8/26/2014 Bald Sisters Fire Update

Acres:   1,138                                   

Start date:  August 2, 2014

Cause:  Lightning                           

Location: 12 Miles East of Prairie City, OR

Containment:   0%                          

Fuels: Timber (litter and understory)

Terrain:   Steep, Rugged              

                                                      Total personnel:   91

Resources: 3 crews, 8 engines, 2 Dozers, 2 Water tenders, Helicopters: 2

 

Weather and Fire Behavior

The forecast is for mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the low 80's for the John Day Valley. Relative humidity rates will drop even further to the 15% range during the day, but back up to 80% at night. Winds are expected out of the north to be 8-10 mph. High pressures will be building throughout the week with a warming and drying trend.

 

Resultant fire behavior includes smoldering, creeping with isolated flare ups. As the weather continues to warm up, single tree torching may occur. Minimal expected is expected. Smoke may be visible from Highway 26, Prairie City and John Day.

 

Today's Operations

Focus will be on completing suppression rehab efforts and monitoring for fire growth and movement. Indirect line construction is complete. Crews are prepared to respond should fire spread increase. Helicopters are also available to drop water on hot spots if needed.

 

Closures

The reduced area closure for the Bald Sisters Fire took effect on Saturday, August 23, specifically:

·         Starting at the Malheur National Forest (MNF) boundary and Forest Road (FR) 2635 in Sec. 30, T 13S, R 35E to the intersection with Forest Service Road (FSR) 489 in Sec. 8, T 13S, R 35E.

·         East to intersection with FSR156 in Sec. 14, T 13S, R 35E, to intersection with FSR 2635, Sec. 14, T 13S, R 35E.

·         East on FSR 2635 to intersection with FSR 2652 in Sec. 9, T 13S, R 35 ½E. South to the Grant/Baker County line in section 10, T14S R35 ½ E;

·         Southwesterly along the Grant/Baker County line to FSR 13 in Sec. 17, T 14S, R 35 ½ E.

·         North and northwesterly on FSR 13 to the MNF boundary in Sec. 31, T 13S, and R 35E.

·         North along MNF boundary to starting point at FSR 2635.

·         Road 2652 on the east side of the fire area is closed to traffic. FSR 13 and all other main routes around the area closure are open to travel. The lands within boundaries described above are closed. Use caution when driving FSR 13 since fire line clearing equipment and crews may still be working in the area.

 

Malheur National Forest official Area Closure Orders will be available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/malheur/alerts-notices. As conditions warrant, Forest Officials may modify the closure areas. This information will be shared as soon as the decisions are made. 

 

As hunting season approaches, Forest officials want to remind visitors to check frequently with local district offices on fires in the area and closures associated with fire activity.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS:   The Malheur National Forest is currently in Phase B of the Public Use Restrictions (PURs), which prohibits or restricts use of campfires, chainsaws (firewood cutting), internal combustion engines, smoking, generators, and off-road/off-trail vehicle travel.  The following are exempt from Phase B of the PURs: Eagle Cap Wilderness, Hells Canyon Wilderness, Monument Rock Wilderness, and North Fork John Day Wilderness.  However there are year-round fire restrictions that are still in effect in these Wilderness areas and can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/PURS.

Forest officials encourage everyone to be safe and careful when recreating or using the National Forest. Although cooler temperatures and precipitation moved across the Forest last week, not all parts of the Forest received precipitation and the weather is forecasted to become hot and dry this week. Due to this, Fire Managers are leaving Public Use Restrictions in Phase B, and evaluating conditions frequently based on current weather predictions. Fire Managers anticipate detecting holdover fires from past lightning storms over the next several days as conditions warrant. 

Maps and other information of the Bald Sisters Fire are available online at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4055/.

For further information on the Bald Sisters Fire, please contact the Malheur National Forest at 541-575-3000.