August 23, 2010
Source: Central Oregon Incident Management Team.
The management of the Lower Deschutes Complex fires will transfer back to the local BLM unit Monday. Resources that have been determined as excess will be released and reassigned to the neighboring White Lightning Complex.
The Deschutes River is closed from Warm Springs put-in down through Harpham Flat due to the Youther Fire. For more information on this fire see the following link: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2075
Devils Half Acre (1,245 acres) and Fall Canyon (2,702 acres) – Firefighters will continue to patrol. The one smoke located today on the Fall Canyon Fire was mopped-up.
Oak Canyon (640 acres) and Tygh Ridge (4,717 acres) – Patrol by aircraft. The one smoke that was located today on the Oak Canyon Fire was mopped-up.
QUICK FACTS:
Acres: 9,304
Containment: 100%
Location: 5 miles north of Maupin
Cause: Lightning
Start Date/Time: Reported August 19, 2010, 1015 hrs
Total personnel: 319
Crews: 7; Engines: 14; Helicopters: 1-light,1- medium, 1-heavy lift; Water tenders:6; and Overhead: 78
August 22, 2010
Source: Central Oregon Incident Management Team
Due to the direction and rapid growth Saturday of the Youther Fire, a fire of the White Lightning Complex burning on the Warm Spring Reservation, homes on the east side of the Deschutes River near Dant were evacuated by the Oregon State Police with assistance from Bureau of Land Management (BLM) law enforcement. An operational contingency plan has been developed to locate firefighting resources from the Lower Deschutes Complex into this area to hold any fire that might cross the river.
The BLM has closed the Deschutes River Segment 1 from Trout Creek down through Harpham Flat due to the Youther Fire. For more information on this fire see the following link: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2075
FIRE ACTIVITY:
Strong, gusty west winds tested containment lines on all four fires yesterday of the Lower Deschutes Complex. All containment lines held. Although the Complex is in patrol mode, some smoke may be visible due to burning of interior islands of fuel.
Devils Half Acre (1,200 acres) and Fall Canyon (2,700 acres) – Firefighters will patrol and mop-up any smokes 50 ft into the interior.
Oak Canyon (600 acres) and Tygh Ridge (4,700 acres) – Patrol by aircraft.
Transition from the federal Central Oregon Incident Management Team back to management by the local BLM unit is scheduled for Monday, August 23, at 6 am.
QUICK FACTS:
Acres: 9,200
Containment: 90%
Location: 5 miles north of Maupin
Cause: Lightning
Start Date/Time: Reported August 19, 2010, 1015 hrs
Total personnel: 318Crews: 8; Engines: 10; Helicopters: 1-light,1- medium, 1-heavy lift; Water tenders: 4; and Overhead: 78
More information is available through InciWeb: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2073/
August 22, 2010
Source: NW Coordination Center, Portland
The U S Forest Service is currently responding to the View Lake fire near Estacada, and on Sunday size is estimated at 125 acres. This area is in the Bull of the Woods Wilderness Area and is a high recreational use area. An area closure is in effect for the Olallie Lakes recreation area.
All campgrounds and trails are closed within the Olallie Lake Scenic Area including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. Road blocks have been set up at the junction of Forest Road 46 and Road 4220, and also at the junction of Road 4690 and Road 4220. Travel/access to Breitenbush Lake is not possible.
Additional information on the fire:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/
August 21, 2010
Source: Central Oregon Incident Management Team
Due to the significant progress made by firefighters Friday the notice urging residents in Maupin to prepare for precautionary evacuation will be removed this morning effective 6:00am.
The ordered closure of the Oak Springs Fish Hatchery and White River State Park will be reduced to a Level One prepare for precautionary evacuations order on Saturday morning. The State will be open to the public Saturday. The Deschutes River Segment 2 will be opened to recreational activities Saturday morning at 6:00. This includes the campgrounds that were previously closed due to fire suppression activities.
Additional information is available through InciWeb: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2073/
COIMT Information Desk 541-467-3001
August 21, 2010
The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Red Flag Warning indicating increased fire potential for the southern half of Klamath and Lake Counties, extending into northern California, in effect from Noon Saturday until 9:00pm Saturday.
