Central Oregon EVENING Fire Update, 8/2

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

4550 SW Airport Way

Prineville, OR  97754

Contact:  Media Desk:  541-416-6811           NEW! NEW! NEW!!! Email:   Centralorfireinfo@gmail.com

Twitter:  @CentralORfire                              For more information visit: CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com

FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

For Immediate Release:  August 2, 2014 6:00 p.m.

Central Oregon EVENING Fire Update

Central Oregon – Firefighters responded to several new starts across Central Oregon as afternoon thunderstorms moved through the area. The largest fire at press time was a brush fire south west of the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond. Firefighters responded quickly to the brush fire and contained it at 8 acres. Work will continue through the evening on all new starts.

Gusty winds increased fire activity on the South Fork Complex this afternoon, combining the Placedor Gulch Fire with the Murderer’s Creek Fire, which has jumped Murderer’s Creek  and is actively burning on BLM land, east of the South Fork of the John Day River. Firefighting crews and engines are being assisted by airtankers and heavy equipment.   

The Castle Fire on the Bridge 99 Complex continued to slowly creep downhill today.  Firefighting efforts have been challenged by difficult terrain and access to the fire area. Hotshot crews have been working to put in containment line and have been aided by aerial resources. A Level 3 Evacuation remains in place for Monty Campground on the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest, as does a Level 1 Evacuation for the Perry South Campground.

Oregon Incident Management Team 3 (Type II - Johnson) continued to make good progress on the Sniption Fire, 15 miles N of Fossil, OR.  The fire is on approximately 25,000 acres of private and BLM managed lands and is 60% contained.  Oregon Incident Management Team 3 is coordinating with Gillam County on response to the fire.

The Haystack Complex is 1,740 acres and is 80% contained. The three fires are burning primarily on private land and are located 3 miles NE of Spray (Haystack Fire), 3 miles NE of Dayville (Throop Fire) and 7 miles NE of Monument (Steet Fire).   For more information on the Haystack Complex call 503-758-8253.

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