ODF Medford crews keep grass fire small
From SWOFIRE:
A 1/4-acre grass fire located 3 miles north of Howard Prairie Reservoir is being mopped up Wednesday afternoon by ODF engine crews.
Brian Ballou – Oregon Department of Forestry
Tuesday brought small fires for ODF crews in eastern Oregon
Tuesday provided significant lightning activity with small fires for ODF Districts in eastern and south-central Oregon to respond to. All new fires reported Tuesday in ODF jurisdiction were brought under control.
The ODF Klamath/Lake District responded to six new fires Tuesday, all were controlled at less than one-quarter acre.
Walker Range Forest Protective Association in Crescent responded to three fires resulting from lightning Tuesday and assisted fire suppression of one fire on federal land within the district. WRFPA crews are assisting with two fires on federal lands Tuesday.
ODF John Day Unit responded to three new fires and ODF Prineville Unit responded to three new fires on Tuesday. ODF Northeast Oregon District responded to five new fires Tuesday, three in the Wallowa Unit and two in the ODF Baker City Unit.
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry
Still more lightning potential for Wednesday in Oregon
The National Weather Service in Medford has modified warnings for increased fire potential in south central Oregon, declaring a Red Flag Warning in effect in southern Klamath and Lake counties from 3:00 pm until 11pm Wednesday. Lightning is expected during this time.
Unstable flows with thunderstorms are expected to stay mostly north of the Oregon-California state line. Weather Service forecasters are warning of lightning, followed by the potential for hail, wind gusts and brief heavy rain. Dryer, more stable air is expected in the Klamath-Lake region Thursday.
A Red Flag Warning for much of central, eastern and NE Oregon continues until 11 pm Wednesday.
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry
ODF crews ready for Wednesday; federal crews battle Buckhorn Fire
The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center (COIDC) reports more than 7,500 lightning strikes pounded central Oregon on Tuesday as storms tracked from Klamath County to southeast Washington. Additional strikes continue Wednesday.
Acreage has increased on the Buckhorn Fire, burning on steep slopes along a remote section of the John Day River approximately 13 miles north of Clarno. The fire was reported at 11:53 Tuesday morning to COIDC and by Wednesday morning has consumed 400 acres, burning on BLM and US Forest Service lands. The fire is staffed with a 5-person hand crew, 2 Prineville Hotshot crews, four rappellers, two helicopters, and 3 engines.
King Ranch fire in Baker County now contained
Oregon Department of Forestry crews, with assistance from contract fire cooperators, contained the 33-acre King Ranch fire 11 miles north of Unity at about 4:00 pm Tuesday.
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry
Medford Air tanker base hosts open house Saturday
Public members in the Medford area Saturday morning are invited to an Open House to see how the Oregon Department of Forestry and cooperating agencies fight fire from the air.
ODF is providing an opportunity to see the DC-7 air tanker, attack helicopters and other aircraft that battle fires in southwestern Oregon from 9:00am to Noon, Saturday July 31 at the Medford Air Tanker Base, 600 Nebula Way adjacent to the Rogue Valley International Airport. The event is free.
Check out the SWOFIRE blog for additional information – the event could be potentially subject to cancellation if fire aircraft are needed in an emergency. You can also contact the ODF Medford Unit for questions at (541)664-3328.
Central Oregon continues on alert for wildfires Tuesday
Sources: Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center (COIDC) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).
Wildland firefighters in central Oregon were kept busy by a thunderstorm which placed an estimated 2,000 lightning strikes Monday across the region. Out of this storm Monday, approximately 40 new wildfires were reported to COIDC. Fire crews quickly responded to these new starts and most remained very small. The largest grew to an acre south of China Hat Road near Bessie Butte before being contained.
The National Weather Service has extended a Red Flag Warning for high fire potential due to lightning storms and dry fuels until 11:00 PDT Wednesday evening. Fire crews will be strategically placed around central Oregon to respond quickly to any new fire activity from Monday’s storms, as well as any new starts from the storms expected over the next two days.
Although most of the recent fires across the state have been caused by lightning, several fires responded to by COIDC-dispatched teams have been human-caused. Fire officials want to take the opportunity to remind visitors and residents of central Oregon to be careful with fire. Even with the scattered rain from the recent storms, vegetation remains dry. Make sure to extinguish cigarettes inside vehicles and be sure your campfire is “dead out” before you leave your site.
