8/14/2014 5 Mile and Somers Fire Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 14, 2014 PM

Somers and 5 Mile Fires, Joseph, Oregon

Information Contact Number: 541-432-0119

Location:  Two fires near Imnaha, Oregon.

This will be the last Fire Update from Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3 (Team).  The Team would like to thank the local communities, Wallowa County, cooperators, and private landowners for assisting the Team in the suppression efforts of the 5 Mile and Somers Fires.

Current Situation:

The Eastern Great Basin Team 4 will assume command of the 5 Mile and Somers Fires tomorrow morning at 6 am. Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3 will return home and be available for reassignment in three days.

Somers Fire –There was very little movement of the Somers Fire perimeter again today. The fire received .2 to .5 inches to rain today. This morning, helicopters dropped water to cool the northwest flank until the weather closed in and halted all aerial operations for the day. Prep of the Memaloose Guard Station and Hat Point Overlook has been completed for defending the improvements from fire. Firefighters completed approximately six miles of containment line along Summit Ridge prepping the two-track trail from the Memaloose airstrip north toward Grassy Knoll. A previously used containment line from an old incident was also utilized.  The helibase is located near Thomason Meadows. An additional spike camp is located at Memaloose Guard Station. Helicopters will continue dipping water from the Snake River, so boaters should remain aware of this and other fire related activities and use caution while in the area. Hazards in the area include caches of propane tanks stored by hunters, poisonous snakes, poisonous plants, rolling rocks, and treacherous terrain.

Start Date-August 3

Cause-Lightning 

Acres- 27,000  

Percent Contained-35% 

Total Personnel-325

            Crews-6           Engines-2        Helos–8           Water Tender-2           Jet Boat-1

5 Mile Fire –This fire is now in patrol status. Three engines were dispatched to initial attack several new fire starts.  Those engines have been replaced with newly arrived engines.

Start Date-August 3 

Cause-Under investigation 

Acres- 4,524

Percent Contained-95%

Total Personnel-44

            Crew-1                        Engines-6

Weather:

Occasional showers and thunderstorms are forecasted for tomorrow. A seasonal weather pattern of warm and dry conditions will return this weekend and continue through next week.

Closures:

The Hat Point Road FR4240 on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest remains closed to the public.  The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has placed a Closure Order closing the Oregon river frontage of the Snake River ¼ mile inland.  The river will be closed on the Oregon side from Copper Creek to Rush Creek. For a full listing of the closures, please see the following link

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3812309.pdf

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR):  A TFR remains located over the Somers Fire. Please check the NOTAM for current information. This TFR is in place for safety to restrict other aircraft from entering the fire area while incident aircraft are working.

For more information on the 5 Mile and Somers Fires visit:

Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4048/ and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4053/

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