Royce Butte Fire Update 09-18-2008
Incident: Royce Butte Wildland Fire
Released: 9/19/2008
Royce Butte Fire Update
Thursday, September 18, 2008
As of 2:00 this afternoon, the evacuation order for residents in the Crescent Lake Junction area has been lifted. The evacuation level for residents in this area still remains at Level II which means residents must be prepared to leave on a moment's notice.
Highway 58 will also open at 2:00 p.m. Motorists are encouraged to watch for fire apparatus and travel with their lights on while traveling through the fire area due to smoke from the fire. Motorists should be aware of congestion. Highway speed will be reduced to 35 MPH through the fire area.
With improved weather conditions, the Royce Butte Fire remains within the established perimeter. The fire is completely lined. Spot fires occurring outside the fire line remain a priority today.
Office of State Fire Marshal task force personnel continue to protect structures. They are also providing first response for fire and medical calls for Central Cascades Fire and EMS Fire Department located at the Crescent Lake Junction.
The Royce Butte Fire started at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16th on the Deschutes National Forest near the Crescent Lake Junction on Highway 58. The fire has burned approximately 381 acres of private and national forest land. The fire is under investigation as human caused.
Management of the Royce Butte Fire is a Unified Command shared between the State Fire Marshal's Incident Management Team (OSFM) providing structural protection and the Central Oregon Incident Management Team (COIMT) providing wildland fire suppression. The Incident Command Post is now located at the Willamette Pass Ski Area.
For current fire information, please contact the Crescent Ranger District at 541-433-3200, or the media desk at the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center at 541-416-6800.
Royce Butte Fire at a Glance (9/18/08)
Size: 381 acres;
Location: 12 miles W of Crescent, OR:
Containment: 20 %
Expected Containment: 9/21/08
Cause: Human: Under Investigation
Date of Start: September 16, 2008
Resources:
Crews: 5 Type 2
Helicopters:
1 Type 1 (Heavy Lift)
Engines: 10
Structural Task Force: 3
Dozers: 3
Tenders: 4
Total Personnel Assigned: 313
Closures: None
Structures Threatened: 279