Kevin Weeks – Oregon Department of Forestry
King Ranch Fire burns in NE Oregon
The 30-acre King Ranch Fire broke out Monday evening in northeastern Oregon near Baker. Oregon Dept. of Forestry firefighters had the fire 90 percent dozer-lined by 8 p.m.
Eight-acre fire burning south of Unity Sunday evening
An eight-acre fire is burning 28 miles south of Unity in the John Day Unit – Central Oregon District. The blaze was reported around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 25. Resources working the fire include: two fire engines, two light air tankers, two helicopters and one five-person crew. A 20-person crew has also been ordered. The initial size estimate has been revised through more accurate mapping.
Miranda Fire near Chiloquin completely lined
The 50-acre Miranda Fire reported Thursday afternoon, July 22, has been completely dozer-lined. Firefighters are currently working spot fires. The Miranda Fire is burning entirely on U.S. Forest Service lands 10 to 15 miles northeast of Chiloquin. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) assisted federal forces with initial attack, fielding a heavy air tanker and a helicopter.
50-acre Miranda Fire burning in Klamath-Lake District
The 50-acre Miranda Fire was reported Thursday afternoon, July 22, burning on U.S. Forest Service lands 10 to 15 miles northeast of Chiloquin. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) responded with one heavy air tanker and a helicopter. Federal resources at the fire include a heavy air tanker, single-engine air tanker, and a lead plane. Initially, the jurisdiction was uncertain. ODF is providing firefighting resources under the “closest-forces” agreement with sister wildland fire agencies. The fire has since been determined to be burning entirely on Forest Service lands.
ODF fire engine crew takes part in highway rescue
Responding to emergency situations is what Oregon Department of Forestry fire engine crew members Penny Lehr and Greg Hart do for a living. So when they came upon a motorcycle accident recently, there was no hesitation. They administered first aid to the victims while paramedics from Bend Fire and Rescue rushed to the scene.
“My crew of two medics had their hands full because of the number of patients involved,” Fire and Rescue Captain Chuck Goss said. “The actions of Greg and Penny facilitated the quick stabilization of these patients. I had additional medic units arriving and each patient was ready for transport with no delay. It could not have happened as smoothly without their help.”
Pistol River Fire burning on South Coast
The 15-acre Pistol River Fire reported Tuesday afternoon is burning nine miles south of Gold Beach along Highway 101. Approx. 10 acres are west of the highway and five acres east. The acreage estimate was reduced from an initial estimate. Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA) is fighting the fire. CFPA has two helicopters, one lead plane, four fire engines, one water tender and two bulldozers on scene. High winds are complicating the firefighting effort. The fire is threatening structures, and a large structural firefighting force is coordinating with CFPA on the suppression effort.
A story about one small fire . . .
The goal of the Oregon Department of Forestry is to suppress 94 percent of all fires started on the forestlands that we protect at at 10 acres or less. Here’s a story about one of them.
A member of the public, and a follower on this blog, was driving west on Highway 34 yesterday when he spotted what appeared to be a small fire and some smoke a couple of miles east of Blackberry Campground. He stopped and reported it at the Campground. This ended up being a fire at MP 18 on our forestlands that are protected out of the Toledo Unit of our West Oregon District. The first responder on this fire was Central Coast Fire and Rescue – also showing our cooperative relationships with other firefighting agencies throughout the state – and it was suppressed after reaching a size of only about 50 feet square. Crews and an engine from our Toledo Unit are out there today finishing mop-up on this fire and will continue to monitor the location in case of any weather-related flare-ups.
This is just one of the many fires throughout the state that our crews and others will respond to over the next few months, doing our best to keep them small with minimal loss to resources and at the least possible cost.
And, as always, to report a fire, dial 9-1-1.
Jeri Chase
Oregon Department of Forestry
PH: 503-945-7201
Fire Duty Pager #503-370-0403
Red Flag Warning for mid-Columbia until 10pm
The National Weather Service office in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for high winds and low humidity within Fire Zones OR-Z609 and OR-Z631, in effect from 9:00 AM until 10:00 PM PDT Monday.
