News Update Saturday, August 23, 2008
Incident: Bridge Creek Wildfire
Released: 8/23/2008
Bridge Creek Fire Update
Saturday, August 23, 2008 8:00 am
Fire Information (866) 534 9655 Hours: 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
mailto:bridgecreek@gmail.com www.inciweb.org
FIRE ACTIVITY SUMMARY: The warm dry weather that moved into the fire area yesterday provided fire managers the first test of the control lines. Weather will get warmer and drier today providing further testing of the lines. Hard work by the crews resulted in a jump to 75% of the perimeter being contained. Portions of the fire will be reviewed today with Palm IR crews (a Palm IR is a portable infrared scanning device to detect hot spots). An infrared flight will be conducted today to detect hot spots and potential spot fires outside the perimeter of the fire. Mop up around all portions of the fire and rehabilitation of dozer and hand lines will continue today.
A Burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) Team arrived yesterday and is starting its analysis today. The goal of the BAER team is to prevent damage to the environment over and above the damage directly caused by the fire. The BAER team "must focus on immediate threats and the time available before storms arrive." A few examples of the potential threats that the team will be assessing are erosion, damage to fisheries, and damage to roads.
Acreage is estimated at 4902 acres with 75% containment. A total of 584 fire personnel are assigned to the fire.
EXPECTED DATE OF CONTAINMENT: August 25, 2008.
WEATHER: The high pressure and the warming drying trend that it brought will continue today. Temperatures are back to normal with it getting slightly warmer then normal tomorrow. Another weather system will move into the region late Sunday or Sunday night, bringing cool, wet, and breezy weather into Tuesday. Temperatures are forecasted at 75-80 degrees with wind speeds between 7-10 miles per hour.
CURRENT RESTRICTIONS: An area closure is expected to remain in effect in the vicinity of the Bridge Creek Fire. It is defined by the 22 road, the 2210, and the northern Forest boundary. Walton Lake campground remains open. A temporary flight restriction is in place for a six mile radius around the fire (lat. 44 29' 00", long 120 14' 00")
COOPERATING AGENCIES: Oregon Department of Forestry
SPECIAL MESSAGE: The public is reminded that dry, warmer weather is moving in. For that reason we ask that they continue to be pay attention to local restrictions and, where allowed, keep open fires small and manageable.
QUICK FACTS:
Acres: 4,902
Containment: 75%
Location: Bridge Creek Wilderness, 5 miles S/SW of Mitchell
Cause: Lightning
Start Date/Time: August 7, 2008 / 7:16 pm
Expected Containment Date: August 25, 2008
Total personnel: 584
Crews: 14, 3 Type 1 Hot Shots, 11 Type 2, Dozers: 7, Engines: 26, Helicopters: 2-lights 1-heavy, Water tenders: 14
