7/19/2014 9:30 am Logging Unit Fire Update

Logging Unit Fires

Fire Information Update

https://www.facebook.com/pages/CTWS-Fire-Management/118486491629224

loggingunitfiresinfo@gmail.com

Saturday, July 19, 2014 – 9:30 a.m. PDT Fire Status Update  

Incident	Total Acres	% Contained	Total Personnel
Logging Unit Fires	6,000*	0	127

*Rough approximation of acreage until more accurate mapping is obtained

News & Highlights for the Logging Unit Fires:

Ø  Pacific Northwest Team 2 (Incident Commander Chris Schulte) took command of the Logging Unit Fires on July 18 at 10:00 p.m. The Incident Command Post is being established off the County Line Road on Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs lands.

Ø  Due to the remote location, extremely dry and heavy fuels, rugged terrain, and limited firefighting resources, the Logging Unit Fires are expected to pose significant difficulties.  Currently, two 20-person hand crews and seven engines are assigned to the incident.

Ø  Main concerns include the threat to commercial timber and natural resources on Warm Springs lands, including old growth trees, pristine spring chinook runs, summer steelhead, bull trout, spotted owls, water quality, wild berries, bear, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, elk and mountain goats.

Ø  The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is in Industrial Fire Precaution Level 4 (shutdown) and expects long duration of extreme fire danger levels.

Ø  Warm Springs tribal members are advised to stay indoors or inside vehicles to limit exposure to smoke. For more information about wildfire smoke and air quality, visit www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Ø  Non-tribal members may continue to recreate at Trout Lake, Whitewater Canyon, and Bald Peter.

Ø  Motorists traveling on Highway 26 should expect varying degrees of smoke impacts associated with fire activity. Be prepared for additional heavy equipment on the highway.

Ø  The Mt Hood National Forest has implemented an area closure in the Olallie area (see below).

Logging Unit Operations Summary:

The Logging Unit Fires currently include Camas Prairie, Logging Unit, Skyline, Haily and the north side of Bear Butte 2.  The south side of Bear Butte 2 is being managed by the Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 2 (Incident Commander Brett FIllis).  Today with the limited resources available, firefighters will focus on the Skyline (near Timothy Lake) and Haily Fires. Additional resources have been ordered and operations personnel will continue to assess and prepare a strategy for the Logging Unit and Camas Prairie Fires.  The Camas Prairie Fire was very active on the S/SE flank yesterday afternoon noon, with prolific spotting occurring ahead of the fire.

FIRE FACTS:

 Mt Hood National Forest Closures:

• FR 4220 between FR 46 and Warm Springs
• Closure area near Ollalie Lakes
• Pacific Crest Trail from Breitenbush Lake (Mile 2047.1) to Road 42 at the Joe Graham Campground (Mile 2083). Alternative route: West on 4220 Road at Breitenbush Lake to Road 46, north on Road 46 to Road 4660, east on Road 4660 to the junction with the Road 4661, north on Road 4661 to the junction with Roads 5732 and 140. Take the 140 spur north and then east to Peavine Springs area. Take the 141 spur east past Summit Lake Campground to Road 42, north on Road 42 to the PCT/Road 42 intersection across from Joe Graham Campground north of Road 57.
• For additional information on the Pacific Crest Trail status, contact the Mt Hood National Forest at www.fs.usda.gov/mthood  or the Pacific Crest Trail Association at www.pcta.org  

Logging Unit Fires: Located on Warm Springs Agency. Started: July 13, 2014. Cause: Under investigation; significant lightning activity has occurred within the last week. Location: Western boundary of Confederated Tribes of Warms Springs lands.

           

SAFETY CONCERNS: Snags, power lines, rattlesnakes, scorpions, bears, rugged terrain, access to adequate safety zones.

WEATHER: Partly cloudy and becoming breezy in the afternoon. Max temps 80-88 and min humidity 23-24%. Winds W 2-6 mph becoming NW 7-16 mph.

TODAY’S EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR: Fire behavior is expected to pick up around 1 p.m. today; areas of concern will be on the Logging Unit fire south of Cedar Creek and the south flank of Fort Butte.  Unburned islands of fuel will burn aggressively today with passive crowning expected.  Firefighters are on alert for lift and loft of embers, with spotting distance up to ½ mile expected and probability of ignition 60-80%.

COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Warm Springs Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mt Hood National Forest, Deschutes National Forest, Willamette National Forest and Prineville Bureau of Land Management.

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