Fire Information: 541-523-1246, 541-519-4623, or 541-523-1302
Twitter: @WallowaWhitman
Members of the public interested in receiving fire information updates are asked to send an Email request to WallowaWhitman1@gmail.com.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Effective August 8, 2014, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest moved in to 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.
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. The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has a 14-day stay limit for camping, and visitors should not leave a camp unattended for more than 24 hours. Additional information on the 14 day limit can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5251602.
NEW* Closure Information for the Somers Fire: Fire Managers re-opened the Hat Point Road (FSR #4240) today to Hat Point Overlook and to the Warnock Corral Trailhead. From the Warnock Corral Trailhead, the Western Rim National Recreation Trail north (#1774), also known as the Lord Flat Road (FSR #4240-315), will remain closed to motorized vehicles due to firefighter traffic and safety concerns. Additionally, an area closure to the west of Somers Point will be implemented as well (see enclosed map).
EAGLE CAP WILDERNESS
Hurricane Creek Fire (T3S R44E S15 SE/NW):
Date Started: 7/14/14
Estimated Acreage: 1,780 acres
Location: 4 miles southwest of Joseph, Oregon - Eagle Cap Wilderness, Hurricane Creek, Dunn Creek, Twin Creek, and Thorp Creek drainages
Management Strategy: Suppression Cause: Lightning
Containment: 50%
Terrain: Steep and stringers of dense timber (subalpine fir) Fire Activity: Moderate
Resources Assigned: 1 firefighting personnel
Closures: An Area Closure (defined below) and Closure on Trail #1807 is in place: Commencing at the Forest boundary in the SE ¼ section of Section 3, T. 3 S., R. 44 E. and running in a southerly direction up Hurricane Creek to the SW ¼ of Section 10, T. 3 S., R. 44 E. where it crosses Hurricane Creek to the SW to the eastern edge of the trail corridor for Trail 1807 "Hurricane Creek Trail" then running parallel to the trail corridor to the south to the SW ¼ of Section 27, T. 4 S., R 44 E. where it crosses Hurricane Creek and continues in a southerly direction to the Hurwal Divide in the SE ¼ of Section 10, T. 4 S., R. 44 E., then following the Hurwal Divide to the east and then north to the SW face of Chief Joseph Mt. then NW to the point of commencement. (See Map and Closure on the Forest web site). The Hurricane Creek Trail (#1807) is CLOSED from the Hurricane Creek trailhead near the Falls Creek Forest Camp to the trails junction with Trail #1824 near Billy Jones Creek.
Resources/Structures Threatened: None
Current Status: A few smokes have been visible on the Hurricane Creek Fire. Heat remains in the fire near the base of Sacajawea at the mouth of Thorp Creek and Twin Creek. The fire continues to burn on the interior and has burned in to the south side of the Thorp Creek drainage. Air suppression kept the fire from spreading to the bottom end of Sacajawea Peak and prevent the fire from burning into the Hurricane Creek drainage. A Fire Observer is present to monitor activity and ensure that the fire does not spot across the drainage and will call for air support as needed. Fire activity is primarily on the south end of the fire, burning into the Eagle Cap Wilderness and into Twin and Thorp Creek drainages. The public should expect smoke to be visible periodically, especially during periods of hot and/or windy weather, as the fire continues to spread to the south into the Eagle Cap Wilderness.
China Cap Fire (T4S R42E S25 SE/NE):
Date Started: 7/29/14
Estimated Acreage: 725 acres
Location: Eagle Cap Wilderness, 25 miles east of La Grande (via ground), 12 miles SW of Joseph (via air), burning in between China Cap Ridge and the Minam River drainage
Management Strategy: Suppression Cause: Lightning
Containment: 40%
Terrain: Steep and heavy continuous timber Fire Activity: Minimal
Resources Assigned: IC and a Fire Observer as needed.
Closures: Fire Advisories have been posted at the following trailheads that lead into the area of the China Cap Fire: Sand Pass, Buck Creek, Little Eagle, North Forth Catherine Creek, and Moss Springs. The Elk Creek Trail (Trail#1944) has been re-opened.
Resources/Structures Threatened: None.
Current Status: The fire had one visible smoke on near the perimeter when last patrolled. The fire has burned on the west side of the Minam side of the drainage. A Fire Observer is present on the fire to monitor activity on the west side and call for air support as needed. Much of the fire is burning south east into Elk Creek, and has burned below the retardant line, heading down into China Creek. Fire Managers plan to work on containing the fire on the China Cap side.
