Nash Fire Update, September 4

September 4, 2017 - 9:00 AM

Fire Information Line: 541-719-8135
Size: 3500 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 70
Email: nashfire17@gmail.com
Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5580/#
Blog: http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @CentralORFire
Travel Information: tripcheck.com or call 511
Closures: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices
You Tube Channel: https://goo.gl/SRRAr3 (Milli and Nash Fire updates)

Central Oregon is experiencing extreme dry conditions, residents and visitors need to be extremely cautious when outdoors. Campfires are banned on both private and public lands, violators will be ticketed.

The Nash Fire is under a fire Red Flag Warning for high temperatures, strong winds, very low relative humidity, and unstable atmospheric conditions. Any combination of these factors will cause any ignition source on the dry fuels to start a wildfire. Forest visitors are reminded to “know before you go”.

Fire Information: The fire is a result of a lightning storm in early August which generated numerous fires throughout the Cascades Range in Oregon and Washington. The Nash Fire is in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area along the crest of the Cascades on the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests. Smokejumpers initially worked to suppress the fire however due to safety concerns of very active fire behavior and steep terrain, the smokejumpers were removed. Infra-red detection flights are conducted over the fire, when possible, to estimate and monitor perimeter growth. Continual heavy smoke has restricted any safe access or aerial observations.

Air Quality: Air quality forecasted for the Bend and Sisters areas are in the Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy range. People sensitive to poor air quality should take the necessary precaution to avoid exposure while those needing to work outdoors should limit heavy outdoor exertion. Information is available at: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com and https://airnow.gov
Incident Management: Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Doug Johnson, Incident Commander is managing and supporting the fire fighters of the Nash Fire. The incident command post (ICP) is located at the Sisters Rodeo Grounds in Sisters, Oregon.
Update Fire: Firefighters and equipment began fuels reduction for fire protection around the 40 plus recreation residences and historic Elk Lake Guard Station at Elk Lake yesterday. Removing low limbs, clearing brush, removing dense fuels and forest litter away from structures, as well as putting in pumps and hose where feasible. The structure protection group will continue triage of infrastructure in the Elk Lake area. Prep work has also begun from Elk Lake North along the Cascade Lakes Highway clearing brush and reducing fuels to prepare for burn out operations if needed to hold the fire on the west side of the road.
The Nash and nearby Separation Fires continue to burn actively in steep, deep and narrow country within the Three Sisters Wilderness. When the fires are not shaded by smoke they have 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.
Evacuations: The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with fire managers, has placed a Level 2 (Set) evacuation notice for the areas surrounding the Elk Lake and Hosmer Lake including Elk Lake Resort, Elk Lake Guard Station, Elk Lake Campground(CG), Point CG, Mallard CG, Sunset View Day Use area, Beach Day Use Area, and Quinn Meadow’s Horse Camp and a Level 1 (Ready) evacuation notice for the areas surrounding Lava Lake and Little Lava Lake including Lava Lake Resort, Lava Lake CG, and Little Lava Lake CG. Current maps including the evacuation areas can be found at https://arcg.is/D9OPi
Trail closures are in place: Closed trails include: Wickiup Plains, South Sister/Devil’s Lake, Green Lakes, Sisters Mirror Lake, Elk Lake, and PCT from Irish and Taylor Lake north to Olallie Lake. PCT Trail Angels will be at Cultus Lake to help hikers. Information can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices