Ochoco WFU News Release for Aug 17, 2008
Incident: Ochoco Prescribed Fire
Released: 8/17/2008
Northwest Fire Use Management Team
Matt Reidy, Incident Commander
OCHOCO WILDLAND FIRE USE COMPLEX
August 17, 2008 3 pm
For further information call 541-416-6503, 6655, 6500
Bridge Creek Wilderness
Late Saturday afternoon the Bridge Creek Fire made a run south across forest stringers and grass scablands to Pisgah Spring and Forest Road 2630. Last night winds shifted to the southeast, a rare occurrence in Central Oregon, pushing the fire down-slope and to the northwest. The fire crossed Forest Road 2630-450 around 11:30 pm and moved onto private land. The fire was roughly 5,000 acres by morning. Smoke will be visible today from spots in the Hwy 26 corridor from Prineville to John Day, especially in late afternoon.
When the fire left the wilderness it passed the management boundaries for this wildland fire use. The management objective then moved towards suppression, an option under Wildland Fire Use. Management of the Bridge Creek Fire will be transferred to the Central Oregon Type II Interagency Management Team (IMT) starting at 6 pm today. The Incident Command Post will be the Walton Lake Snopark. Agency IMTs are working together with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office, and the Mitchell Fire Department to protect private lands and other resources. One structure is currently threatened and is being protected by the Mitchell Fire Department. Additional resources on order or working the fire include six hotshot crews, eight other crews, three helicopters, six engines, four water tenders, and 10 dozers (includes four private being used by ODF). Resource protection concerns include the City of Mitchell Watershed, Pisgah Lookout, several historical lookout trees, and the historic Summit Trail (2630 road). Fire retardant is being dropped by five air tankers (three "heavies" and two "seats") today to protect private property; however, retardant will not be used in any areas that could impact the City of Mitchell's watershed.
An area closure is in place in the vicinity of the Bridge Creek Fire. It is defined by the 22 Road, the 2210 Road and the northern Forest boundary. Those roads and Walton Lake campground remain open. A temporary flight restriction is in place for a six-mile radius around the fire (lat. 44° 29' 00", long. 120° 14' 00").
Black Canyon Wilderness
As predicted, the Black Canyon and Wolf Wildland Fire Use fires have merged (approximately 500 acres). Fire Use Modules are constructing hand lines and engaging in burn out operations to strengthen line between the fire and the Wolf Mountain Lookout. Portable water tanks, pumps, and sprinklers are in place for protection.
An area closure is in effect for the western half of the Black Canyon Wilderness in addition to small portions of adjacent forest lands, which include the Wolf Mountain and Boeing Field trailheads.
Mill Creek Wilderness
The one-acre Whistler Fire is not active at this time. The fire is being monitored by air.
Visitors are urged to check with the fire information telephone number above before entering any of the three wildernesses or areas immediately surrounding them.
A web site with more information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/ (see right column).
If you would like to receive periodic updates on these fires by email, please send us an email at ochocowfu@gmail.com.
