Central Oregon MORNING Fire Update, 8/9

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

4550 SW Airport Way

Prineville, OR  97754

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FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

For Immediate Release:  August 9, 2014 9:45 a.m.

Central Oregon MORNING Fire Update

Central Oregon – Evacuation levels have changed this morning for the Muskrat Fire on the Deschutes National Forest.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s office has issued a revised evacuation notice for areas associated with the Muskrat Fire.

The Cultus Lake Resort and campground were downgraded to a Level I as of 8:00 a.m. A Level III evacuation order remains in place for all areas on the west and north shores of Cultus Lake, which also include the back country area north of Cultus Lake including Corral Swamp, Winopee Lake, Muskrat Lake and Teddy Lake.

The Deschutes National Forest has issued an area closure for lands generally described as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 as the western most boundary; 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 Six Lakes Trailhead is closed to accommodate the Muskrat Fire Incident Command Post (ICP). The Pacific Crest Trail remains open.

Firefighters will continue to put in hand line on the 60 acre Muskrat Fire today, 2 miles northwest of Cultus Lake.  Ground crews will be assisted by two Type 2 helicopters and one Type 3 helicopter. The flanks of the Muskrat fire have been lined and firefighters will continue their work to construct and improve lines. There is no containment at this time.

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 increased to 60,020 acres but remains at 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. A community meeting will be held today at 6 p.m. at the Dayville Community Hall in Dayville, Oregon.

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