On Saturday, sustained SW winds of 15 to 25 MPH are forecast with gusts to 35 MPH; Afternoon relative humidity in the region will range from 10-20 percent. Seasonal summer temperatures combined with high winds and low humidity will create a critical fire weather situation on Saturday afternoon and evening.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are occurring now or will shortly, creating high fire potential.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
August 21, 2010
Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office – News Release
Structural task forces from Multnomah and Washington Hood River counties are being demobilized from the D. Harris Conflagration due to the decreasing threat to structures in the area. The Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Incident Management Team will turn control of the fire back to the local fire district for structural protection today at 6:00 p.m.
The D Harris Fire began August 18 in the Juniper Flat Fire Protection District. The fire is located approximately five miles southwest of the City of Maupin, Oregon and estimated to be 3,800 acres.
Residents in Maupin should remain on alert for possible evacuation should conditions worsen.
Governor Kulongoski invoked the Oregon Conflagration Act to allow State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire. The request to invoke the conflagration act came from Wasco County Assistant Fire Defense Board Chief Jay Wood.
August 20, 2010
The Oregon Department of Forestry is providing mutual aid on several of the fires in what is being called the White Lightning Complex in Central Oregon. Following is a news release about this complex that was issued this afternoon.
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WHITE LIGHTNING COMPLEX
As of 1200 (12:00 noon), Friday, August 20, 2010
Approximate start time: 2100 (9:00 p.m.) on Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Background: There were 400 lightning strikes on Tuesday evening causing 28 fire starts to-date. Most were small fires but five developed into larger fires due to dry weather conditions and winds.
Island Rim Fire: Located on the flat between the Warm Springs River and Beaver Creek south of Tribal Highway 9 that runs from US Highway 26 to Simnasho. Approximately 1,000 acres of rangeland, it threatened one home and several water developments, and burned one out building.
Johnson Lake Fire: Located about 2 miles south of Simnasho on the west side of Tribal Highway 3 on Schoolie Flat. Approximately 2,500 acres of rangeland, this fire threatened numerous homes. In addition to wildland fire fighters, the Central Oregon Structural Protection Task Force III (Warm Springs Fire and Safety, Jefferson County Fire District, Crook County Fire District and Crooked River Ranch Fire District) assisted in protecting homes and other structures. No losses were reported. A Level II Evacuation Order was in place for a voluntary evacuation of the area.
Youther Fire: Located east of Tribal Highway 3 about 6 miles northeast of Simnasho on the northeastern boundary of the reservation, approximately 6 miles northwest of Dant on the Deschutes River and about 4 miles south of the community of Wapinitia to the north of the reservation. Approximately 1,200 acres in rangeland and scrub oak county. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is assisting with this fire as portions are on lands protected off the reservation by the department.
Nelson Fire: Located about 1 to 2 miles east/northeast of the Youther Fire also in rangeland and scrub oak county. This fire reactivated about 0620 (6:20 a.m.) this morning and is moving north/northeast down Nena Creek canyon. It is approximately 1,500 acres and growing. Additional crews are being dispatched to that fire. ODF is assisting with this fire.
Laughlin Hills II Fire: Located west of Tribal Highway 3 about 6 miles northeast of Simnasho on the northeastern boundary of the reservation, about 2 miles west of the Youther Fire in forested country. Approximately 2,000 acres in size, crews are back burning from Highway 3 on the eastern flank to help control the fire and hoping to hold the northern line. ODF is assisting with this fire.
Road Closures: Due to safety concerns and fire traffic, Tribal Highway 3 is closed at the Kah-Nee-Ta Road junction (Tribal Highway 8) north to mile post 33 at the northern boundary of the reservation, and at the Simnasho junction of Tribal highways 3 and 9. Only Schoolie Flat residents and employees of the Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery are allowed in the area.
Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino remains open. Those coming from the north and wanting to reach the resort and casino are encouraged to continue south on US Highway 26 past the Simnasho turnoff (Tribal Highway 9) into Warm Springs and take Tribal Highway 3 north to Kah-Nee-Ta.
Total personnel: Approximately 350
Resources: 12 crews, six smokejumpers, 20 engines, eight tenders, 2 dozers, three helicopters, three planes, and 20 overhead personnel. Additional crews, engines, tenders, dozers and overhead personnel are on order.
Incident Command: Being managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Warm Springs Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The Warm Springs Police Department is assisting. A Type II Incident Command Team will arrive this afternoon to take over the complex so local fire fighters can return to initial attach duties.
