Boxcar Fire and Jack Knife Fire Update 6/25

June 25, 2018  9:00 a.m. Update

 

Boxcar Fire:   95,850 acres            Containment: 47%           Reported: June 21, 7:48 am         Cause: Lightning

Jack Knife Fire:  14,772 acres       Containment: 65%           Reported: June 22, 8:11 am         Cause: Lightning

 

Maupin, Oregon – Firefighters have accomplished significant containment on both the Boxcar and Jack Knife Fires, burning south and east of Maupin in Wasco and Sherman Counties.  Estimated containment for the Boxcar Fire is 47% and for the Jack Knife Fire is 65%.

 

The Boxcar Fire is now 95,850 acres. Yesterday heavy smoke lingered in the area due to an inversion holding warm air and smoke low to the ground. Smoke increased midafternoon due to fire activity on the Fire’s eastern flank between Highways 197 and 97.  Fire crossed over the dozer line and an additional spot fire was detected in the area.  Aerial resources assisted firefighters with water and retardant drops to suppress this burning. Those sites will be tied back into the main fire containment perimeter today.  On the southern edge of the Boxcar Fire, firefighters burned out remaining fuels to increase containment along South Junction Road and the Deschutes River corridor. Night shift crews monitored the south and east portions of the fire, continued protection of structures, and accomplished an additional ½ mile of burning-out along the River corridor, leaving approximately one mile to complete today.  Prineville District BLM River Rangers will transport firefighters via jet boat to otherwise inaccessible areas to continue to secure the fire’s edge along the river.  Aerial resources are available to the fire as needed.

 

The Jack Knife Fire grew to 14,772 acres as ground crews made great progress burning to containment lines and continuing to secure the Fire’s north and south edges down to the John Day River. Firefighters will be working throughout the day to cool hot spots on the perimeter and improve containment.

 

Today’s weather will be cooler (78 degrees) with higher relative humidity (30%). Strong, gusty winds out of the north/northwest are expected in the fire area and could push Boxcar Fire activity towards the east. Crews will continue efforts to contain and secure this perimeter, keeping the Fire west of Bakeoven Road.

 

As a reminder, Deschutes River recreation sites are open to the public.  Recreationists are encouraged to use caution in the fire area. Fire-blackened sites can still contain hot spots from burning stumps or heated rocks.  Rocks that have rolled down from steep canyon slopes have been reported on the road.

 

Closures:

·         On the John Day River, river miles 68 through 55 are closed to camping.

·         A Level 1 Evacuation Notification is in place for the area bounded by Hwy 97, Hwy 216, the Deschutes River, and the South Junction Road. Residents are encouraged to be aware of the threat in their area and consider how they would evacuate should conditions change.

 

Cold trailing on the Jack Knife Fire perimeter

Firefighters on the Jack Knife Fire are cold trailing the perimeter to check for hot spots. Cold trailing means firefighters are carefully inspecting and feeling the ground with the back of their hands for heat to detect any fire, digging out every live spot, and trenching any live edge. (Photo by Roland Lane).

6/24/2018 Photos of Harpham Flat Recreation Site and Boat Launch in Boxcar Fire taken 6/23/2018

6/24/2018 Graham Fire Update 8:30 a.m.

NEWS RELEASE

Graham Fire June 24, 2018   8:30 A.M.  Update

 

 As fire suppression tactics have increased containment and lowered the risk to structures, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s resources will be released around noon today.  The Oregon Department of Forestry team will remain with local resources to continue mopping up and monitoring any remaining hot spots. 

Resources on the fire today are: 7 Hand crews, 6 Helicopters, 33 Engines, 1 Dozer, 8 Water tenders and 395 personnel.  The estimated containment is 60% and 2,143 acres.  

Today’s warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity may cause the fire to show more activity.  Fire fighters are seeing juniper trees torch in the interior of fire.  Air attack resources are available today to drop water on those trees if needed.

Lake Chinook Chief Don Colfels said, “Given the intensity of the fire and the strong winds driving it east, the fire had potential to leave dozens of families without a home today. Thanks to the work of our local crews, the support of other Central Oregon Agencies and state support from ODF and OSFM we were able to bring this fire to the more manageable state it is today. Additionally, because this community has worked hard to create defensible spaces many homes have been completely burned around and left intact”.

A public meeting is planned for Sunday, June 24 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chinook Store, 8241 SW Jordan Road in Culver. Residents are invited to hear from local officials to learn more about the fire and what they can do to protect their homes and lands in the future. 

