August 6, 2012
ODF Sisters Unit fire suppression resources are responding Monday afternoon to a fire burning in juniper, grassland and brush about 15 miles NE of Sisters. The Incident 392 Fire is an interagency response coordinated by the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center. The fire was reported about 12:20 Monday afternoon, and early estimates place the size of the fire at 25 acres. The fire is believed to be lightning-caused.
Six ODF engines are assigned to the fire, with 4 fire crews, a bulldozer, one water tender and air support from two helicopters. Resources from the U.S. Forest Service are assisting with fire response at the Incident 392 Fire.
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs
August 6, 2012
Source: Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
With approximately 3300 lightning strikes from the storm that passed over the Central Oregon area last night, firefighters from multiple jurisdictions are working on several small fires. They will continue to look for any new starts over the next several days.
There have been 17 new fires reported since last night’s lightning storm passed through the area. More fires are expected to be reported throughout the day. Fires are being staffed by Central Oregon interagency fire crews as they are reported. Engines, handcrews, smokejumpers, and helicopters all working various fires. The fires have all been reported at 1/10 of an acre or less.
###
August 4, 2012
The National Weather Service offices in Medford, Pendleton and Boise issued Red Flag Warnings Saturday afternoon, warning of high fire potential over a combined area covering all Oregon counties east of the Cascade Mountains and most of SW Oregon.
Red Flag Warnings are in effect:
In Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, and Lake Counties – Red Flag Conditions in effect from 5:00am Sunday until 11:00pm Sunday PDT
In Malheur & Harney County – 3:00pm Mountain time Sunday until 6:00am Monday MDT
For all other central and eastern Oregon counties – 11:00am PDT Sunday until 11:00pm Monday
Thunderstorms are predicted in the region that will produce abundant dry lightning at first, with thunderstorms increasing in moisture levels later during the storm event. Additional storms may develop in the region again Monday.
Gusts of 20-40 mph are possible in central/eastern Oregon, and dry forest fuel levels may result in numerous lightning-started wildfires. A combination of low humidity, strong wind and warm temperatures create high potential for fire starts.
A Red Flag Warning is the highest fire forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service to warn of conditions that are ideal for wildland fire ignition and propagation. To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
August 3, 2012
The National Weather Service offices in Medford and Pendleton on Friday afternoon issued Fire Weather Watches covering a combined area of all Oregon counties east of the Cascade Mountains, and the SW Oregon counties of Josephine, Jackson, Klamath and Lake Counties.
A Fire Weather Watch is an alert level below a Red Flag Warning, designed to alert the public and fire safety agencies that conditions may be developing within the next few days that have increased potential for wildland fire ignition and spread.
Forecasts call for extreme high temperatures on Saturday, with thunderstorm activity predicted for Saturday night through Monday.
Forecasters are not sure where fire potential will be highest, and what times or locations thunderstorm activity may be most concentrated. But forecasters with the Medford NWS office expressed it this way:
IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY EXACTLY WHERE STORMS WILL BE CONCENTRATED…BUT STORMS MAY INCREASE IN COVERAGE OVER ANY AREAS WITHIN THE WATCH. THE MOST LIKELY LOCATIONS TO SEE SIGNIFICANT LIGHTNING ARE OVER THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AND THE OREGON MOUNTAINS AND EAST SIDE SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT.
Key messages for public members:
Please be careful with fire and reduce the potential for human-caused fires, both in the forest and wildland-urban interface areas of Oregon.
Need to mow the yard this weekend?
The early morning, when there’s still a little dew left on the grass, is the best time of day to use gas-powered equipment.
Remove any rocks that might be hit with the mower blade.
Wait until the equipment has cooled before adding fuel.
Keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water close by, just in case.
Around the home
- Dispose of smoking materials in an ashtray, not the roadway.
- Supervise your backyard barbecues and fire pits, and have a hose nearby in case of fire.
- Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children and instruct them that these are tools for adults only.
