FIRE UPDATE
Pacific Northwest Region – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Pacific Northwest Region – Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
1550 Dewey Ave. Baker City, OR 97814, www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman
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Contact: Jodi Kramer 541-523-1246; 541-519-4623 September 22, 2014
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Fire Update
Fire Information: 541-523-1246 or 541-519-4623
Forest Web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman
Twitter: @WallowaWhitman
Members of the public interested in receiving fire information updates are asked to send an Email request to WallowaWhitman1@gmail.com.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS: The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is currently in Phase A of the Public Use Restrictions (PURs), which addresses use of campfires, chainsaws (firewood cutting), internal combustion engines, smoking, generators, and off-road/off-trail vehicle travel. The specific PURs information can be found at the end of this document or at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/PURS.
**CLOSURE UPDATES: The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) on the West Fork Fire has been lifted. The Ice Lake Trail (#1808) remains closed at this time, but fire managers continue to frequently evaluate conditions for the potential to re-open this trail in the near future. The area closure on the Somers Fire also remains in place (see below for more specific information on these closures).
The Forest is experiencing a higher level of human-caused fires; so Forest Officials encourage everyone to be safe and careful when recreating, hunting, or using the National Forest. EVERYONE needs to MAKE SURE their campfires are DEAD OUT before leaving their site; the fire should be cold to the touch with no potential to ignite. We are still in fire season… even though temperatures are getting cooler at night, vegetation is still dry, and the weather is still hot during the day.
Forest officials also want to remind visitors to check frequently with local district offices on fires in the area and closures associated with fire activity. The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has a 14-day stay limit for camping and visitors should not leave a camp unattended for more than 24 hours. Additional information on the 14-day stay limit can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5251602.
EAGLE CAP WILDERNESS
West Fork Fire (T4S R45E S7):
Date Started: 09/08/14
Location: Eagle Cap Wilderness, West Fork drainage in Adam and Johnson Creeks, 8 miles south of Joseph, 3 miles from Wallowa Lake
Estimated Acreage: 135 acres
Containment: 45%
Current Status: Fire was patrolled by air yesterday and had no visible smokes. Fire Managers continue to monitor the fire for increased activity.
Closures: The Ice Lake Trail #1808 remains closed, but fire managers continue to frequently evaluate conditions for the potential to re-open this trail in the near future. The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been lifted.
Hurricane Creek Fire (T3S R44E S15 SE/NW):
China Cap Fire (T4S R42E S25 SE/NE):
Date Started: 7/29/14
Estimated Acreage: 1,000 acres
Location: Eagle Cap Wilderness, 25 miles east of La Grande (via ground), 12 miles SW of Joseph (via air), burning in between China Cap Ridge and the Minam River drainage
Management Strategy: Suppression Cause: Lightning
Containment: 50%
Terrain: Steep and heavy continuous timber Fire Activity: Increased Activity
Resources Assigned: 3 personnel and 1 Type 1 Helicopter.
Closures: Fire Advisories have been posted at the following trailheads that lead into the area of the China Cap Fire: Sand Pass, Buck Creek, Little Eagle, North Forth Catherine Creek, and Moss Springs.
Resources/Structures Threatened: Rock Creek Bridge.
Current Status: Fire has grown approximately 350 acres over the past week. The fire is burning actively along the ridgeline to the west of China Cap Creek, with most of the fire spread north toward the Minam River. A Type 1 Helicopter is being used to slow down fire spread. Fire managers continue to monitor the fire for increased activity. Smoke will be visible periodically as the fire continues to burn.
Katy Mountain Fire (T4S R43E S7 SE/SW):
HELLS CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Freezeout Ridge Fire (Idaho side of the Snake River - T22N R2W S4):
The Eastern Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team, under the leadership of John Kidd, took over this fire on September 20 at 9:00 p.m.
Estimated Acreage: 3,525 acres
Closures: The following Trail Closures are in effect for public and firefighter safety (look for map in tomorrow's update):
· Trail #113: Closed from Junction with Trail #62 (#625) southwest to Junction with Trail #192/#191
· Trail #101 (#101A): Closed from Junction with Trail #61 south to Junction with Trail #214 and #124
· Trail #61: Closed from Junction with Trail #101 east to Junction with Trail #55.
· Trail #62 (#625): Closed from Junction with Trail #101 East to Junction with trail #113.
· Trail #192: Closed from Junction with Trail #189 at Stevens Saddle north to Junction with Trail #194/191/113.
· Trail #194 (#113): Closed from Junction with Trail #214 east to Junction with Trail #191 (#113)
· Trail #191: Closed from HCNRA Wilderness Boundary by Holbrook Saddle to Junction with Trail #113/192.
· Trail # 214: Closed from Junction with Trail #101 south to Junction with Trail #218 at Purgatory Saddle.
