This blog is cooperatively maintained and posted by those Central Oregon Agencies involved in emergency response, to serve the communities information needs.
Saturday, June 23, 2018
6/23/2018 Noon Boxcar, South Junction and Jack Knife Fires Update
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Firefighting efforts
being coordinated to safely accomplish control and minimize acres burned
Maupin, Oregon – Hundreds of lightning strikes on June 20 and 21 caused
nearly 70 wildfires throughout central Oregon. The Boxcar and South Junction
Fires are in Wasco County near Maupin. The Jack Knife Fire is in Sherman
County, along the John Day River northeast of Kent. Initial attack resources
from the Central Oregon Fire Management Service, the Rural Fire Protection
District, Maupin Fire Department, Mt. Hood National Forest, The Dalles Fire
Department, and local ranchers have been fighting these fires since their
detection. Strategic use of retardant and heavy helicopters has protected
values at risk. As the fires have grown to large sizes and complexity, a Type 2
Incident Management Team (Northwest Incident Management Team #13) has taken
over command of these fires as of 6:00 a.m. today.
Boxcar Fire Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5862/
Estimated Acreage: 23,000 acres
Containment: 10% Reported June 21, 07:48 am, lightning
The Boxcar Fire is the largest
of the three incidents with an estimated 23,000 acres burned. Firefighters have
been challenged by gusty winds which have pushed the grass and brush fire south
and east. Hwy 197 is closed between milepost 67 (the intersection with Hwy 97)
and Maupin.
·
In the Maupin area, firefighters will be
anchoring south of Maupin to build and secure containment lines to the north
and east.
·
On the western flank, the fire is approaching
the Deschutes River south of Maupin. Firefighters will be looking for places to
safely engage to protect river recreation, private properties and cultural
sites.
·
Firefighters engaging the Boxcar Fire on the
east flank will work to stop easterly progression by using Highway 97 as
containment line.
South Junction Fire
Estimated Acreage: 5,000 acres
Containment: 0% Reported June 21, 3:00 pm, lightning
·
This fire has made significant runs to the north
and south from its origin west of Hwy 197 approximately 18 miles north of
Madras.
·
It will likely join the Boxcar Fire today and,
after that happens, both will be referred to as the “Boxcar Fire”.
·
Firefighters are coordinating with local ranch resources
on containment lines.
Jack Knife Fire Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5864/
Estimated Acreage: 2,000 acres
Containment: 0 Reported June 22, 8:11 am, Lightning
This fire is burning 5 miles
northeast of Kent and 11 miles southeast of Grass Valley.
·
The Jack Knife Fire has reached the John Day
River in several locations. Fire has spread north to Wilson Point and south to
Adobe point.
·
Approximately 10 ranches and outbuildings are
scattered along the fire perimeter. Structure protection measures are in place
for ranch homes and historical structures along the river.
·
Fire officials will scout opportunities for
containment on this fire today.
Closures:
·
Hwy 197 is closed from south of Maupin from the
town of Maupin to milepost 67, the junction with Hwy 97.
·
People can still use the Deschutes River for
boating and recreation. Camping is being discouraged between Trout Creek and
Maupin. This involves Harpham Flat, Longbend, Wapinita and Devil’s Camp. Boat
ramps are still open for launching and takeout, but vehicles cannot be parked
at the launch sites and a shuttle service should be utilized.
·
Periodically the River may be closed by local
Rangers in order to facilitate helicopter water dips.
·
On the John Day River, river miles 68 through 55
are closed to camping.
6/23/2018 Graham Fire Update
Date: June 23, 2018 at 10:00 A.M.
Release: Immediate
Contact: Ashley Lertora, 503-338-8442, Justin de Ruyter, 360-431-3869
The fire burned two residential structures and five out buildings, but
many more were saved by local firefighting resources. Further information
regarding structure losses is not available at this time.
Due to ongoing fire danger Level 3 evacuations remain in effect for the
Three Rivers subdivision. A staffed road block has been established near the
Chinook Village Store restricting access to all except emergency personnel and
credentialed media. For further information regarding evacuations, please refer
to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Facebook site or call Jefferson County
Sheriff at 541- 475-6520.
Interested media are to report to the Lake Chinook Fire Station at 11700
Graham Rd where a Public Information Officer will be available 10:30 am—7:00 pm.
There are three structure task forces from Clackamas, Marion, Washington,
Lane and Multnomah counties and have been mobilized under the Conflagration Act
and will provide 24-hour structure protection threatened by the fire. The fire
is burning on private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry and Lake
Chinook Fire and Rescue, as well as Bureau of Land Management ownership.
The cause of the fire is attributed to the lightning storm that passed through
the area last Wednesday.
Updated information for the Graham Fire is available on InciWeb https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5855/
###
Friday, June 22, 2018
Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch - Fire Update June 22, 9:15 pm
A Day of Rapid Change for Fires in Central Oregon
With two large fires burning in Central Oregon at the start of the day firefighting resources were busy, but with continued initial attack activity and the addition of two new large fires during the day many additional resources were engaged in responding to incidents. A Type 2 federal team (Gales) has been assigned to manage the Boxcar, South Junction and Jack Knife fires. The team will take over management from the Type 3 and 4 teams managing the fires at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Fire Summaries
Boxcar Fire:
- Fire began 3 miles south of Maupin, OR
- 23,000 acres (10% containment)
- Deschutes River Access Road is closed and Highway 197 remains closed south of Maupin to the junction with Highway 97.
