Central Oregon MORNING Fire Update, 8/11

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

4550 SW Airport Way

Prineville, OR  97754

Contact:  Media Desk:  541-416-6811           

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FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

For Immediate Release:  August 11, 2014 9:00 a.m.

Central Oregon MORNING Fire Update

Central Oregon – Red Flag Warnings continue for the area today with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon.  Reports continue to come in for possible new fires in the area from lightning yesterday afternoon.  As of 9:00 pm, there were approximately 1800 lightning strikes in the region.   In some parts of the area, up to 3/10 of an inch of rain was recorded while other areas received only a trace.  Less than 10 new starts have resulted in fires of less than an acre total at this time.  3 fires were reported north of Odell Lake – 2 crews responded last night; one fire reported north of Odell Butte; the cluster of 4 smokes from yesterday east of Waldo Lake will be assessed today with early reports indicating that area does not seem to be as active this morning; an engine is responding to a report of a fire 3 miles north of Spring Butte/8 miles north of Hwy 31; An engine is responding to a single tree lightning strike in Alfalfa and a report of a fire 20 miles southeast of Bend along Hwy 20.  Recon missions will continue this morning on the ground and in the air for any new fires in the region. 

The Muskrat Fire continues to be managed with a Type III Incident Management Team with two helicopters, three type 2 hand crews, tree feeling crews, and helitack.  Resources are working on containment lines and mopping up in this rugged terrain.  The Six Lakes Trailhead remains closed to accommodate the Muskrat Fire Incident Command Post (ICP).  The fire is now estimated at 25% contained and approximately 50 acres. 

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s office is maintaining a Level III evacuation order for the boat-in areas north and west on Cultus Lake including West Cultus Campground, Big Cove Campground, Little Cove Campground, and back country areas and trails north of Cultus Lake including Corral Swamp, Winopee Lake, Muskrat Lake, and Teddy Lake.   There is a Level I Evacuation (be ready) for the Cultus Lake Resort, Cultus Lake campground, and Cultus Day Use Area. 

The Deschutes National Forest continues an area closure for lands generally described as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 as the western most boundary (The Pacific Crest Trail remains open); 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.  

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 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 is 866-347-0636 or find the most recent closures and announcements at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4042/. 

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