Contact: Clay Penhollow, Fire Information Officer at 553-2413.
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Jeri Chase, Oregon Department of Forestry
PH: 503-945-7201
August 20, 2010
The Oregon Department of Forestry issued this news release today:
August 20, 2010
Contact: Kevin Weeks, 503-689-6879
Forestry officials urged recreationists and local residents to exercise extreme caution with fire Friday as efforts continued to find and put out fires from a swarm of lightning strikes earlier this week.
More than 1,200 lightning strikes pummeled forestland in eastern Lane and Linn counties on Tuesday. Lightning-caused fires can simmer deep in the forest for days before rapidly growing large enough to detect.
“We expect to find more ‘sleeper’ fires every afternoon as the clouds lift and the sun warms up the ground,” said Lena Tucker, district forester in the Oregon Department of Forestry’s South Cascade District.
“We always urge the public to be cautious in using fire, but that is doubly important now, when the response to the lightning storms is stretching resources very thin.”
The Oregon Department of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service, other firefighting agencies, and forest landowners are all making essential contributions. “The whole system is coordinated and working well,” Tucker said. “But it will take some time to find all the fires.”
The Oregon Department of Forestry protects about 1.3 million acres of forestland in its South Cascade District, which has offices in Springfield and Sweet Home. The Forest Service has fire protection responsibility on the Willamette National Forest.
On private lands, Tucker said, “Landowners have been actively patrolling their ownerships and notifying us of any smoke they detect. We could not cover all the land we protect if they were not assisting us.” Landowners also take direct fire suppression action.
The lightning sweep has caused at least five fires, all stopped at less than an acre, on state-protected land. The Willamette National Forest has reported about 125 lightning-caused fire starts.
“We expect cool weather over the weekend, but we’d like to remind people to be careful with fire, particularly with recreational campfires.”
Public use restrictions are in effect in the area. These include:
1. Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and on sand or gravel bars that lie between water and high water marks that are free of vegetation.
2. Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated locations. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
3. Chain saw use is prohibited in areas subject to Industrial Fire Precaution Level III and IV.
4. Chain saw use is prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., in areas subject to Industrial Fire Precaution Level I and II. Chain saw use is permitted at all other hours, if the following fire fighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one axe, one shovel, and one operational 8 ounce or larger fire extinguisher. In addition, a fire watch is required at least one 1 hour following the use of each saw.
5. Use of motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads or for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
6. All motor vehicles must be equipped with one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher, one axe, and one shovel, except when traveling on state and county roads. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher, except when traveling on state and county roads.”
7. Use of fireworks is prohibited.
8. 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.
9. Use of exploding targets is prohibited.
10. Mowing of dried 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.
11. Blasting is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Blasting is permitted at all other hours, if conducted in a cleared area and if a water supply is present.
To report a wildfire, people should call 911.
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Jeri Chase, Oregon Department of Forestry
PH: 503-945-7201
August 20, 2010
Three new fires were found yesterday afternoon on ODF Southwest Oregon District-protected lands. Combined, the fires amounted to one acre and were contained quickly.
The Summit Prairie Fire, located 7 miles north of Butte Falls, amounted to .25 acre. A helicopter dropped buckets of water on the fire while engines dug hand line around the perimeter and mopped up the scene.
Nine miles north of Gold Hill, the Holcomb Springs Fire was .50 acre. The perimeter is 100% lined and crews are continuing to mop up.
Last night crews continued to work on the 0.25 acre Sykes Creek Fire. The fire ignited during the lightning bust earlier this week and is now 100% lined and mopped.
A reconnaissance flight is being made this morning in search of new smokes. Lookouts will continue to be fully staffed throughout the weekend.
For wildfire prevention information visit http://www.rvfpc.com/ or visit our blog site at http://swofire.blogspot.com/
To report a fire, call 9-1-1.
Ashley Du Brey – Oregon Department of Forestry, SW Oregon District
August 20, 2010
No new fires 10 acres in size or larger on ODF-protected lands were reported to ODF’s Salem Coordination Center overnight.