Additional tips for preventing forest fires and fires in wildland-urban interface areas are available on the Keep Oregon Green website, www.keeporegongreen.org
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs Office
August 3, 2012
Extreme high temperatures predicted for Saturday in Oregon, along with the potential of thunderstorms Saturday night and Sunday, are creating conditions that are rough on people & animals, and optimal for wildland fire ignition and spread.
National Weather Service offices in Portland and Medford are cautioning residents on the western half of the state to expect hot temperatures Saturday, with ranges of 85-95 F for the northern portion of the state, 90-100 F in Douglas County and south, with temperatures potentially reaching 100-105 F around Medford and greater Jackson County. An Excessive Heat Watch is in effect Saturday for several areas.
The National Weather Service in Medford has additionally issued a Fire Weather Watch for Saturday night through Sunday evening, raising concerns that thunderstorms following the extreme temperatures may increase the likelihood of fire ignitions from lightning.
Please be careful with fire and reduce the potential for human-caused fires, both in the forest and wildland-urban interface areas of Oregon.
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs
August 2, 2012
The Kelsey Creek Fire, 17 miles west of Glendale, is 15 acres in size on Thursday morning and crews have been “dry mopping” — meaning they are extinguishing the fire without the aid of water, other than what was dropped onto it from helicopters on Tuesday and Wednesday. A fire line has been established around the fire. Today, two 10-person crews and two engines will set up a hose lay and pump water into the fire area. A helicopter will also continue to deliver buckets of water to the fire, as needed. The fire was caused by lightning, which struck the area two weeks ago.
Brian Ballou / ODF SW Oregon District
August 2, 2012
ODF SW District resources responded to the Sterling Ditch fire about eight miles south of Medford Wednesday. The fire was reported just before 3:00 Wednesday afternoon, and by Thursday morning the 6-acre fire was 90 percent extinguished with a fire line established around it. ODF battled the fire from the air with an air tanker and 2 helicopters, assisting the ground response from six 20-person crews and one 10-person work crew.
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs -and- Brian Ballou / ODF SW Oregon District
August 1, 2012
From: SWOFIRE
A crew of six rapellers is bashing a fire line around a 3-acre forest fire in the deep woods 17 miles west of Glendale in Josephine County. The fire is on Bureau of Land Management land in the Kelsey Creek drainage, and is in a densely forested area on very steep ground. There are no roads in the vicinity.
Rapellers were dropped by helicopter around 7:30 a.m. today and a second helicopter is dropping big buckets of water onto the fire.
Investigation into the cause of the fire has revealed lightning as the likely culprit. The last thunderstorm took place the evening of July 19 and the early morning hours of July 20. Lightning detection from that storm registered several strikes in the Kelsey Creek drainage.
Brian Ballou / ODF SW Oregon District
July 31, 2012
Rising wildfire danger has prompted the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Northeast Oregon District to institute a Regulated-Use Closure effective Tuesday, July 31.
The Regulated Use Closure affects private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in seven counties: Union, Baker, Wallowa, Umatilla, and small portions of Malheur, Morrow and Grant. The Regulated Use Closure is intended to protect natural resources and public health and safety.
“Recent warm temperatures and limited rainfall throughout the region have dried wildland fuels and increased the danger of wildland fires,” explains John Buckman, Northeast Oregon District Forester. “Implementing Regulated-Use Closure reduces the potential for human-caused fires to occur and allows firefighters to focus on fires ignited by lightning.”
Limiting human-caused fires within the Northeast Oregon District is the objective of the closure, which includes the following restrictions:
• Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated locations. Designated locations within the Regulated Use Closure area include these Oregon State Parks: Emigrant Springs, Ukiah Dale, Catherine Creek, Hilgard Junction, Red Bridge, Wallowa Lake, Minam, and Unity Lake. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
• Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, or at a cleared area.
• Debris burning is prohibited, except in burn barrels for which a valid permit has been issued.
