Muskrat Fire Information Update, 8/11

Muskrat Fire Information Update:  August 11, 2014 8:00 a.m.

For more information:  Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center
Media Desk:  541-416-6811           Email:   Centralorfireinfo@gmail.com	Twitter:  @CentralORfire                              Blog: CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com

Location: ½ mile from Muskrat Lake and 2 miles northwest of Cultus Lake. The fire is located within the Three Sisters Wilderness on the Deschutes National Forest.

Size: Approximately 50 acres

Containment: 25%

Fire Update:

The Color Country Type 3 Team (Jaca) has command of the fire and is working diligently for rapid containment. 

Two helicopters, three type 2 hand crews, tree felling crews and helitack are assigned to the fire today and will continue to construct containment lines and mop up.  Hoses have been laid around the perimeter of the fire and will be used to secure the edge of the fire and mop up.  

A Red Flag Warning is in effect in the area today with thunderstorms likely this afternoon.

As of August 9, 2014 the Cultus Lake Resort and Cultus Lake campground evacuation notice was reduced to a Level 1 (be ready).  The Level  III evacuation notice issued by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for the boat-in areas north and west on Cultus Lake remains in place.

Evacuations:

Level  III (required evacuation of the area): Areas on the west and north shores of 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.

Level  I (be ready):  Cultus Lake Resort, Cultus Lake campground and Cultus Day Use Area.

Emergency Area Closure: An emergency closure of areas and trails in the vicinity of the fire was enacted on August 8, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. 

Closed National Forest Service System Trails include:

·         Deer Lake Trail #6 from the Deer Lake Trailhead to the junction with Many Lakes Trail #15

·         Corral Swamp Trail #8 in its entirety

·         Teddy Lake Trail #5 in its entirety

·         Many Lakes Trail #15 in its entirety

·         Winopee Lake Trail #16 in its entirety

·         Metolius Windigo Trail #99 from the junction with  Corral Swamp Trail #8 to the junction with Senoj Lake Trail #41.1

The Pacific Crest Trail remains open.

Six Lakes Trailhead is closed to accommodate Incident Command Post (ICP).  Closed National Forest Service Lands include: 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.