Thursday, July 31, 2014

Thursday, July 31 fire evening update

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
4550 SW Airport Way
Prineville, OR  97754


Contact:  Media Desk:  541-416-6811           NEW! Email:   Centralorfireinfo@gmail.com
Twitter:  @CentralORfire                              For more information visit: CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com

FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
For Immediate Release:  July 31, 2014 7 p.m.

Thursday, July 31 fire evening update

PRINEVILLE, Ore.—The largest fire in Central Oregon, the Sniption fire, grew to 25,000 acres today.

The Sniption fire is a wind-driven grass fire that originated about 9 miles west of Condon on Tuesday on private property. The fire has since spread south and west onto both private and BLM lands, moving into Thirtymile Canyon and Sniption Canyon.

Crews spent the day fighting the fire with helicopters and air tankers, and multiple engines, keeping the fire west of Highway 19, which connects Condon to Fossil.

Crews conducted burnout operations late into the night yesterday and protected a farm house and other structures from the fire.

A Type 2 Incident Management Team will take command of the fire, using Condon High School as a base camp.

Future updates on the Sniption fire will be available online at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4026/

The dispatch center fielded 18 new smoke reports by 7 p.m. today, most of them south and west of Bend on the Deschutes National Forest.

Last night’s thunderstorms brought significant lightning activity to the east slopes of the Cascades, with scattered lightning across Jefferson and Crook counties.

At the time of this report, thunderstorms have begun moving northeast across Highway 20 southeast of Bend into Prineville BLM-administered lands and the Maury Mountains.

Lightning activity is expected to continue later into the evening with more strikes anticipated.

In the Cascades today, crews responded to multiple small and single-tree fires. Smoke jumpers responded to a half-acre fire on the southwest slopes of Mt. Bachelor and had contained it by early evening.

A 20-acre fire about 4 miles northeast of Crane Prairie Reservoir was 50 percent lined with bulldozers by early evening. Firefighters halted fire spread on that incident yesterday with fire retardant.

Yesterday, helicopters used Crane Prairie Reservoir for bucket drops to fight multiple small fires near the reservoir.

Two new fires were reported in the Ochoco Mountains today. One of them, near Horse Heaven Creek west of Forest Road 4230, was 0.75 acres. Crews suppressed the fire with water drops from a helicopter. Another fire, on Bear Mountain, was contained at less than 0.1 acre.

Two fires southwest of Dayville continued to put up smoke but saw little growth. One fire is reported at 13 acres and another at 40 acres. Crews fought the fires with water drops from a helicopter due to the steep, inaccessible terrain.

Three fires east of Dayville are being managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry as the Haystack Complex. Information on those fires can be found online at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4020/

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms producing abundant lightning. The warning will be in effect through 11 p.m. Saturday, August 2.


Storms that develop are expected to bring with them at least the potential for some rain, with precipitation ranging from a few hundredths of an inch to around a quarter of an inch.

Thursday, July 31 fire update

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
4550 SW Airport Way
Prineville, OR  97754


Contact:  Media Desk:  541-416-6811           NEW! Email:   Centralorfireinfo@gmail.com
Twitter:  @CentralORfire                              For more information visit: CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com

FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
For Immediate Release:  July 31, 2014 1 p.m.

Thursday, July 31 fire update

PRINEVILLE, Ore.—Fire crews continue to make steady progress around Central Oregon responding to numerous lightning-caused fire starts from Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s thunderstorms.

Wednesday evening brought heavy lightning activity across the Deschutes National Forest, especially centered around the Sisters area, which received hundreds of lightning strikes.

Crews spent Thursday morning responding to six new lightning starts in the Sisters area, including at least four that are very visible from Three Creeks Road. All fires are very small and crews continue to suppress them aggressively.

Another start on the southwest slope of Mt. Bachelor is a half-acre in size and continues to put up smoke that is very visible to nearby communities. Smoke jumpers have responded to that fire and are reporting good progress.

A fire discovered yesterday, Incident 590, four miles northeast of Crane Prairie Reservoir, is estimated at 20 acres. Crews attacked that fire with retardant drops yesterday and it has not grown since then.

In all, crews have responded to more than 20 lightning starts within a 10-mile radius of Crane Prairie Reservoir, most of them less than a quarter-acre.

Further east, the Sniption fire, a wind-driven grass fire between Condon and Fossil, has grown to more than 18,000 acres. The fire originated on private land west of Condon before moving south across private and BLM land, and is reportedly threatening homes in the Thirtymile Canyon area.