• Non-Industrial chain saw use is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Chain saw use is permitted at all other hours, if the following firefighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one axe, one shovel, and one 8 ounce or larger fire extinguisher. In addition, a fire watch is required for at least one hour following the use of each saw.
• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
• Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is permitted at all other hours, if conducted in a cleared area and if a water supply is present, unless specifically waived by the State Forester.
• 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.
• Use of fireworks is prohibited.
• Mowing of dry and cured grass with power driven equipment is prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
Visit our website at www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIELD/NEO/aboutneo.shtml or contact a local Oregon Department of Forestry office for more complete information on ODF Restrictions:
La Grande Unit (541) 963-3168
Baker City Sub-Unit (541) 523-5831
Wallowa Unit (541) 886-2881
Pendleton Unit (541) 276-3491
Please check with your local Forest Service office for fire regulations on National Forest land. Information on Public-Use Restrictions on the Oregon Department of Forestry, Umatilla National Forest and Wallowa Whitman National Forest can be found at http://bmidc.org/index.shtml under Current Information: Fire Restrictions.
Christie Shaw / ODF NE Oregon District
July 31, 2012
No new fires 10 acres in size or larger on ODF-protected lands were reported to the Salem Coordination Center during the past 24 hours.
FIRES ON OTHER LANDS IN OREGON —
The lightning-caused Lava Fire (BLM) burning 15 miles northeast of Fort Rock in northern Lake County is estimated at 10,000 acres and 25 percent contained. Over 250 people are actively working the fire that was reported July 23, and fire managers advise the fire may generate smoke in the south-central region of the state for several weeks. Fire information is available from the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership at (541) 947-6223.
For information on wildfires in all jurisdictions within Oregon, go to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center website, http://www.nwccweb.us/ , or to the national Incident Information System website, www.inciweb.org/state/38 .
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs Office
July 19, 2012
The Stone Gulch Fire burned 44 acres in the John Day Unit of the Central Oregon District on Wednesday. Located eight miles northwest of Long Creek, the fire is contained and in mop-up. Three fire engines and one bulldozer were assigned to the blaze.
July 10, 2012
The ODF Northeast Oregon District is responding to the Battle Mountain fire, a smoldering fire in grass and timber reported shortly after 3:00pm Monday. The lightning-caused fire was estimated at 30 acres, but with a low likelihood for additional fire spread by Monday night. Two ODF engines and one crew was working the fire.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs Office
July 10, 2012
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) announced today that all of its districts in northwestern Oregon will enter wildfire season on Wednesday, July 11.
“With the current and predicted weather, summer is finally here,” said West Oregon District Forester Mike Totey. “We want to get out in front of the situation, since fire danger is increasing.”
Entry into fire season chiefly addresses industrial forest operators. Logging operations, for example, are required to have a fire watch present after work activity ceases for the day, and fire suppression equipment must be positioned on site.
But if the warm, dry weather continues, additional restrictions may be added on recreation and other activities.
He noted that on the 11th stricter rules on non-industrial activity will go into effect in one portion of the region: the Molalla River Corridor. These “regulated-use” restrictions address smoking, open fires and other activities.
The ODF districts entering fire season on Wednesday include: Astoria, Forest Grove, Tillamook, West Oregon and North Cascade.
For more information on the restrictions imposed by the fire season declaration, contact the nearest Oregon Department of Forestry office. Contact information for the Astoria, Forest Grove and Tillamook district offices can be found at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/offices.shtml.