· Trail # 216: Closed from Junction with Trail #214 west to Junction with Trail #215.
· Trail #189: Closed from Junction with Trail #214 east to Junction with Trial #191
· Trail # 321: Closed from Junction with Trail #189 to Ruth Lake.
· Trail #124: Closed from Junction with Trail #69 south to Junction with Trail # 214
· Trail #114: Closed from Junction with Trail 112 southeast to Junction with Trail # 214
No public use restrictions apply in the Idaho side of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
Somers Fire (Oregon side of the Snake River- T3N, R50E, Sect 28, NW/SW):
Closure: The Area Closure is still in effect; see Inciweb for Closure Map and Description.
Bald Sisters Fire (Malheur NF):
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
· Area closures and burning restrictions: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/wallowa-whitman/alerts-notices
Visit the Blue Mountains Interagency Dispatch Center (BMIDC) web site 24 hours a day at: www.bmidc.org or www.inciweb.nwcg.gov for current information about fires, weather, and fire closure information. For more information about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, please call 541-523-1246 or 541-523-1302. Public-use restrictions will be updated on a recorded message line at: Baker City (541) 523-1234, La Grande (541) 962-8679, and Enterprise (541) 426-5552, and are also available online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman/.
Phase A of the Public Use Restrictions includes the Seasonal Campfire Restrictions but does not apply to designated Wilderness areas and specified exempted developed recreation sites (see Forest websites for exempted sites or areas). The activities that fall under the seasonal campfire restrictions include:
1. Campfires allowed only in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not conducive to rapid fire spread, at a minimum clear of flammable material within a radius of 5 feet from the edge of the pit and free of overhanging material. Use existing pits wherever possible.
a. Campfires must be attended at all times, and completely extinguished prior to leaving.
b. Persons with campfires are required to have an axe, shovel, and one gallon of water in their possession (except in specified developed recreation sites listed in the Forest Order).
c. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled gas and wood burning stoves equipped with a chimney that is at least five (5) feet in length with a spark-arresting screen consisting of ¼ inch mesh hardware cloth are allowed.
d. Use of charcoal briquettes is permitted within the clearing requirements outlined under #1 above.
In addition, following are the other restrictions that apply under Phase A of the PURs:
· Chainsaws may be operated only between the hours of 8:00 pm and 1:00 pm local time. A one-hour fire watch is required after saw operations cease. Saw operators are required to have an axe (minimum 2 lb head, 26" length), shovel (8" wide, 26" length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz) in their possession.
· Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles and buildings, developed recreation sites, or cleared areas.
· No motorized vehicle travel off National Forest System roads or National Forest System trails, except for the purposes of going to and from campsites when such campsites are located within 300 feet of an open National Forest System road. No motorized vehicle trails on any National Forest System road or segment where access is blocked or impeded by a gate, barricade, log, boulder, or earthen berm.
· The use of exploding targets is prohibited.
As a reminder, there are also site-specific year-round public use regulations in effect in the following locations:
· Wallowa-Whitman: Grande Ronde River (WAW Forest Order T-2010-WW-0616-07): Fire restrictions (campfire, smoking, driving off-road) are in effect on lands within a ¼ mile of the Grande Ronde River located in Wallowa county, OR.
· Wallowa-Whitman: Snake River in Hells Canyon NRA (WAW Forest Order 207-01): Yearlong fire restrictions (building, maintaining, attending or using fire or campfires) on land within a ¼ mile of the Snake River in Hells Canyon NRA.
o All lands within ¼ mile of Hells Canyon Reservoir between the mouth of Spring Creek and downstream to Hells Canyon Dam on the Oregon side only.
o All lands within ¼ mile of the Snake River on both sides of the river from Hells Canyon Dam downstream 71.5 river miles to the Oregon-Washington border at Snake River Mile 176.0.
· Wallowa-Whitman: Eagle Cap Wilderness (WAW Forest Order 357-02): Specific campfire restrictions in the Eagle Cap Wilderness such as:
o Building, maintaining, attending or using a camp fire within 100 feet of any lake or posted wetlands (36 CFR 261.52(a)).
o Building, maintaining, attending or using a camp fire within ¼ mile (1320 feet) of the following lakes: Bear Lake (Bear Cr. Area), Blue Lake, Chimney Lake, Dollar Lake, Eagle Lake, Frazier Lake, Little Frazier Lake, Glacier Lake, Hobo Lake, Ice lake, Jewett Lake, Laverty Lake, Maxwell Lake, Mirror Lake, Moccasin Lake, Prospect lake, Steamboat Lake, Sunshine Lake, Swamp Lake, Tombstone Lake, Traverse Lake, and Upper Lake. 36 CFR 261.52(a).
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