7/21/2014 10:00 am Bridge 99 Complex Update

Monday, July 21, 2014   10:00 a.m.

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Incident Information Officer Jeanne Klein

Incident Command Post located at Sisters Middle School

E-mail:  bridge99fire@gmail.com

Fire Information: (541) 549-3219

Bridge 99 Complex

Start date: 7/13/14	Cause: Lightning	Estimated Size: Bridge 99 Fire: 5,235 acres; Bear Butte 2 Fire: 613  acres Total complex acres  5,848	% Contained: 25%	# of Firefighters: 731
Injuries to date: 1	Estimated Containment Date: N/A	Closures:  Pioneer Ford, Lower Bridge, Allen Springs, Canyon Creek, Monty, Perry South, and Candle Creek Campgrounds; Portions of Forest Roads 12, 14, 1140, and 1420400. Jefferson Lake, Sugarpine Ridge, Shirley Lake, Cabot Lake Trails, and a 5 mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail. An area closure, as shown on Inciweb Map	# of 20-person hand crews: 18	# of helicopters: 2 Type I (Heavy), 2 Type II  (Medium), 2 Type III (Light)

Sisters OR – The Bridge 99 Complex consists of two fires (the Bridge 99 Fire and the Bear Butte 2 Fire) started by lightning on Sunday, July 13.  The north portion of the Bear Butte 2 Fire lies on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs lands and its management has been transferred to the Incident Management Team working on the Logging Unit Complex.  The southern portion of the Bear Butte 2 Fire remains in the Bridge 99 Complex.

The Bridge 99 Fire is burning 18 miles northwest of the town of Sisters on Green Ridge, next to the Metolius River.  It increased by about 536 acres yesterday and is now 5,235 acres.  The acreage increase was due primarily to burn out activities on the north and east portions.  The perimeter of the fire held well and has not progressed any further towards Lake Billy Chinook.  It is now 25 percent contained.  The Bear Butte 2 Fire is about 7 miles northwest of the Bridge 99 Fire in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness of the Deschutes National Forest.  The southern portion of the Bear Butte 2 Fire was not very active yesterday and is approximately 613 acres on the Deschutes National Forest.  Fire management activities today will focus on strengthening containment lines and continuing burn outs on the northwest perimeter of the Bridge 99 fire.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid 80s and the relative humidity (the amount of moisture in the air) is predicted to be around 25%.  A fire weather watch has been issued for Central Oregon Tuesday.  The predicted fire behavior, or fire intensity will continue to challenge firefighting efforts.  The complex is burning in very steep and rugged country with heavy timber and brush at an elevation of 3,000 to 4,000'.  There has been one minor injury consisting of a sprained ankle.  Prevention of heat-related injuries and safely traveling to and from fire assignments has been a priority

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department evacuation orders remain unchanged and are as follows:

All private lands along the Metolius River from Allen Springs Campground to Lake Billy Chinook (including the Metolius Arm) are in a Level III Evacuation Order.  The Three Rivers Subdivision is in a Level II Evacuation Order.  The subdivisions of Rim Park, Forest Park, and Air Park along with the Cove Palisades State Park are in a Level I Evacuation Order.  The Cove Palisades State Park remains open.

The following Forest Service roads, trails, campgrounds and lands are closed (There are no changes in the closure orders): Forest Road 12, from its intersection with Forest Roads 1270/1298 to Bridge 99, Forest Road 14, from Bridge 99 to its intersection with Forest Road 1400700 (Allen Springs Campground), Forest Road 1140, from its intersection with Forest Roads 1150/1180 to the intersection with Forest Road 1152, Forest Road 1154, from its intersection with Forest Road 1150 to the intersection with Forest Road 1140, and Forest Road 1420400.  The Lower Bridge, Pioneer Ford, Allen Springs, Canyon Creek, Monty, Perry South, and Candle Creek Campgrounds are closed. The Jefferson Lake Trail (#4001), Sugarpine Ridge Trail (#4002), Shirley Lake Trail (#4003.1), and the Cabot Lake Trail (#4003) are closed within the Mt Jefferson Wilderness.  A 5-mile segment of the Pacific Crest Trail (#2000) is closed.  The south closure is located north of the Shirley Lake Trail (#4003) junction and the north closure is located near Cathedral Rocks.  An area closure has been designated on a map that is available on the Inciweb website listed below.  The fish hatchery his closed to the public.

For detailed information on the fire including Operational Period maps, area closure maps, and photos please visit: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3963/.

For information on smoke impacts to air quality in your community, go to the Oregon Smoke Blog at: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.