###
Rod Nichols – ODF Public Affairs Office
July 9, 2012
The ODF John Day Unit is deploying resources to the Briley Mountain fire, reported Monday at 11:00am burning 3 miles northeast of Monument in Grant County. The fire has consumed an estimated 10 acres of grassland and juniper by Monday afternoon. 8 ODF engines are responding to the fire, along with one crew, 1 bulldozer, 2 helicopters and one Single Engine Air Tanker. Additional response from ODF heavy air tankers have been ordered for Monday afternoon. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs
July 9, 2012
Extensive lightning and thunderstorm activity, coupled with hot temperatures, mean that Red Flag Warnings have been issued by several National Weather Service offices in the region, affecting the following Oregon counties:
Until 9:00pm Mountain Time Monday – Malheur County
Until 6:00AM Tuesday — Hood River and Wasco Counties
Until 10:00 AM Tuesday — Jefferson, Wheeler, Deschutes, lower Wasco, northern Klamath and Grant Counties
Until 9:00pm Tuesday – Union, Wallowa and Baker Counties
A Red Flag Warning is the highest fire forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service to warn of conditions that are ideal for wildland fire ignition and propagation. To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
July 8, 2012
ODF Northeast Oregon District fire crews are working the Government Mountain fire 10 miles east of Milton-Freewater. The fire was reported just before Noon on Sunday, and is estimated at 20 acres in size. The fire is currently uncontrolled, burning in heavy brush and steep terrain. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
Two ODF engines are assigned to the fire, also two crews and one helicopter.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs Office
July 8, 2012
ODF John Day Unit resources are battling the Steward Ditch 2 fire, reported Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm burning in sage, juniper and grassland about 4 miles east of Dayville. By Sunday morning, the size of fire is estimated at 200 acres and additional resources are being brought in for the fire, including 4 ODF engines, 2 bulldozers, one water tender, four 20-person crews, one Single Engine Air Tanker and an ODF heavy air tanker.
Cause of the fire is believed to be a lightning strike. Multiple agencies are providing resources on the fire, including local fire districts and the Malheur and Umatilla National Forests.
Due to fire activity on the highway, especially emergency vehicles moving positions rapidly, motorists are asked to exercise caution on U.S. Highway 26 at milepost 136 and keep your eyes open for emergency vehicles.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs
July 8, 2012
The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for most of Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains (except the Klamath Basin) in effect from Sunday at Noon until 10:00pm Tuesday. For NE Oregon, the warning is in effect from 2:00pm Sunday until 6:00 Tuesday night.
A Red Flag Warning is the highest fire forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service to warn of conditions that are ideal for wildland fire ignition and propagation. To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours. During these times extreme caution is urged by all residents, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.
Forecasters are anticipating significant lightning potential along with thunderstorms and wind gusts across the region. Highest concentration of thunderstorms will be on Sunday afternoon and evening, then again on Monday afternoon.
Kevin Weeks / ODF Public Affairs Office
July 7, 2012
The hot temperatures one typically associates with summer for Oregon are expected to arrive this weekend, with thunderstorms also expected in central and eastern Oregon, which creates the potential for lightning fire ignitions on rangeland and forests.
The National Weather Service continues to have a fire weather watch in effect for most of Oregon east of the Cascade mountains (except the Klamath Basin) beginning Sunday. A fire weather watch is just below the alert level declared by a Red Flag Warning for wildland fire conditions; during these times extreme caution is urged by all residents, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.
Here’s what the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland is forecasting on Saturday morning for the week–
Warming and drying will continue over the region through Monday before leveling off. Expect increasing lightning activity over the next several days, mainly from the Cascade Crest eastward over Oregon but expanding northward into Washington by Sunday. Thunderstorms are expected to bring increasing moisture. Fire danger indices are currently low in most areas but will be rising in response to the warming trend. Initial fire attack will increase along with the lightning; however, the risk of large, significant fires remains generally low for the time being due to the lower fire danger indices.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs Office
July 7, 2012
ODF Klamath-Lake District crews are working mop-up Saturday on the Worden fire, located near Keno. The fire was reported after 6:00pm Friday burning in sage and juniper, and consumed 32 acres before crews were able to stop the forward spread of the fire Saturday morning. One structure was threatened by the fire. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
Six ODF engines and crews provided assistance to fire crews from the Fremont-Winema National Forest, and crews from several fire districts surrounding Keno and Klamath Falls.
Kevin Weeks – ODF Public Affairs Office
