September 11 G W Fire Update
Incident: Gw Fire Wildland Fire
Released: 9/11/2007
GW Fire
September 11, 2007
Information Center 541-595-6117
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A smoke jumper proficiency test is scheduled to take place over Glaze Meadow at Black Butte Ranch this morning if conditions allow. This event is a practice jump only. There is no change in the status of the fire and the two events are not related.
FIRE SITUATION:
Constructed firelines have been tested for three days with East winds, low humidity, higher temperatures, and have successfully held. Several smokes within the cold, black mopped-up area surfaced yesterday with the higher temperatures. Crews located these smokes while patrolling and extinguished them. A 15-acre area within the fire perimeter with a build-up of decadent fuels was under burned yesterday.
Today, firefighters will continue to patrol, mop-up, rehabilitate fire lines, remove equipment, and be prepared to respond to any initial attack on new fire starts.
The Evacuation Notice for the Black Butte Ranch area remains at a Level 1.
FIRE LOCATION:
The GW Fire is located in the vicinity of Dry Creek on the lower East slope of Mt. Washington on the Western edge of the Mt. Washington Wilderness. The Eastern edge remains approximately 1/2 mile West of Black Butte Ranch.
Total Acres
Fire CauseContainment
Total Personnel
7,500
Lightning
85%
551
FIRE CAMP/HELIBASE LOCATION:
The incident command post is located at the Allingham Guard Station near Camp Sherman. An increase in traffic remains around Camp Sherman, Black Butte Ranch, and Highway 20 near the Camp Sherman and Black Butte Ranch access road junctions.
ASSIGNED RESOURCES:
Hand Crews
Engines
Water Tenders
Dozers
Helicopters
Overhead
Camp
Crews
16
22
11
1
3
120
3
As the fire containment objectives are met, surplus resources will be released or reassigned to other incidents.
CLOSURES:
A Forest Closure Order for specific roads and the fire area still remains. The public needs to refrain from entering the fire area as many dangers still exist such as fire vehicles, falling snags, and burning debris. Roads signed with "Road Closed" indicate no entry by any means to the public.
The Deschutes National Forest Special Area Closure includes the area within the following boundaries:
·Beginning at Forest Rd 1012 at its junction with State Route 20, South along Forest Road 1012 to its intersection with State Route 242
·West along 242, excluding the Cold Springs Campground, to its intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
·North along the PCT to its intersection with Forest Road 500
·East along and including Forest Road 500 to its intersection with Forest Road 2067, and
·North along and including Forest Road 2067 to its intersection with State Route 20,
·East along State Route 20 to the beginning.
The temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the fire area remains at five miles.
WEATHER:
Dry air generated by East to West flow over the Cascades during the last couple of days, known as a thermal trough, will drift west to east over the Cascades today. This will result in a reversal in wind direction this afternoon. Very low humidities will continue today with a slight increase in winds. The forecast calls for temperatures to range from 87 to 92 degrees below 4,000 ft, 78-86 degrees above 4,000 ft. in the Wilderness area; relative humidity will range from 10-13% below 4,000 ft and 13-23% above 4,000 in the Wilderness area; winds will be South/Southeast 5-10 mph early, becoming West 3-5 mph late in the morning. Then winds will become West 7-12 mph with gusts 12-17 mph in the afternoon and evening.
