6-29-15 Sugarloaf Wildfire Update

Oregon Department of Forestry
Incident Command Team 1
John Buckman, Incident Commander

FIRE AT A GLANCE
DAY SHIFT
4,612 acres
20 percent contained
Lightning-caused

Resources:
6 crews
20 engines
3 bulldozers
2 water tenders
203 personnel

Contact: Brian Ballou, Information Officer, (541) 621-4156

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the Sugarloaf Fire at 6:00 a.m. today. The team is working for the Bureau of Land Management, the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and ODF’s Central Oregon District. The fire is located approximately 8 miles north of Dayville. The Sugarloaf Fire’s incident command post is located at the Dayville School.

A few rain showers associated with a passing thunderstorm have slowed fire activity this morning, but much work remains to be done to contain the Sugarloaf Fire. The primary vegetation fuels inside the fire perimeter are grasslands and juniper trees in the low country and pine and fir stringers on the upper slopes.
The greatest fire activity is along the northeast flank of the fire, and the south and southwest flanks are relatively cool.

This incident is being managed as a full suppression fire. Efforts are being made to contain the fire and minimize private acreage burned. Fireline construction continues along the north flank. Engines are patrolling the perimeter roads and the Dick Creek Road, which cuts through the middle of the burned area, to extinguish hot spots near structures.

Approximately 12 structures in the Dick Creek Road area were threatened by the fire and some residents left the area on Sunday. Residents have since returned home. No primary structures burned.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the fire area today. Thunderstorms may develop again through the afternoon and bring scattered showers. Wind is expected to be 10 mph from the northwest, but may be stronger and gustier around thunderstorms.

Sensitive sites within the fire area include nationally recognized fossil beds, anadromous fish spawning beds and golden eagle nesting sites. Firefighters are using care to minimize suppression impacts in these areas while they take the actions necessary to contain the fire.

Hazards confronting firefighters include rattlesnakes, lightning, and hot, dry weather. High winds around thunderstorms may cause erratic fire behavior and rapid movement.