Kipuka Fire Contained

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

                 4550 SW Airport Way

                  Prineville, OR  97754

FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

For Immediate Release:  July 5, 2014- 9:00 a.m.

Contact:  Media Desk, 541/416-6811    http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com/

The Kipuka Fire on the Newberry National Volcanic Monument has finished burning within the containment perimeter of lava rock. The fire is now contained at 26 acres.

The fire, which started on July 2 at approximately 4:00 p.m., was ignited after a lightning storm swept through Central Oregon striking over 3,000 times and starting over a dozen fires. The Kipuka Fire was reported by the Lava Butte fire lookout at approximately .25 acre and was allowed to burn in a 26 acre island of ponderosa pine, downed wood and needle cast at a low intensity. Firefighters from the Fire Effects Monitoring Crew managed the fire for resource benefits, encouraging fire behavior that cleared away surface fuels, overgrown brush and created natural holes in the canopy with occasional tree torching.

Smoke will likely be visible for several days. The Fire Effects Monitoring Crew will continue to monitor the burn area through next week.

The Kipuka trail into the fire area will remain closed until it is safe for the public.