July 20 Ball Point Fire Update
Incident: Ball Point Wildland Fire
Released: 7/20/2007
Ball Point Fire
FIRE LOCATION:
The Ball Point Fire is burning in the vicinity of Ball Point Mountain between Tygh Creek to the north and Happy Ridge to the south. The majority of the fire is burning within the Badger Creek Wilderness Area.
TOTAL ACRES
FIRE CAUSE
CONTAINMENT
TOTAL PERSONNEL
1,150
Lightning
60%
467
FIRE CAMP/HELIBASE LOCATION: The Incident Base Camp (ICP) is at the Dufur High School in Dufur. The helibase is located at Rock Creek in the vicinity of Camp Cody.
RESOURCES ASSIGNED:
Hand Crews
Engines
Water Tenders
Dozers
Helicopters
Camp Crews
Overhead
15
2
6
0
4
2
135
FIRE SITUATION:
Cooler temperatures and .6 inches of moisture allowed firefighter to attain 60% containment of the fire perimeter yesterday. Improving, holding line and mop-up will continue on the north and west flanks. These flanks remain the challenge areas for crews. The terrain is very steep and slippery with excessive amounts of blown down timber to mop-up around. An additional infrared flight Wednesday night showed heat remaining in these areas even with the moisture received on the fire. A spike camp will be established to support the suppression efforts on both these flanks. Crews and personal gear will be shuttled in by helicopter this morning. Establishing a spike camp will reduce the amount of time firefighters use to access work areas and allow for more work to be completed on the firelines. The east and south flanks are in patrol status with rehabilitation of constructed fireline and trash clean-up underway. As the fire becomes contained and resources become surplus they will be demobilized for reassignment to other fires or returned home.
CLOSURES:
The temporary flight restriction over the fire remains in effect at a 5 mile radius and 2000' above ground level.
Closure of areas, trails, campgrounds, and roads remain in effect. These closures will be released when determined safe for the public and suppression personnel.
Areas:
- Badger Creek Wilderness Area
Trails:
- Entire trail system within the Badger Creek Wilderness Area
Campgrounds:
- Bonnie Crossing
- Fifteen Mile
- Little Badger
- Badger Lake
Roads:
- Forest Road 2700
- Forest Road 2700 at the junction with Forest Road 2710
- Forest Road 2730 at the Forest Boundary
- Forest Road 4420 at the junction with Forest Road 4421
- Forest Road 4410 at the junction with Forest Road 4400
- Forest Road 3350 at the junction with Forest Road 4891
- Forest Road 4860 at the junction with Forest Road 4812
- Forest Road 4811 at the junction with Forest Road 4810
- Forest Road 4811 at the junction with Forest Road 271
WEATHER:
An unseasonably strong upper level low pressure area will persist over the northeast Pacific today. This will maintain moist southerly flow aloft along with cooler and more humid conditions than normal for this time of year. The southerly flow will deliver moisture this afternoon which could lead to some light rain on the fire. The forecast calls for a mix of sun and clouds early in the morning turning completely cloudy by late morning with light rain developing in the early afternoon. The maximum temperatures of 66-69 degrees, relative humidity of 45-50%, with east winds 3-5 mph in the morning, becoming west 4-6 mph this afternoon with gusts of 11-14 mph.
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