Public information contact is Ashley Lertora; 503-338-8442.

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6/24/2018 Graham Fire Community Meeting Sunday, June 24 6 p.m.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

June 24, 2018

 

CONTACTS:     Marcus Kauffman 541-580-7480

marcus.kauffman@oregon.gov

 

                        Ashley Lertora 503-338-8442

                        Ashley.M.Lertora@oregon.gov

 

WHO: Oregon Incident Management Team 2, ODF Central Oregon, Lake Chinook Fire, Jefferson County Sherriff and local elected officials (invited)

 

WHAT: Graham Fire Community Meeting

 

WHEN: SUNDAY JUNE 24, 2018  6:00-7:00 PM

 

WHERE: CHINOOK STORE, 8241 SW JORDAN RD, CULVER OR

 

WHY: The Graham Fire Incident Management Team will hold a community meeting to discuss current fire status. Residents are invited to hear from fire managers and local officials about the fire and learn what they can do to protect their homes and lands. Fire managers will be on hand to explain planned operations and describe what to expect. Media are welcome to attend.

 

For more information visit:

 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5855/

Central Oregon Fire Info : http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ODFCentralOregon/

 

 

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Good Progress Being Made to Secure Firelines on Boxcar and Jack Knife Fires

Maupin, Oregon – Firefighters, with assistance from Rural Fire Protection Association (RFPA), local ranchers, and aerial resources, completed several burnout operations yesterday, halting fire spread in several areas. 

The Boxcar Fire is estimated to be 87,000 acres, including the previously referenced “South Junction Fire” that has merged into it.  A burnout operation was completed along Bakeoven Road and fire line was constructed on the southeast edge of Maupin using bulldozers.  Air tankers laid down retardant and helicopters dropped water on hot spots to help secure these lines. Fire backed down to the Deschutes River access road on the western flank of the fire, crossing the road and burning into the Harpham Flat campground and day use area. There was no infrastructure damage to Harpham, although visitors should use caution and avoid burned areas as there could be hot ashes left by burned stumps or rocks. Firefighters were able to halt fire spread to the south by burning along the South Junction Road from Shaniko Junction to South Junction Campground on the Deschutes River. They were also able to use Highway 197 as a containment line from Shaniko Junction to Criterion, keeping the fire west of the highway as the South Junction Fire joined the Boxcar. The RFPA continues working to stop progression of the fire to the east, preserving important grazing resources.

Firefighters on the Jack Knife Fire, approximately 10,000 acres, 11 miles southeast of Grass Valley, were able to stop eastward progress of the fire at the John Day River. They have constructed and are improving containment lines at Wilson Point on the north edge of the Fire and Adobe Point on the south.  The Fire’s western edge is bounded by disked agricultural fields.

Today’s weather will be hot and dry with temperatures in the mid-90s and relative humidity below 20%.  Although tomorrow’s weather is forecast to be much cooler (70’s), the weather change will arrive with strong 20-25 mph North-Northeast winds blowing from about 10 pm and through the night.

Closures:
• The Deschutes River remains open for boating and recreation. Camping is discouraged between Trout Creek and Maupin including the following camping and day use sites: Harpham Flat, Long Bend, Wapinitia and Devil’s Canyon. Boat ramps are still open for launching and takeout, but vehicles should not be parked at the launch sites and a shuttle service should be utilized. 
• On the John Day River, river miles 68 through 55 are closed to camping.
• Level 1 evacuation is in place for the area bounded by Hwy 97, Hwy 216, the Deschutes River, and the South Junction Road.  Residents are encouraged to be aware of the threat in their area and prepare for evacuation should conditions change.

6/23/2018 7 pm Graham Fire Update

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

Graham Fire June 23, 2018   7:00 P.M.  UPDATE

 

Fire fighters continue to make progress in extinguishing hot spots around the perimeter of the fire.  Today they focused their attention on the first, tomorrow they will work in another fifty feet. Higher temperatures and lower humilities are forecasted in the coming days and could make the fire more active.

The Jefferson Sheriff’s office will lower the evacuation level from Level 3 (GO) to Level 2 (READY) status for the Three River’s Subdivision effective today at 6:00 p.m.   Residents will be allowed to come and go but should remain aware that fire conditions can rapidly change.   

A public meeting is planned for Sunday, June 24 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chinook Village Store.  Local residents are invited to hear from local officials to learn more about what they can do to protect their homes and lands. 

Public information contact is Ashley Lertora 503-338-8442

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