August 20, 2010
Oregon Department of Forestry offices remain open on August 20 to ensure adequate fire protection resources are available statewide. Many State of Oregon agencies are closed today due to budget reductions. ODF was exempted from statewide agency closure dates during fire season so that wildfire response, which protects public safety, natural resources and property, could continue uninterrupted. To ensure that ODF achieves its portion of budget savings, employees will take unpaid leave time on a floating basis during other days.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
August 20, 2010
Two small fires located on private land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and located south of the Ochoco National Forest in the Brennan Palisades area of central Oregon on Thursday have been contained.
Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center / Media Desk
August 20, 2010
News Release – Oregon State Fire Marshals Office
Governor Theodore Kulongoski has declared the D. Harris fire 8 miles west of Maupin as a conflagration. The declaration cleared the way for the state fire marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire. The request to invoke the Oregon Conflagration Act was made by Wasco County Assistant Fire Defense Board Chief Jay Wood.
The fire started around 2 p.m. August 19. Dry fuel conditions of grass and juniper, along with significant winds have caused the fire to move rapidly with extreme fire behavior. The fire is threatening the Wasco County town of Maupin.
The Office of State Marshal’s Red Incident Management Team and one structural task force are en-route. A second structural task force is scheduled to deploy the morning of August 20th.
Oregon’s conflagration act may be invoked only by the Governor and allows the State Fire Marshal to dispatch structural firefighters and equipment to help local resources provide structural protection.
More information on Conflagration is available here: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Conflagration_Information_2007.shtml#Conflagration_FAQs
More Emergency Mobilization information is available here: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Oregon_Mob_Plan.shtml
Additional resources on surviving wildfires may be accessed at:
• Wildfire…Evacuation Readiness http://egov.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Comm_Ed/WUI/wildfire_evac.doc
• After the Wildfire… http://egov.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Comm_Ed/WUI/After_a_wildfire.doc
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August 20, 2010
Source: Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
Due to fire activity associated with the Devil’s Half Acre fire, the White River Falls State Park and the Oak Springs Fish Hatchery, located on the west side of the lower Deschutes River, have been evacuated. Heavy helicopters continue to dip water out of the Deschutes River for fire suppression purposes. Developed recreation sites located on the east side of the river remain open at this time, as is Deschutes River.
The Central Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Mark Rapp has been ordered and was scheduled to take command of the fire incident at 6:00 p.m. Thursday. Command has been established at the Dufur School.
A recommendation was made to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office to prepare affected residents for a potential evacuation. At this stage, residents should consider gathering up any valuable papers and non-replaceable items, medications, and an overnight bag with personal effects as a preparatory action. The evacuation preparations are directed at residents of Maupin, and developed recreation sites on the east side of the Deschutes River from White River south to Maupin, including Sandy Beach, Oak Springs, Lower Blue Hole, Blue Hole Grey Eagle, Oasis and Maupin and the BLM Maupin Visitor Center.
Note to pilots and news media – a Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect at 5,000 feet above sea level in a five-mile radius around the incident.
The Bureau of Land Management has closed several recreation areas affected by the fire. The order listing specific sites is found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fire/documents/20100819-blmclosureofpublicwaterwayandcampgrounds.pdf
August 19, 2010
The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning in effect until 8:00pm Thursday for fire zone OR-Z631, which generally includes portions of NE Oregon in Umatilla County including the Pendleton and Milton-Freewater area. Temperatures well into the 90’s with relative humidity as low as 15 percent will meet winds gusting to 35 miles per hour in places, increasing the fire potential for the region.
A Red Flag Warning is issued when weather forecasters detect conditions which create extreme potential for fire activity for a limited timeframe is either underway or imminent.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
August 19, 2010
Source: Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
Due to fire activity associated with the Devil’s Half Acre fire, a PRECAUTIONARY evacuation is in effect on the west side of the lower Deschutes River corridor from White River to Maupin. This includes White River Falls State Park and the Oak Springs Fish Hatchery.
River recreationists are advised to proceed with caution in this area, as heavy helicopters are dipping water out of the Deschutes River for fire suppression purposes. Developed recreation sites located on the east side of the river remain open at this time, as is the river itself. Gusting winds to 30 mph are predicted in the area later this morning and this afternoon.
COIDC Media Desk — 541/416-6811
August 19, 2010
Medford, OR- August, 2010- A total of 30 fires have been found on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands after the lightning bust earlier this week. All of the fires, except for the 11 acre Anderson Creek Fire, have been less than 1.5 acre in size.
Eighteen of the lightning fires are less than .10 acre, and but two are 100% mopped and lined. The remaining two fires are in the mop-up stage and are expected to be completed by this afternoon.
