8/27/2014 Bald Sisters Fire Update

Acres:   1,179  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:   98

Resources: 2 20-person handcrews, 5 staffed engines, 2 dozers, 2 water tenders

Fire Activity

An infrared flight over the fire area last night around 10:00 p.m. picked up additional areas of heat inside the fire's perimeter, after increased smoke was observed yesterday afternoon. The total area burned is now slightly larger at 1,179 acres.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Winds will shift direction today, coming out of the southwest at 5-10 mph with gusts up to 15 mph. The forecast is slightly warmer than yesterday, with an expected high of 88 degrees. Relative humidity during the day will remain around 15%, back up to 80% at night.  Smoldering and creeping fire will continue, with isolated flare ups. Minimal spread is expected. Little smoke will be visible from Highway 26, Prairie City and John Day. 

Today's Operations

Focus will continue to work on completing suppression rehab efforts and monitoring for additional fire growth and movement. Indirect line construction is complete. Crews are prepared to respond should fire spread increase or new fires start.

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 except in designated campgrounds, chainsaws (firewood cutting), internal combustion engines, smoking, generators, and off-road/off-trail vehicle travel. Find more on PUR's 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 South Fork Complex, please contact the Malheur National Forest at 541-575-3000.