COIDC Update, September 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      September 3, 2017

Contact: (541) 316-7711                               

           

COIDC Update, September 3

Redmond, OR – Heavy smoke moderated fire activity across Central Oregon this afternoon as firefighters continued working on the large fires in the area.

Nash Fire – The Nash and nearby Separation Fires joined in a small area crossing Separation Creek on Friday. This area is steep, deep and narrow. A column was visible in the morning while skies were clear and burned actively. The fire moved slightly to the northwest, utilizing stringers of trees for fuel, and continued to burn throughout the day. Smoke from Nash and other fires and the lack of wind is acting as a cap, moderating active fire behavior.

When the fire does have clean air it has the potential to move in any direction quickly. After evaluating values at risk, the decision has made to engage the fire with direct, indirect and aerial, full suppression tactics where feasible. Fire managers are making plans for when it moves out of the Wilderness. Movement to the southeast out of the Wilderness through vegetative timber stringers would be toward the Elk Lake area.

A Structure protection group continues triage of infrastructures in the Elk Lake area including the resort, 40 plus recreation residences, and the historic Forest Service Elk Lake Guard Station. As resources become available fuels along roads near the fire will be reduced. The Nash Fire is on inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5580/.

Evacuation Notifications for the NASH FIRE:

Level Two (Be Set): Elk Lake Resort, Elk Lake Campground (CG), Point CG, Little Fawn CG, Mallard Marsh CG, Sunset View Day Use Area, Beach Day Use Area, and Quinn Meadows Horse Camp.

Level One (Be Ready): Lava Lake Resort, Lava Lake CG, and Little Lava Lake CG.

For information on these evacuation notifications, you can call the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-693-6911.

Milli Fire – The Milli Fire located west of Sisters is currently 22,527 acres and 50% contained. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office announced that the Crossroads subdivision and surrounding areas have been reduced from Level 2 (Get Set) to a Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation notice. The DCSO has also lowered from Level 2 to Level 1 - the subdivisions of Crossroads, Edgington/Remunda, Wildwing, Peterson Burn Road Area, and along both sides of Three Creeks Lake Road (FS 16) south of the Brooks Scanlon Logging Rd (FS 4606)

Level 1 notices remain in place for all areas between Hwy 20 and Hwy 242 west of the City of Sisters, which includes the subdivision of Tollgate and Black Butte Ranch. This area does not include the City of Sisters.

The Milli Fire is on inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5517

For more information on the Nash or Milli Fires, call 541-719-8135.

McKay Fire - Located east of Hwy 97 and north of county road 21 near McKay Butte, the McKay Fire remains at 1221 acres and is now 70% contained. Firefighters will continue to mop-up and monitor the fire area until full containment is reached. All area road restrictions for this fire have been lifted.

For information on air quality, visit http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/ or http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

For Central Oregon Fire Information Fire hotline, please call 541-316-7711 or keep up-to-date on fire activity by following us on Twitter at @CentralORFire.

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