- 86 personnel currently assigned to the incident. People have been asked to stay out of the Wapinita, Harpham Flat, Longbend and Devel's Canyon campgrounds.
- Burn out operations off of roads are helping to improve and hold lines around the fire.
South Junction Fire:
- Located approximately 18 miles north of Madras, OR.
- The fire is 5,000 acres and growing with the fire continuing to push both north and south. Rural Fire Protection Associations and local ranchers are actively engaged in fighting the fire along with federal and state resources. Large pockets of fuel are within the perimeter of the fire.
- The fire is a threat to the railroad on the west, Highway 197 on the east and South Junction campground on the southwest.
Jack Knife Fire:
- Located 5 miles NE of Kent, Oregon.
- 2,000 acres (0% containment)
- 10 single residences are threatened and the fire has reached the John Day River on the west side of the river.
- 3 hand crews and 2 engines are assigned to the fire with air tankers doing retardant drops. Retardant is helping to keep the fire on the west side of the river and will continue to be used to prevent the spread of the fire to the east side of the river.
Graham Fire:
- Located 15 miles north of Sisters, Oregon.
- 2,055 acres (50% containment)
- 100 structures threatened in the Three Rivers Subdivision and it remains under a Level 3 (GO) evacuation order by the Jefferson County Sheriff.
- 136 personnel are assigned to the fire.
- Burn out operations will continue during the evening to secure containment lines around the fire.
Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch - Fire Update, June 22, 3:45 pm
Fire activity continues to be brisk across Central Oregon as firefighters addressed two large incidents, responded to other emerging incidents and continue to put out small lightning-caused fires.
Boxcar Fire
The Boxcar Fire, which started 3 miles south of Maupin is now estimated to be 18,000 acres and is burning primarily in brush and grass. For most of the day the fire moved south and east away from Maupin and the Deschutes River corridor; however, around 3 p.m. the fire jumped Bakeoven Canyon and was moving back north and west toward Maupin threatening homes. Dozer line has been put in on the top of canyon protecting recreation areas along the Deschutes River.
Campers have been asked to leave four campgrounds (Wapinita, Harpham Flat, Longbend, and Devil's Canyon) located south of Maupin.The campgrounds are not officially closed; however, in the interest of safety people are being asked to not camp in the area at this time. At this moment, rafters can still access Harpham Flat to launch boats into the river, but depending on wind direction people need to be prepared with
Highway 197 from the junction with Highway 97 is closed up to Maupin. The public should go to the Oregon Department of Transportation's Trip Check www.tripcheck.com website to get the latest updates. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) will begin managing the fire after a transition with the Type 3 Team currently on the fire.
Graham Fire
The Graham Fire, four miles south of the Metolius River arm of Lake Billy Chinook, near Culver, Oregon. The fire is burning primarily on private land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Lake Chinook Fire and Rescue. The fire is still estimated to be 2,000 acres. Numerous homes are threatened in the Three Rivers Subdivision and a Level 3 (GO) is still in place by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department for the subdivision. For more information on the Graham Fire people can go to inciweb.nwcg.gov.
People still can access the Forest Service's Monty and Perry South campgrounds on the Metolius arm if they come from Camp Sherman along the Metolius River rather than from coming through Culver and Lake Billy Chinook17.
Jack Knife
The Jack Knife Fire was reported late this morning and is burning in an area 3 miles west of the John Day River and 5 miles northeast of Kent, Ore. The approximately 1,000 acre fire is burning in grass and brush. Aerial resources, primarily air tankers, are helping with the fire along with 3 engines, 3 smokejumpers and a 20-person handcrew. There are several structures, primarily outbuildings, threat
Several small fires were reported near Crane Prairie, west of Bend. The fires were responded to and were contained.
6/22/2018 10 am Graham Fire Update
News
Release: Graham Fire
Friday
June 21, 2018
10:00
a.m.
Contact: Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry
541-263-0661
Justin Deruyter, Oregon State Fire Marshall
360-431-3869
Residents of
Three Rivers subdivision are still under evacuation due to the Graham
Fire. ODF Team 2, a type 1 team, will be
taking over command tonight at 1800 from the local Type 3 Team, Incident
Commander Caldwell. Incident Command Post will be set up at the Sisters Rodeo
Grounds. The Oregon State Fire Marshall
Green Team will be handling structure protection. The fire is estimated to be approximately
2,000 acres at this time.
The Graham
Fire was reported late Thursday afternoon, a wind-driven fire burning in brush,
timber and grass south of the Metolius River arm of Lake Billy Chinook near
Culver, Oregon. The fire has burned
private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry and Lake Chinook Fire
and Rescue, as well as Bureau of Land Management ownership. It is estimated
around 2,000 acres.
Residents of
the Three Rivers subdivision are under a level three (GO!) evacuation. Residents and the public are reminded not to
cross roadblocks into evacuation areas. Some
structures may have been damaged by the fire, but due to safety concerns
firefighters have not been able to investigate all areas of the fire. For further information regarding
evacuations, please refer to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Facebook site or
call Jefferson County Sheriff at 541-475-6520.
Oregon State Fire Marshall is working on assessing properties within the
fire boundary.
Multiple
resources are on scene and firefighters will continue to mop up around
structures, flank the edge of the fire and try to contain the fire that is
pushing to the northeast through Big Canyon. Additional resources have been ordered and are
arriving today. Warm temperatures are
anticipated in the next few days along with the return of windy conditions
which will continue to push firefighters working on the fire.
Updated
information for the Graham Fire is available on InciWeb-https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5855/
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