Two helicopters and two air tankers are deployed, and the fire is still reported west of Highway 19. 


The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms producing abundant lightning. The warning will be in effect through 11 p.m. Saturday, August 2, with daily lightning activity expected.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Wednesday, July 30 evening update



Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
4550 SW Airport Way
Prineville, OR  97754


Contact:  Media Desk:  541-416-6811           NEW! Email:   Centralorfireinfo@gmail.com
Twitter:  @CentralORfire                              For more information visit: CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com

FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
For Immediate Release:  July 30, 2014 8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 30 evening update


PRINEVILLE, Ore.—Fire crews on Wednesday continued to respond to smoke reports and new starts throughout Central Oregon that originated with Tuesday’s thunderstorms and lightning.

Firefighters have a large number of resources available locally and have been able to use them effectively in responding to calls as they come in. 

A wind-driven grass fire west of Condon has been reported at 12,000 acres. The fire originated on private land west of town before moving south across private and BLM land, possibly threatening homes in the Thirtymile Canyon area. Two air tankers are deployed and two more are en route to drop retardant along the fire's eastern flank to prevent it from crossing Highway 19. 

More than 40 new starts from Tuesday’s storm have occurred on the Deschutes National Forest, mostly south and west of Bend. Most starts are less than a quarter-acre and were contained on initial attack.  

Firefighters used helicopters making bucket dips in Crane Prairie Reservoir today to fight multiple small wildfires in the vicinity.  One fire, Incident 590, grew to about 25 acres in steep, sloping timber about 4 miles northeast of Crane Prairie Reservoir before it was significantly curtailed by fire retardant drops from an air tanker.

In all, crews responded to 22 lightning starts within a 10-mile radius of the reservoir.

 At the time of this report, a new thunderstorm has begun moving north and several new lightning starts have been reported on the Crescent Ranger District of Deschutes National Forest. Two small fires are near Windigo Pass and one is just west of Crescent Lake. Smokejumpers are responding to these fires.

Several small starts have also been reported near Three Creeks Road outside of Sisters. Around 10 other starts had been reported by 8 p.m. across the Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District. Initial size up information is not currently available. 

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms producing abundant lightning. The warning will be in effect through 11 p.m. Saturday, August 2, with daily lightning strikes expected.

Lightning Storm Ignites 30 Fires in Central Oregon: Red Flag Warning in Effect

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
4550 SW Airport Way
Prineville, OR  97754


Contact:  Media Desk:  541-416-6811           NEW! Email:   Centralorfireinfo@gmail.com
Twitter:  @CentralORfire                              For more information visit: CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com


FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
For Immediate Release:  July 30, 2014 10 a.m.

Lightning Storm Ignites 30 Fires in Central Oregon:
Red Flag Warning for ‘Abundant Lightning’ in Effect Through Saturday

Prineville—Approximately 700 lightning strikes started over 30 small fires in Central Oregon yesterday afternoon and evening, mostly on the Deschutes National Forest.  Firefighters engaged early and kept nearly all the fires under 1 acre, including one in the critical Bend Municipal Watershed.
Two fires north of the Ochoco National Forest on private land and Prineville BLM land are larger and burning in lighter fuels. One fire 5 miles west of Condon is approximately 1,000 acres with zero containment and the cause of that fire is unknown at this time. The second fire, 2 miles southwest of Dayville, was caused by lightning and has been lined at 16 acres. Firefighters will continue mopping up the fire, which is predominantly on private land.
The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms producing abundant lightning. The warning will be in effect from 1 p.m. today through 11 p.m. Saturday, August 2. 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Logging Unit Fires Update, 7/29

Logging Unit Fires
Fire Information Update


Tuesday, July 29, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. PDT Fire Status Update
Fire
 Acres
% Contained
Total Personnel
Total Logging Unit Fires
10,440*
80
                   1053
Bear Butte 2-North
3803
80

Haily Butte
107

Camas Prairie/Logging Unit
6404

Skyline
116

N. Pinhead
1
  


*Change in acreage due to more accurate mapping

News & Highlights for the Logging Unit Fires

·        Oregon Incident Management Team #1 (Ross Williams) is scheduled for an inbriefing this afternoon in preparation of taking over management of the Logging Unit Fires.

·        Rising temperatures, dropping humidities and the progressive threat of “dry” thunderstorms may increase fire behavior and initial attack activity. Reburn potential within the interior of the fire lines may again result in visible smoke plumes.

