Central Oregon EVENING Fire Update, 8/8

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

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FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

For Immediate Release:  August 8, 2014 6:00 p.m.

Central Oregon EVENING Fire Update

Central Oregon – Central Oregon firefighters continued to focus on the two large fires in the area today, the Muskrat and the South Fork Complex.

Two Type 2 crews joined the smokejumpers and rappellers putting in fire line on the flanks of the Muskrat Fire, which grew moderately to 60 acres today. The fire, ½ mile from Muskrat Lake and 2 miles northwest of Cultus Lake, was also worked by several aircraft—two National Guard Chinook helicopters, one Sky Crane, two Type 2 helicopters and one Type 3 helicopter.  The Deschutes National Forest has issued an area closure for lands generally described as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 to the West; Winnopee Lake to the junction of the Corral Swamp Trail #8 and FSR 4628 to the North, Cultus Lake to FSR 600 to the South and Corral Swamp Trailhead to Winnopee Lake Trailhead to the east. Additionally, all evacuations issued by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office remain in place.

The South Fork Complex, comprised of the Buck Fork and Murderers Creek fires located around the South Fork of the John Day River, 5 miles south of Dayville,OR remains at 49,390 acres with 25% containment.  The two fires have been burning in a mix of U.S. Fish & Wildlife lands, private and BLM and Forest Service-managed lands. There are numerous evacuations and closures in place due to fire activity for both fires. The fire information number for this incident remains 866-347-0636.

BLM engines responded to one smoke report today that was held at .10 of an acre, 10 miles south of Brothers, Oregon. The fire was a holdover from lightning storms that passed through Central Oregon last week.

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