Central Oregon Fire Update, 10:00 a.m. 7/16

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

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

FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
For Immediate Release:  July 16, 2014, 10:00 a.m.

Central Oregon MORNING Fire Update

Central Oregon –Firefighters are preparing for the afternoon wind event which, coupled with sustained low relative humidity and high temperatures, will likely increase fire activity in the already critically dry fuels. The National Weather Service in Pendleton issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity from 2 p.m. Wednesday through 11 p.m. Friday.

Fire management personnel continue to work on several wildfires burning throughout Central Oregon.  Resources from the Oregon Department of Forestry, BLM, and the Forest Service, and numerous contract companies are engaged throughout the area and adjacent areas.

Fire Name	Location	Size	Activity
Bridge 99 Complex	Bridge 99 - ½ mile east of Lower Bridge Campground, 9 miles north of Camp Sherman off of FS Rd. 1490 #318/Bear Butte Border – adjacent to Jefferson Creek and west of Park Creek drainage within the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. Deschutes NF	1,047 acre (as of 1 a.m.)	A Type II (OR-CAL) team took over management of the two fires yesterday. The Bridge 99 Fire is on Green Ridge burning in steep terrain.An Infra-red flight at 1:00 a.m. mapped this fire area at 587 acres. Night operations completed a burnout around the Green Ridge Lookout to protect it from the flames. This burnout operation likely increased the acreage by approximately 500 acres. Emphasis today will focus on protecting the Lookout and readying containment lines for the predicted west wind this afternoon. Nearby fire (#318—Bear Butte Border) is 460 acres. A small part of this fire has reached the Warm Springs Reservation as well. This fire is burning in the old B&B fire scar in downed timber, snags and access is limited. As of 6 a.m. these fires will be combined into the Bridge 99 Complex managed by the Type II team. There is no containment on either fire. Lower Bridge, Allen Springs, and Pioneer Ford campgrounds remain closed.  Green Ridge Lookout is closed and people are asked to avoid the area of Lower Bridge, Allen Springs, and Pioneer Ford campgrounds as road closures are being established in the area.   There will be a public meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Camp Sherman Community Center for individuals who wish to get more information on this fire.
Jack Knife	Lower John Day Recreation Area, Sherman County, 8 miles SE of Grass Valley.  Prineville BLM	6,130 acres	Fire lines held overnight although firefighters continue to be challenged by high temperatures, steep terrain and light fuels. Helicopters will be working on this fire today. People recreating on the John Day River should be aware that helicopters may be working in the area and dipping into the river and use appropriate caution.
Waterman Complex	Bailey Butte (private land west of Mitchell). Toney Butte (10 miles northeast of Spray, just east of Hwy 207). Oregon Department of Forestry	4,319 acres	Multiple fires are being managed as a complex. A Type II Incident Management Team took over this incident on 7/15. For more information, visit: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3961/ Fire Information Phone #: 541-462-3140 Email: watermancomplex2014@gmail.com Oregon Department of Transportation has closed Hwy 26 from mile post 50 to 56 and expects to keep it closed into tomorrow (Wednesday) while hazard trees are removed along the road. Evacuations were ordered for some ranch properties west of Mitchell. Ochoco Divide and Wildwood campgrounds  have been closed.
Pine Creek	#364 - 11 miles south of Fossil, in the Carrol Rim Area #368 –  15 miles south of Fossil, south east of Coffin Point Prineville BLM	5,000 acres	Pine Creek is considered one incident, though it is two fires. Firefighters will work with available aerial resources today. Incident #364 made a run yesterday and jumped fire lines as firefighters continued to be challenged by dry fuels and the high temperatures. Incident #368 has looking good and remaining within containment lines. Acreage has been adjusted from yesterday after more accurate mapping took place.
Birch Creek	2 miles NE of Spanish Peak and 8 miles SW of Dayville Private protected land	45 acres	The fire held within containment lines over night with minimal fire behavior. Firefighters will prepare containment lines in anticipation of today’s wind.
Oscar Canyon	In the North Fork Wilderness Study Area 17 miles east of Post, OR. Prineville BLM	70 acres	Firefighters will continue to put in hand line today and look for advantages that can be gained before the afternoon operational period.
Center Fire (Formerly the Bonneview Ranch Fire (297)	3 miles NE of Post. Private and Prineville BLM	1,500 acres	The Post/Paulina Rural Fire Protection Association has responded and provided good assistance toward containment and property protection along with federal resources.
Shaniko Butte	12 miles north of the town of Warm Springs.	12,198	Oregon Incident Management Team 1 took over management of this fire at 6:00 a.m. today. Predicted westerly winds are likely to increase fire activity. Fire has entered the Eagle Creek drainage, which drains into the Deschutes River at the community of Dant. For information on this fire, contact the Shaniko Butte incident at 541-553-8190. Aerial resources could possibly use the Deschutes River as a water source for the firefighting effort. River users should be alert to the possibility of helicopters dipping water from the Deschutes River.

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