victim:
Jesse A. Trader DOB: 11/29/93
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
[NOTE: The 9,192-acre Big Windy Complex was ignited by lightning on July 26. The fires are burning in steep, rugged terrain. The complex is uncontained. Currently there are 1,159 personnel fighting the complex. ODF is leading the suppression effort.]
August 5, 2013
FIRE NEWS–Central Oregon
Interagency Dispatch Center
August 4, 2013 5:00 p.m.
New
Fires in Central Oregon
Central Oregon – Firefighters are working on a
blaze approximately 11½ miles south of Brothers, Oregon. The fire,
on Bureau of Land Management lands, is burning in juniper, grass, and sagebrush,
and is threatening power lines owned by Midstate Electric. The cause is unknown
at this time and is under investigation. Four engines are on scene
to fight the fire, with retardant being dropped by several Single Engine Air
Tankers (SEAT’s). The blaze was reported shortly after 2:00
p.m.
Another fire this afternoon, located on the Deschutes
National Forest near Summit Lake, reached about 1½ acres, and is being
suppressed by an engine crew with the aid of a load of smokejumpers.
The fire was caused by lightning.
And late this afternoon, a smoke reported on Black Crater
in the Three Sisters Wilderness is being staffed by smokejumpers.
No other information is available at this time.
The Green Ridge Fire, burning 14 miles NW of Sisters,
Oregon, is 150 acres, and is 25% contained. Fire managers reported
successful burnout operations on the fire today. Full containment
is expected on Wednesday, Aug 7th.
Emergency road closures in the vicinity of the Green
Ridge Fire that were put in place on Friday remain in effect.
Three campgrounds remain closed for public safety along the lower portion
of the Metolius River within the basin. Lower Bridge, Pioneer Ford, and Allen
Springs campgrounds will remain closed until further notice.
A public meeting will be held on Monday evening at 6:30
pm at the Camp Sherman Fire Hall.
August 3, 2013
Governor Kitzhaber Commends Emergency Response to Wildfires Following Briefing in Southern Oregon
Urges Oregonians to practice basic fire safety
(Glendale, OR) — Governor Kitzhaber today met with local, state, and federal officials and agency representatives, private landowners, and citizens to discuss emergency response to fires burning in Southern Oregon. At a briefing held at the Incident Command Post in Glendale, the Governor heard about inter-agency coordination, how fires are affecting the local community, and the state’s largest wildfire response in more than a decade. Attendees also observed a moment of silence for John Hammack, a fire crew member from Central Oregon who was killed on Thursday while responding to a blaze outside of Sisters.
“With Oregon experiencing the most severe extreme wildfire danger in years, I’m pleased to see such tremendous inter-agency coordination and communication,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “Today, we saw a brief glimpse of the hard work and long hours going into fighting these fires, and I know we’re all grateful for and appreciative of the contributions from those putting themselves into harm’s way to protect people and property.”
Thousands of emergency personnel are responding to fires across Oregon, with more than 5,000 responding on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Much of the response in Southern Oregon is focused on a group of fires known as the Douglas Complex in Douglas and Josephine counties. As of Saturday, the fire was approximately 34,000 acres and the nation’s highest priority for firefighting.
Joined by Major General Daniel Hokanson, Oregon’s new Adjutant General, the Governor reiterated his pledge to make state resources available. Earlier this week, the Governor signed a declaration authorizing assistance from the Oregon National Guard. He also stressed the importance of preventing additional fires. “These threats are serious, and while first responders are working hard to protect property and resources, Oregonians and visitors to our state can do their part by practicing basic fire safety when enjoying Oregon’s forests.”
State Forester Doug Decker praised the contributions from state employees, contracted firefighters, and private landowners. “Staff have stepped up to serve on fire lines, in fire camps, or in other fire-related roles, while private landowners are sharing their expertise, experience, and equipment to help us protect people and land.” The state has also had access to critical resources like additional air tankers and helicopters due to the Wildfire Protection Act, passed by the 2013 Oregon Legislature.
Information about Oregon wildfires: www.oregon.gov/odf
