6/12/14 8:30 am Final Central Oregon Fire Information Center Update

CENTRAL OREGON

FIRE INFORMATION CENTER

6/12/14 8:30 am Morning Update

www.centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fire Information 541-550-4888 (until noon Thursday) or 541-389-6421 (ongoing)

This is the last Central Oregon Fire Information Center update from the Joint Information Center (JIC). The JIC will be closed at noon, then, all Two Bulls Fire updates will be sent from the fire Incident Command Post. You can ask to have updates emailed, but we highly recommend just watching the blog or Facebook page as those will be the most current. The public phone lines in the JIC, will not be staffed after noon today. Please call the ICP directly at 541-389-6421.                                                                                                                                        

Current Fire Information

More than 630 firefighters rolled out of the Two Bulls Fire Camp this morning, rumbling to their fireline assignments in crew-carrying vans, pickup trucks, fire engines and water tenders. The men and women assigned to fight the fire had gotten out of their tents at 4:30 a.m., breakfasted on chorizo sausage, fried potatoes, beans, tortillas and salsa, swallowed countless gallons of coffee, juice and milk, and reported to morning briefing at 5:30. 

At the briefing, the firefighters crowded around a small stage where a large map of the fire was stapled to a sheet of plywood, and heard the day shift operations chief outline their work objectives. Most of the firefighters would be spending their day on the Two Bulls Fire's west and southwest flanks. Their mission was to extinguish every lick of flame, every smoke within 300 feet of the fireline – and then go farther.

The mission to steadily increase the dead-out ring of black around the fire decreases the chance that the fire could escape, should some places inside the heart of the Two Bulls Fire rekindle during the afternoon when strong winds (gusts to 25 mph) are expected.

Their job is to make sure the 6,908-acre fire will grow no larger.The Two Bulls Fire is 55 percent contained, and more than $4.3 million has been spent on the suppression campaign.

Resources Assigned to the Two Bulls Fire Day Shift

•           638 personnel

•           3 helicopters

•           46 engines

•           11 dozers

•           15 water tenders

Fire Investigation

The Multi-Agency Investigation Team announced the reward, for any information citizens can provide on the start of the Two Bulls Fire, has climbed to $31,500.  The reward for any information on this fire that leads to the successful conviction of the person or persons responsible increased due to a recent donation from Eric and Robin Coats, of Shevlin Sand and Gravel, who contributed $5,000.

Contributors to the reward fund are: Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Deschutes County Admin/BOCC, City of Bend, Taylor Northwest, Smith Properties and Friends (Dr. James Verheyden, M. D., Kevin Spencer, The Garcia Family), Dalton Baarstad/ Brennan Venturi (Vape Game, LLC) Eric and Robin Coats (Shevlin Sand and Gravel) and Cascade Timberlands.

Please call with any information about activity, individuals, or vehicles seen on Cascade Timberlands property in the days leading up to the fire. For information on reward contributions please contact Captain Shane Nelson, 541-617-3386 or by email, shanen@deschutes.org .

Evacuation Information

The Skyliners Road area outside the City of Bend, is now a Level I.

• This is now the only Evacuation Level Notice in effect.

Evacuation Notices in effect are lifted for the following areas:

·         The Saddleback Subdivision area

·         The area located south of Shevlin Park Road, west of Mt. Washington Drive, and north of Century Drive.

·         The remainder of Northwest Crossing (east of Mt. Washington Drive), and the area that includes residents north of Shevlin Park and west of Mt. Washington Drive.

There will be additional Sheriff's Office and U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement patrols working this week and through the weekend. Deschutes County provides this link to an interactive map that shows the current Evacuation Notice Levels: https://maps.deschutes.org/custom/simple/index.html.

USFS Closure Reduced; Most of Phil's Trail Area Reopens

At 12:01a.m. Thursday, the Deschutes National Forest Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District reduced the area closure that has been in place since Sunday in response to the Two Bulls Fire west of Bend, reopening most of the popular Phil's Trail mountain biking area. The closure includes all roads and trails within the closure area.

Forest Service Roads that remain closed surrounding the closure area include:

Forest Roads

·         Forest Road 4601 North of the junction with Forest Road 4603

·         Forest Road 4602 North of the junction with Forest Road 4601

·         Forest Road 4606 North of the junction with Forest Road 4601 and South of the junction with Forest Road 4608.

 Forest Service System Trails

·         Mrazek Trail No. 32

·         Tumalo Creek Trail No. 49

·         Farewell Trail No. 26

For more information, contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at 541-383-4000.

Fire Danger

We are experiencing fuel moistures and conditions that we normally don't have until July. This has raised the potential for extreme fire behavior in our area. A good way to thank the firefighters fighting the Two Bulls Fire is to help prevent the next fire. With the increased fire danger in our area already, Bend Fire Department reminds residents and guests alike to be especially aware of the fire dangers associated with the use of fireworks. Improper and illegal use of fireworks can use result in damaging fires and injuries but can also cost you.

Citations for illegal fireworks use, possession by those under 18 years of age and reckless burning will cost you fines and confiscation of fireworks. Fireworks go on sale in Oregon on June 23 each year. There are many retailers that you can purchase legal fireworks from in the Bend area. Buying fireworks from a permitted facility helps ensure you are buying legal and compliant fireworks for use in Bend and throughout Oregon. Fireworks purchased in one state may not be legal in another state.  Samples of legal vs illegal fireworks can be found at www.bendoregon.gov/fire.​ Contact your local fire department or forest protection agency for information on whether fireworks are allowed in that area or not.

BE PREPARED: 


·​Only use fireworks that are LEGAL FOR USE IN OREGON

·Always read the directions of the firework you are about to use

·Set up a bucket of water or have a hose ready to douse any misfired fireworks or fires

·Soak used fireworks in water prior to disposing of them



BE SAFE:

·        Only use fireworks outdoors, on a non-combustible surface keeping away from cars, buildings, and combustible vegetation

·        Never alter fireworks or make your own


·        Never pick up or try to re-light a "dud"



BE RESPONSIBLE:

·Store fireworks, lighters and matches out of reach of children


·In Bend it's unlawful for a person under the age of 18 years to sell, keep or offer for sale, expose for sale, possess, use, explode or have exploded any fireworks within the City.

·Supervise the area where fireworks are being used and make sure everyone is kept a safe distance away from the fireworks


·Alcohol use can contribute to an even greater risk of injury or fire when combined with fireworks use, please be responsible.

Sites for Fire Information

Information Phone at the fire ICP: 541-389-6421 

Note: Thursday at noon, this will be the only public & media information phone line.

Sheriff's Emergency Information phone: 541-550-4850 Note: This is a recorded line

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/TwoBullsFire, www.facebook.com/Deschutes.County,
TWITTER: @twobullsfire, @desnatlforest, @deschutescounty, @OchocoNatForest, @CentralORFire, #twobullsfire

BLOG: www.CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com