Friday, June 13, 2014

6/13/14 9:00 #TwoBullsFire Morning Update

NEWS RELEASE

Two Bulls Fire Morning Update

NOTE: THERE WILL NO LONGER BE AN EVENING UPDATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       
June 13, 2014    9:00 a.m.  

Twitter: @twobullsfire, @CentralORFire#twobullsfire
Facebook: Two Bulls Fire- Bend, Oregon        
Information Phone: 541-389-6421                                         
GPS: 44 6' 48", 121 28' 2"
                                                                                                      

As firefighters expand the mop-up zone around the fire, the current Incident Management Team prepares to transition command of the Two Bulls Fire back to local control forces.  This transition time is an organized process to account for equipment, package documentation, and send excess resources home for needed rest and preparation for future events.  The "hand-off" to local forces should occur on Saturday, June 14.    

Many local residents reported smoke plumes yesterday.  Gusty winds created swirls of ash which mimicked smoke columns.  Residents can be assured that firefighters are patrolling in these areas and continue mopping up to create a 300-500 foot buffer zone around the fire perimeter.  

State Forester Doug Decker and Fire Protection Division Chief Nancy Hirsch visited firefighters at camp today. They also made a visit to the Joint Information Center (JIC) which coordinated fire information among all involved agencies and kept the local community informed. Decker commented, "I was pleased to see and impressed by the immediate and direct action on the fire, both during initial attack and in the days that followed. Those combined efforts, in the face of some very challenging fuels and burning conditions, stopped the fire. I was also struck by the amazing outpouring of community support. It really made a difference for the team and was an expression of the high level of cooperation that has occurred throughout this incident."   

The Two Bulls Fire is 70 percent contained and has reached $4.9 million.

Resources Assigned to the #TwoBullsFire

27 Crews and support personnel
2 helicopters
36 engines
3 dozers
13 water tenders

Evacuation Levels: The Skyliners Rd. area remains at a Level I evacuation alert. No other evacuation levels remain in effect.

Closures:  Forest Service Roads 4601, 4602, 4603, and 4606 remain closed.  The Phil's Trail Mountain bike area is open.

Donations

On behalf of the firefighters, the Incident Management Team and all the cooperators want to thank the public for their generosity. The Two Bulls Fire incident has been asked by Bend residents and surrounding communities what donations can be offered to the firefighters to demonstrate their appreciation. If you would like to make a monetary donation, we encourage you to consider the local Red Cross Chapter www.redcross.org/or/bend/ways-to-donate or 541-382-2142, or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation at www.wffoundation.org, which contributes to injured or fallen firefighters and their families.  Helping the foundation helps the firefighter community.

Additional Information

The fire is being managed by Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2 (Incident Commander, Chris Cline). Cooperators include the Oregon Department of Forestry, US Forest Service, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, City of Bend, and Cascade Timberlands LLC.

News reporters should report to the Incident Command Post located in the field across from 63685 Johnson Road.  Public Information Officers will be available for interviews; media is required to check in with Information immediately upon arrival.  Media personnel that would like a guided tour of the fire need to arrive with full nomex, hard hat, leather boots and a fire shelter; the fire camp does not have enough equipment to accommodate those that do not have protective clothing. 

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