Greg Alexander, ODF SWO assistant district forester, said, “The working relationships we have with our interagency partners, county officials and landowners has played a large role in our fire suppression.” The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Jackson and Josephine counties and landowners have helped keep wildfire damage to a minimum.
Reconnaissance flights will be made Thursday to detect new fires and all lookouts are staffed.
For wildfire prevention information visit www.rvfpc.com or visit our blog site at http://swofire.blogspot.com.
To report a fire, call 9-1-1.
Ashley Du Brey – Oregon Department of Forestry, SW Oregon District – Medford
August 19, 2010
No new fires 10 acres in size or larger were reported to ODF’s Salem Coordination Center over the past night.
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry
August 19, 2010
Source: Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
The Devil’s Half Acre Fire is burning on Prineville Bureau of Land Management protected land, approximately five miles north of Maupin and west of Oak Springs. Initial estimates of fire size is approximately 300 acres; heavy smoke has been limiting visibility and has been reported to be impacting the town of Fossil, approximately 40 miles to the southeast. Yesterday afternoon and evening, firefighters were challenged by erratic winds primarily out of the northwest that pushed the fire in all directions; the fire crossed the White River to the north and burned down to the west side of the Deschutes River. Due to the active fire activity, the Oak Springs Fish Hatchery is currently closed to the public.
Ground resources on scene include eight engines and a 20-person contract crew arriving this morning. Two heavy helicopters and two air tankers have been ordered to assist the ground crews this morning. A number of developed campgrounds along the river corridor are potentially threatened by the blaze, including White River Campground, White River State Park, and Surf City.
The Fall Canyon Fire is burning on steep slopes on Prineville Bureau of Land Management administered lands along the west side of the Lower Deschutes River, 12 miles north of Grass Valley. The fire, reported at 7:00 p.m. on August 17, has grown to 1000 acres and is burning in steep, rugged terrain and heavy grassy fuels. Quick responding fire crews managed to protect structures in the area, including several old homesteads. The river remains open, and no structures are in imminent danger. One medium and one light helicopter is assigned with a reconnaissance flight planned this morning. Sixty firefighters (including the Silver City Hotshots and the Lassen Hotshots) and support personnel are assigned.
August 19, 2010
Source: Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
Central Oregon firefighters coordinated through the Central Oregon Dispatch Center were busy Wednesday with fires ignited by lightning activity that passed through the area Tuesday. Most of the fires remained small due to quick response by initial attack crews. Much of the storm activity was focused along the Cascade Mountains, with some cells drifting to the east.
One of two larger fires, the Devil’s Half Acre Fire, is burning on Prineville Bureau of Land Management protected land approximately one mile west of the Deschutes River, approximately five miles north of Maupin and west of Oak Springs. Initial estimates of fire size are 300 acres; heavy smoke is currently limiting visibility. As of 5:00 p.m., three single engine air tankers and three heavy air tankers are actively dropping retardant on the blaze.
Ground resources on scene include three engines with five additional engines ordered to arrive Wednesday night. A 20-person hand crew is ordered to arrive Thursday morning. Winds 15-20 mph are creating erratic conditions and pushing the fire to the south towards Maupin. A number of developed campgrounds along the river corridor are potentially threatened by the blaze, including White River Campground, White River State Park, Surf City and the Oak Springs Fish Hatchery.
The Fall Canyon Fire is burning on steep slopes on Prineville Bureau of Land Management administered lands along the west side of the Lower Deschutes River, 12 miles north of Grass Valley. The fire, reported at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening, has grown to 1000 acres and is burning in steep, rugged terrain and heavy grassy fuels. The river remains open, and no structures are in imminent danger. Three single engine air tankers and sixty firefighters (including the Silver City Hotshots and the Lassen Hotshots) and support personnel responded.
A one-tenth acre fire on the Deschutes National Forest in the Skyliner area west of Bend and north of Meissner Snopark was reported by Lava Butte Lookout around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Initial attack crews responded and contained the fire; no additional resources are needed.
On the Ochoco National Forest, initial attack crews are responding to small five fires; four of the fires are located west of Pisgah Lookout and a fifth fire is located south of Big Summit Prairie east of Horse Prairie. All of these fires are less than ¼ acre in size and quick containment is expected.