·        Potential thunderstorm activity is predicted for the next several days and firefighters will assist the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs with response to new starts as requested.

·        As progress is made towards containment, excess resources continue to demobilize. Motorists traveling on Hwy 26 can expect additional heavy equipment traffic on the roadway.

·       Road and area closures remain in effect for Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs lands (see below).

·       Two interagency hotshot crews, twenty-nine 20-person hand crews, 50 engines, 13 dozers and 21 water tenders, one air attack, two heavy helicopters and one light helicopter are currently assigned. 

·        A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail remains closed with a reroute for hikers.

Logging Unit Operations Summary:
Firefighters continue to make good progress in all areas while maintaining a very good safety record for this incident.

The Skyline and Haily Butte Fires are in patrol status; no initial attack response was required yesterday. With warming conditions, there was single and group tree torching on the N flank of the Camas Prairie Fire and a considerable amount of heat in heavy fuels S of the 205 Road on the NE flank.

Crews will continue with mop up efforts on the Logging Unit/Camas Prairie and Bear Butte 2 Fires, utilizing air support as needed. The contingency line in the 170/174 road system will be completed today. Clear skies will allow good flying conditions for helicopter water bucket support.

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Road & Area Closures:

Closures that apply to public with the exception of local residents:
  • B-180/Hwy 26 Jct
  • B-160/Hwy 26 Jct
  • B-140/Hwy 26 Jct

Closures that apply to all public:
  • B-160 near the B-165 Jct
  • County Line Rd at the end of the pavement
  • J-100 at the Tenino Rd/J-100 Jct

Area Closures:
Log Unit/Camas Prairie Fire Closure
Northern Boundary: From the W-100/W-200/B-200 Jct, west on the W-200 to the W-240 to the S650 to the Reservation boundary.
Eastern Boundary: From the W-100/W-200/B-200 Jct, south on the B-200 to the B-200/B-210 Jct (Trout Lake Rd).
Southern Boundary: From the B-200/P-500/B-210 (Trout Lake Rd) Jct west to Trout Lake.
Bear Butte 2 Fire Closure:
All areas south of Whitewater Canyon to Jefferson Cr/Reservation Boundary.

Logging Unit Fires: Located on Warm Springs Agency approximately 25 miles NW of Warm Springs. Fire is burning in mixed conifer above 3800 feet and ponderosa pine below 3800 feet and grass & brush at lower elevations. Started: July 16, 2014. Cause: Lightning caused. Location: Western boundary of Confederated Tribes of Warms Springs lands.
           
SAFETY CONCERNS: Conditions are changing and posting fire lookouts today is stressed; situational awareness is very important with the changing weather conditions and potential thunderstorms. Weather is getting hotter and drier, there are large patches of unburned fuel and downdrafts can be expected around thunderstorms. Fire weakened trees and snags are a big concern, particularly where firefighters are working on the margins between burned areas and unburned islands. As weather warms, crews are reminded to stay hydrated to prevent heat related illness.

RESOURCE CONCERNS: Main concerns include the threat to commercial timber and natural resources on Warm Springs lands, including old growth trees, pristine spring chinook runs, water quality, wildlife, plant and cultural concerns.

WEATHER: The weather is hot and dry in Central Oregon with above normal temps and poor relative humidity recovery with a chance of high based thunderstorms late Tuesday.  Lightning is more likely than widespread rain. Monsoonal moisture continues to move into the region with increasing chances for isolated thunderstorms Wednesday through Saturday. Temperatures low 80s to low 90s, and max humidities 45-50%. Winds S/SW/W/NW 5-8 MPH. Wednesday partly cloudy with continue warm temps max 87-95 and chance of isolated thunderstorms 25%. Extended forecast Thursday through Saturday shows partly cloudy with a 20% chance of isolated afternoon/evening thunderstorms each day.  Max temps in the upper 80s to mid 90s.

TODAY’S EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR: The forecasted weather will continue to dry available fuels. Reburn potential continues to exist in pockets of unburned areas of needle cast from scorched conifers. Flame lengths of 3-7 feet can be expected in heavier fuels and jackpots. Isolated or group tree torching possible again today. Probability of ignition will increase to 85% during the peak burning hours. A moderate resistance to control is expected on any new starts.

COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Warm Springs Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mt Hood National Forest, Deschutes National Forest, Willamette National Forest and Prineville Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Transportation.