Waterman Complex Morning Update, 7/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2014 AM

Waterman Complex – Mitchell, Oregon

Information Center – 541-787-4321(new number)

Incident Commander Doug Johnson

Start Date	Cause	Total Acres	Percent Containment
7/11-12/2014	Lightning	7,865	35%

Crews	Engines	Water Tenders	Helos	Dozers	Total Personnel
23	24	10	5	6	723

Current Situation

The Complex consists of four fires: Bailey Butte, Toney Butte, Junction Springs and Incident #376. Firefighting resources continue to arrive to assist in suppression efforts. Suppression actions of the day include: providing structure protection on the West Branch Road and Marks Creek area; constructing and holding fire line, mopping-up hot spots, patrolling, scouting new fire line locations, and prepping existing roads. Aviation assets will be utilized to assist in containment efforts. Firefighters are challenged with steep terrain, and a Red Flag Warning for low relative humidity and gusty winds

Bailey Butte Fire – 5,625 acres, 5% contained. Additional crews have been assigned to work the southern portion where the fire had been most active.  The northern portion showed no growth.  Crews are mopping hot spots and are mopping up 50 feet from the fire perimeter.  The Crystal Springs Organizational Camp is being prepped for burn-out operations.  Crews are continuing to prep Forest Service Road 2630 for indirect line and preparing it for burn-out operations. The fire has burned into the Resource Natural Area (RNA). Working in cooperation with private land owners, firefighters have been constructing dozer lines in the West Branch Road area. A spike camp has been established in Spears Meadow to reduce travel time for firefighters.

Toney Butte Fire – 2,220 acres, 60% contained.  Crews will continue to cold trail, mop up any hot spots, and patrol the fire perimeter.  This fire showed no growth and will go into monitor status end of shift.

Junction Springs Fire– 20 acres, 100% contained. This fire remains in patrol status and monitored by air.

Incident #376 - .25 acres, 80% contained.  Four rapellers are assigned to this fire.  It is located in the Mount Pisgah area.

Ochoco National Forest Closure Area:

This closure has been enacted due to firefighting activities taking place within the closure area and for the protection of public and employee safety. The Bailey Butte Fire Closure Area is established within boundary lines on its north side by the Forest boundary and its south side following a system of closed Forest roads which include:

Forest Roads 450, 2630, 150, 2200, 2210, 300, 2610, Buck Creek Road to its intersection with the east edge of the Mill Creek Wilderness and Forest Roads 650, 27, 2745, 010 and the 2750.  All roads and trails within the bounds of the Forest Closure are closed.  All campgrounds within the Forest Closure area including Walton Lake, Round Mountain, Crystal Springs, Wildwood, Ochoco Divide, and Whistler are closed.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): Two TFRs are in place over the Complex. One is located over the Bailey Butte Fire and the other over the Toney Butte Fire. Please check the NOTAM for current information.

For more information on the Waterman Complex visit:

Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3961/