Approximate Location
Incident Overview
FINAL SUMMARY
Updated: 11:20 a.m.; Friday, September 4, 2009
Fire Managers declared the Microwave Fire 100 percent contained the evening of September 3. Crews will remain on the fire to continue mop-up operations; hauling out unused fire hose, equipment and garbage from the fireline; rehabilitate fire lines; and to patrol the fire. It is not uncommon for some areas within the fire boundary to continue to smolder even after 100 percent containment. Area residents and motorists traveling on Interstate 84 will likely see smoke and minor flare-ups of flame for some time. Please do not call firefighting agencies unless the new flames are clearly outside of the boundaries of the Microwave Fire. If you are uncertain, please call 911. The Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail between Hood River and Mosier remains closed until further notice. Fire Managers and State Park officials are very concerned about the hazards to the public caused by rolling rocks and debris. The fire has consumed much of the ground vegetation above the trail which has caused the steep slopes to become unstable. Specialists will evaluate the instability to determine if the hazards can be mitigated and when the trail could be opened. Officials warn that the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail at a minimum will be closed over the Labor Day Weekend The Oregon Department of Forestry's Incident Management Team #3, Incident Commander Nancy Hirsch, turned the Microwave Fire over to a local fire management organization at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1. The transition team is a unified command structure between ODF and the U.S. Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area. Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 was dispatched on Friday, August 28, to manage the fire, reported Thursday night, August 27, burning three miles from the Columbia Gorge community of Mosier. The Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office Incident Management Green Team under Incident Commander John Ingrao also was mobilized and the fire was managed under a Unified Command until Sunday afternoon, August 30, when the threat to the Mosier community lessened and the Incident Management Green Team demobilized. Other cooperators include the Oregon State Police, Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Unit of the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Oregon Department of Transportation, Pacific Power and Light, Union Pacific Railroad, the American Red Cross, and Rural Fire Districts. Unless the situation changes, this will be the final update on this fire. For more information call 541-490-0961.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Under Investigation |
| Date of Origin | Thursday August 27th, 2009 approx. 09:00 PM |
| Location | Adjacent to the west side of Mosier, OR |
| Incident Commander | Wagner And Rose |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 96 |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,224 acres |
| Percent Contained | 100% |
| Fuels Involved | Timber, brush, hardwoods; heavy old growth timber with grass and timber stringers. |
| Fire Behavior | Low fire activity is expected today (09/04/09). |
| Significant Events | Low fire activity is expected today. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Continue mop-up and patrol. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Low. |
| Terrain Difficulty | High. |
| Remarks | On September 4, at 1400 hours, management of the fire will be transitioned to a local Type IV organization between the U.S. Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the Oregon Department of Forestry The Dalles Unit. ODF Costs-to-date - $2,147,000; OSFM Costs-to-date $603,000. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 8 mph W |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 86 degrees |
| Humidity | 23% |
