Crews Begin Preparations For Burnout on Sheep Springs Fire in Metolius Basin

Firefighter safety is top priority for strategy in controlling lightning fire burning in B & B Fire Scar

Sisters – Early Monday morning, June 27, two lightning fires were identified burning in the Brush Creek drainage in the Metolius Basin on the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. Incident #340, reported Sunday night, and Incident #341, burning directly adjacent to each other, merged to create a 1-acre fire known as the Sheep Springs Fire. The fire is burning less than a mile northeast of Sheep Springs Campground and roughly a half mile west of Forest Road 12.

The Sheep Springs Fire, burning in an area previously burned by the B & B Fire in 2003, is located in an area predominantly covered in standing dead trees called snags. Due to the extremely hazardous nature of the incident’s location, firefighters will use indirect strategies to contain the fire, primarily from roads. This will minimize the need for firefighters to engage directly with in the fire in unsafe conditions.

Today, crews will be reinforcing containment lines and preparing the area for burnout operations. Firefighters are looking to complete burnout operations tomorrow or Thursday.

There are currently no closures in effect for the Sheep Springs Fire. There will be increased fire traffic in the Metolius Basin area and around the town of Sisters. Bridge 99 along the Metolius River will be used as a dip site for helicopters should water drops become necessary.

A local Type 3 Incident Management Team took command of the fire on Tuesday morning. Current resources include Prineville Hotshots, a dozer and overhead personnel. Numerous resources have been ordered, including 2 Type 2 initial attack crews, 2 Type 2 handcrews, 10 engines, water tender and fall bosses.

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