7/24/2014 Oregon Dept. of Forestry fire update

This is an Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF) fire update for July 24, 2014.

FIRES

Large fires currently burning within ODF's protection jurisdiction include:

Waterman Complex – Consists of multiple fires totaling 12,520 acres burning near the community of Mitchell in the John Day Unit of the Central Oregon District. Reported July 14, the lightning-caused complex is currently 90 percent contained and in full mop-up. Lightning Tuesday evening produced three new fire starts. Firefighters performed initial attack Wednesday, and one of the fires will require additional action today. As the weather warms, firefighters will be on the lookout for sleeper fires from previous lightning strikes. The Oregon Dept. of Transportation is doing maintenance on Highway 26 today, to include clearing plugged culverts, clearing ditch lines, and removing rocks from the roadway. Resources at the fire include: one hand crew, one helicopter, 34 fire engines and a total of 781 personnel. Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3 is leading the firefighting effort.

Pine Creek Fire – Includes 1,954 acres of ODF-protected lands. It is currently 88 percent contained. Fire activity has been reduced to hot spots and interior smoldering. Today firefighters will work on any hot spots that could threaten fire lines, and will continue mop-up. Resources include: 16 hand crews, 33 fire engines, eight water tenders and a total of 612 personnel. The Northern Rockies Incident Management Team is leading the firefighting effort.

Sunflower Fire – The fire is 7,170 acres and 70 percent contained. It is burning on Umatilla National Forest, and on Bureau of Land Management-Prineville lands protected by ODF. The fire has also burned 250 acres of private land. Today firefighters are continuing to secure completed fire line, mop up hot spots, and rehabilitate fire line. Resources include 14 hand crews, 22 fire engines and 520 total personnel.

Fires on other jurisdictions in Oregon

(More information on the following fires can be found at: http://nwccweb.us/index.aspx and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/.)

Pine Creek Fire – 30,245 acres, 88 percent contained.

 Black Rock Fire –35,731 acres, 90 percent contained.
Donnybrook Fire – 22,763 acres, 87 percent contained.

 Bridge 99 Complex - 5,917 acres, 50 percent contained.

 Ochoco Complex – 10,195 acres, 32 percent contained.

 Bingham Complex – 452 acres, 50 percent contained.

 Pittsburg Fire – 8,288 acres, 100 percent contained.

 Hurricane Creek Fire – 645 acres, 20 percent contained.

 Buzzard Complex – 395,747 acres, 95 percent contained.

 Center Fire – 2,515 acres, 41 percent contained.

 Logging Unit Fires – 10,350 acres, 30 percent contained.

 Shaniko Butte Fire – 40,575 acres, 80 percent contained.

 Gumboot Fire – 4,420 acres, 90 percent contained.

FIRE STATISTICS

Due to heavy firefighting activity our fire statistics have not been updated. They will return when the database has been made current.

Statewide air quality index readings are available at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx.

OTHER FIRE INFORMATION

ODF maintains a blog at http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/, which includes breaking news on wildfires statewide, along with current fire statistics, and a frequently updated Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/ORDeptForestry.

For information on wildfires in other jurisdictions within Oregon, go to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center website, http://www.nwccweb.us/ and to the national Incident Information System website at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/.

Statewide air quality index readings are available at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx.

NEWS MEDIA

News media may call the Fire Information Duty Officer, (see below), 24/7 for fire information. The duty officer will call back promptly. Media may also call the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters office, 503-945-7200, weekdays during business hours.