The area of this warning – generally — covers the counties of Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow and portions of Umatilla County (including the cities of Pendleton and Milton-Freewater)
Gusty winds coupled with low humidity are expected to increase the potential danger for fire in the region. A Red Flag Warning is designed to call attention to limited weather conditions of importance that may result in extreme burning conditions. It is issued when it is an on-going event or a fire weather forecaster has a high degree of confidence that Red Flag Warning criteria will occur within 24 hours of issuance.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
Berry Rock and Sprignett Fires have perimeters established
Sunday night there were a combined 148 firefighters manning the Sprignett and Berry Rock Fires. Currently on the 15 acre Sprignett Fire, the area has been 100% lined and 100% mopped up. The Berry Rock Fire has been 100% hand lined and 10% mopped up around the 60 acre perimeter.
Monday there are 207 firefighters working on both fires. There will be one inmate crew, two engines, 12 hand crews and three helicopters on scene.
Brian Ballou
Oregon Department of Forestry
ODF Medford crews continue to battle Berry Rock fire
Five helicopters carrying big buckets of water dumped thousands of gallons onto the Berry Rock Fire today. More than 120 firefighters stirred the wet stuff into the burning limbs and logs, resulting in a significant reduction of open flame within the burned area. Crews also continued digging a fresh fireline, and had 70 percent of the fire ringed by mid-afternoon.
Two airtankers dropped several loads of retardant along the fire’s flanks to slow its spread.
Portable water tanks were flown to the top of the fire area, and the night crews will roll out a network of hoses.
Elsewhere on ODF’s Medford Unit today, crews working on the 15-acre Sprignett Fire reported the fire has a good line all the way around it and that they completed mop-up. Another fire-fighting crew was flown by helicopter to Wilcox Peak to check several small lightning-caused fires. No smokes were reported.
Brian Ballou
Oregon Department of Forestry
Fires in Jackson County continue Sunday
ODF’s Medford Unit is battling the Berry Rock fire Sunday. The fire, part of the Cabin Canyon Complex fires, has consumed an estimated 60 acres. The fire is 40 percent contained on Sunday morning. Eight ODF fire engines are on scene, with attack support from a DC-7 air tanker, 4 bulldozers and several helicopters. Preliminary investigation points to lightning as the cause of the fire.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry
ODF SW Oregon crews mop up lightning fires
Seventeen fires started by Thursday’s thunderstorms have been found on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Jackson County. Below is a summary of the fires:
The 15-acre Sprignett Fire, 5 miles northeast of Wimer, is 100% lined and mop up is underway. Hand crews, helicopters, a retardant plane and dozer were all used Friday.
Berry Rock #1 and Berry Rock #2 have combined since a spot fire joined the two Friday afternoon. The combined 10 acre fire is 3 miles northeast of Trail and has been 100% lined and is now being mopped up.
The 3-acre Camel Hump Fire, 3 miles northeast of Shady Cove, is now mopped up and completely lined.
The 2-acre Obenchain Fire, located 7 miles southwest of Butte Falls, is 100% lined and mopped up.
The Longbranch Fire, 2 acres (revised acreage), located 3 miles west of Shady Cove, is 95% mopped up and lined.
The 6200 Butte Falls Highway Fire, 2 acres in size, is completely lined and mopped up.
The remaining fires are smaller than 1 acre and are lined and mopped up.
A new fire was discovered this morning on Wilcox Butte, 5 miles northwest of Gold Hill. A crew is on-scene, and the fire is estimated at less than 1 acre in size.
More than 170 firefighters worked to put out the fires last night. Suppression resources used on Friday included 10 engines, three bulldozers, seven helicopters and one retardant plane. This morning there are 164 firefighters out on the fires. Their suppression resources include 11 engines, 2 helicopters and one retardant plane.
Today’s forecast is expected to be sunny with temperatures in the mid 90’s. Tonight is expected to be partly cloudy.
Ashley Du Brey
Oregon Department of Forestry
ODF crews responding to fire near Gold Hill in southern Oregon
From SWOFIRE-
An ODF fire crew has been transported by helicopter to the Wilcox Peak Fire, current estimated to be smaller than 1 acre. Fire is about 5 miles northwest of Gold Hill, in the Left Fork Sardine Creek drainage.
Brian Ballou
Oregon Department of Forestry