Muskrat Fire Update, 8/8

Muskrat Fire Information Update:  August 9, 2014 8:00 a.m.

For more information:
Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center Contact:  Media Desk:  541-416-6811           Email:   Centralorfireinfo@gmail.com	Twitter:  @CentralORfire                              For more information visit: CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com

Location: ½ mile from Muskrat Lake and 2 miles northwest of Cultus Lake. The fire is located within the Three Sisters Wilderness on the Deschutes National Forest.

Size: Approximately 60 acres

Containment: 0%

Fire Update:

Five helicopters, two type 2 hand crews, several smokejumpers and rappellers are assigned to the fire today and will continue to improve containment lines.  Two Type 2 crews joined the smokejumpers and rappellers yesterday putting in fire line on the flanks of the fire, which grew moderately to 60 acres.

Firefighters are challenged by the rugged terrain of the area within the Three Sisters Wilderness of the Deschutes National Forest so aerial resources will continue to work on the fire today.  Additionally, as of August 9, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. the Cultus Lake Resort and Cultus Lake campground evacuation notice was reduced to a Level 1 (be ready).  All other evacuation notices issued by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office remain in place.

Friday evening the Color Country Type 3 Team (Jaca) took over command of the fire and will work diligently for rapid containment. 

Evacuations:

Level III (required evacuation of the area): Areas on the west and north shores of Cultus Lake including: West Cultus Campground, Big Cove Campground, Little Cove Campground, and back country areas and trails north of Cultus Lake including Corral Swamp, Winopee Lake, Muskrat Lake and Teddy Lake.

Level I (be ready):  Cultus Lake Resort, Cultus Lake campground, and Cultus Day Use Area.

Emergency Area Closure: An emergency closure of areas and trail in the vicinity of the fire was enacted on August 8, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. 

Closed National Forest Service System Trails include:

·         Deer Lake Trail #6 from the Deer Lake Trailhead to the junction with Many Lakes Trail #15

·         Corral Swamp Trail #8 in its entirety

·         Teddy Lake Trail #5 in its entirety

·         Many Lakes Trail #15 in its entirety

·         Winopee Lake Trail #16 in its entirety

·         Metolius Windigo Trail #99 from the junction with  Corral Swamp Trail #8 to the junction with Senoj Lake Trail #41.1

The Pacific Crest Trail remains open.

Closed National Forest Service Lands include: Lands generally described as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 to the West; Winnopee Lake to the junction of the Corral Swamp Trail #8 and FSR 4628 to the North, Cultus Lake to FSR 600 to the South and Corral Swamp Trailhead to Winnopee Lake Trailhead to the East.