Central Oregon Fire Update, 8/18

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 18, 2014 9:00 a.m.

Central Oregon Fire Update

Central Oregon – Great progress is being made on the Muskrat Fire in the Three Sisters Wilderness of the Deschutes National Forest.  This fire has been determined to be 100% contained, with district personnel monitoring existing containment lines.   Resources and equipment are being released from this fire to be available to respond to other incidents.  There are still closures in places associated with the Muskrat Fire and other fires in Central Oregon.  For maps and information on the current closures associated with wildfires on the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests, visit their webpage at http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices or call the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center.

A lightning storm brought approximately 2500 strikes into Central Oregon yesterday afternoon and last night.  The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center is prepared to respond to any new fire reports that may come in as a result.   Currently, a few reports have come in both last night and this morning.       

Public use restrictions as well as an Industrial Fire Precaution Level III (IFPL III) are still in place for Federal lands in Central Oregon.  The public use restriction currently prohibits open fires, including charcoal fires, except in designated campgrounds.  The IFPL III means that personal and commercial woodcutters are prohibited from operating power saws.  Public use restrictions and the IFPL III apply to the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, Crooked River National Grassland, and the BLM Prineville District.  For details on these specific restrictions, please contact the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center at 541-416-6811. 

The South Fork Complex is located 5 miles south of Dayville around the south fork of the John Day River.  The fire is burning in a mix of private, BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife managed lands. Currently, the South Fork Complex is 72% contained with an estimated containment date of September 1, 2014.  There are continued closures in place due to fire activity.  The fire information number for this incident is 866-347-0636 or find the most recent closures and announcements at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4042/. 

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