Daily Update, Aug. 21, 2008, Summit Springs Comple
Incident: Summit Springs Wildland Fire
Released: 8/21/2008
Oregon Department of Forestry
Incident Management Team 3
Nancy Hirsch, Incident Commander
Summit Springs Complex
Daily Morning Information Update
For Thursday August 21, 2008
Wind gusts of up to 50 mph complicated efforts of firefighters working on the Summit Springs Complex on Wednesday afternoon. The wind-driven fire pushed beyond the eastern and northeastern lines around the Summit Springs Fire, in spite of the cool temperatures and high relative humidity. Scattered rain fell throughout the area, but no precipitation reached the fires. Multiple air tankers responded with numerous retardant drops in an effort to slow the advance of the fire.
Containment lines on the other two fires in the complex, the Green Ridge Fire and the Stevens Canyon Fire, withstood the increased wind. By days end, crews working in very steep terrain were able to complete a line around the Green Ridge Fire. The fire is located in the north Metolius basin, where several hiking trails and the Lower Bridge Campground remain closed in order to ensure public safety and aid suppression efforts.
The firefighters continued aggressively strengthening lines on the Stevens Canyon Fire. A wider perimeter line has been established and firefighters felt fortunate that this fire didn't also push the containment lines.
A repeat of Tuesday's and Wednesday's windy conditions is forecast for today. With the Green Ridge and Stevens Canyon fires holding in place, increased firefighting resources will be directed to the eastern flank of the Summit Springs Fire. Weather permitting, air tankers will be out early in the day dropping retardant in support of the ground forces to prevent a potential repeat of yesterday's fire advance.
Firefighters also will continue to watch for potential hot spots and flare-ups, as well as pursuing small hold-over fires that are just now being revealed by the increased winds.
For More Information: The Fire Information Office phone number is 541-549-3189 and is staffed from 7 am to 7 pm. Additional information is available on-line at the following sites:
Summit Springs Complex Fire Information Website: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1478/ or http://www.oregon.gov/odf/summitspringscomplex.shtml
Pacific Northwest Regional Fire Information is available at http://www.nwccweb.us/index.asp
National Fire Information is available at http://www.nifc.gov/fire info/nfn.htm
Fire-At-A-Glance:
Size: 1,926 acres
Location: 10 miles North of Sisters, OR
Containment: 25%
Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 588
Estimated Cost: $900,000 through Wednesday
Evacuations: None at present
Closures/Restrictions: A closure order for a portion of the Deschutes National Forest has been issued. Details are at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/
Announcements: None
Participating Agencies: Oregon Department of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service (Deschutes National Forest and Ochoco National Forest - Crooked River National Grassland), Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, and the Sheriffs' Departments from Deschutes and Jefferson Counties.
