MEDIA RELEASE: Central Oregon Fire Management Evening Update - August 31

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (541) 316-7711

COIDC Evening Update, August 31

Redmond, OR – No new fires were reported today. Air quality conditions improved throughout much of the area today, but there is still expected to be smoke impacts over the coming days due to the number of fires burning across the northwest. The weather forecast indicates that the relative humidity will drop into the single digits on Friday, and Saturday will be extremely warm and dry. Please remember that there is a complete burn ban and an Industrial Fire Precaution Level IV on federal lands in Central Oregon.

McKay Fire - Located east of Hwy 97 and north of county road 21 near McKay Butte, is 1221 acres and 50% contained. There was a spot across a containment line last night, which has been mopped up and contained. Mop up along all areas of the fire will continue tomorrow. Firefighters are requesting that the public stay out of the fire area between Forest Service roads 9735 and 9720. There are currently 12 engines, 2 dozers, 3 IA Crews, and 3 water tenders working on this fire for a total of 119 personnel.

Nash Fire - Due to the Nash Fire burning in the Willamette National Forest, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level Two evacuation notification for the Elk Lake and Hosmer Lake Areas and a Level One notification for areas surrounding Lava Lake. Currently, the Cascade Lakes Hwy, FS 46, remains open.
Level Two: Elk Lake Resort, Elk Lake Campground (CG), Point CG, Little Fawn CG, Mallard Marsh CG, Sunset View Day Use Area, Beach Day Use Area, and Quinn Meadows Horse Camp.
Level One: Lava Lake Resort, Lava Lake CG, and Little Lava Lake CG.

Level One (pre-evacuation) means “Be Ready” for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. Level Two evacuation means “Be Set” to evacuate. You must prepare to leave at a moment’s notice. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area. For information on these evacuation notifications, you can call the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-693-6911.

For information on the Nash Fire, call the Willamette wildfires information line at 541-719-8371.

Milli Fire – Located west of Sisters is currently 22,190 acres and 44% contained. Level One and Two evacuations are still in place for residential areas outside of Sisters and a closure is in place for the area surrounding the Milli Fire. For more information on the Milli Fire, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5517 or call the Milli Fire Information Line at 541-719-8135.

For information on air quality, visit http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/ or http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
For road conditions and closures due to wildfires, visit tripcheck.com.

For more information, follow us at http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com/ or on Twitter at @CentralORFire. For the Central Oregon Fire Information hotline, please call 541-316-7711.

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