Katy Mountain Fire (T4S R43E S7 SE/SW):
Date Started: 8/5/14
Estimated Acreage: 257 acres
Location: Eagle Cap Wilderness, 17 miles east of Union, on north and east side of the Minam River drainage. Fire started in Pole Creek and burned over the top of Katy Mountain.
Management Strategy: Suppression Cause: Unknown
Containment: 0%
Terrain: Steep and heavy continuous timber Fire Activity: Minimal
Resources Assigned: Air patrol
Closures: None
Resources/Structures Threatened: None.
Current Status: The fire had only two visible smokes on the interior when last patrolled. The fire is in subalpine fir over Katy Mountain. Fire burned in to the south aspect of Last Chance Creek. Fire managers are monitoring activity by air and plan to call for resources, as needed.
HELLS CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
5 Mile Fire (Oregon side of the Snake River- T1N, R48E, Sec 34 SW/NW):
Date Started: 8/3/14
Estimated Acreage: 4,524 acres
Location: 2 miles south of the town of Imnaha between the Imnaha River to the west, Hat Point Road to the East, High Camp Creek to the North, and Rippleton Creek to the South.
Management Strategy: Suppression Cause: Unknown
Containment: 95%
Terrain: Steep terrain in timber, grass and understory Fire Activity: Minimal
Resources Assigned: 40 personnel total
Closures: None
Resources/Structures Threatened: None.
Current Status: In patrol status at this time.
Somers Fire (Oregon side of the Snake River- T3N, R50E, Sect 28, NW/SW):
Date Started: 8/3/14
Estimated Acreage: 35,933 acres
Location: 15 miles east of Imnaha in Hells Canyon
Management Strategy: Suppression Cause: Lightning
Containment: 65%
Terrain: Grass, timber heavy dead and down fuels from past burn. Buried propane tanks in hunter camps.
Fire Activity: Moderate
Resources Assigned: Approximately 80 personnel total. The fire is being managed by the Northeast Oregon Interagency Type 3 team led by Incident Commander Rick Wagner.
Closures: Fire Managers re-opened the Hat Point Road (FSR #4240) to Hat Point Overlook and to the Warnock Corral Trailhead. From the Warnock Corral Trailhead, the Western Rim National Recreation Trail north (#1774), also known as the Lord Flat Road (FSR #4240-315), will remain closed to motorized vehicles due to firefighter traffic and safety concerns. Additionally, an area closure to the west of Somers Point will be implemented as well (see enclosed map). The public is reminded that a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Lord Flat Airstrip is still in place.
The description for the area closure is as follows: Starting in the southwest corner, from the junction of Trail #1759 and Trail #1771, to the east along Somers Ridge and Trail #1767. This intersects with Trail #1770, traveling north along Somers Creek (Trail #1770) to Somers Ranch, north on to Trail #1769 to Trail #1750. The closure then goes west on Trail #1750 to Trail #1771. Once crossing Deep Creek, travel along the northern top portion of Sections 16 and 17, following Section lines 16 and 17 west to FSR 4240-315. The closure goes south to junction of FSR 4240-315 and Trail #1770a, then travels east where it intersects with Trail #1771, where it runs south to the origin of the closure.
Resources/Structures Threatened: None.
Current Status: Isolated interior single tree torching with active perimeter creeping and smoldering. Crews will complete rehabilitation work today on the southern portion of the fire. Crews will focus suppression efforts on the north end of the fire, targeting hotspots between Somers Ridge and Deep Creek Ridge. Suppression goals are to transfer the fire back to the district by Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
· Area closures and burning restrictions: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/wallowa-whitman/alerts-notices
Visit the Blue Mountains Interagency Dispatch Center (BMIDC) web site 24 hours a day at: www.bmidc.org or www.inciweb.nwcg.gov for current information about fires, weather, and fire closure information. For more information about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, please call 541-523-1246 or 541-523-1302. Public-use restrictions will be updated on a recorded message line at: Baker City (541) 523-1234, La Grande (541) 962-8679, and Enterprise (541) 426-5552, and are also available online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman/ .
In addition, the following year-round fire restrictions are in effect in the following locations:
· Wallowa-Whitman: Grande Ronde River (WAW Forest Order T-2010-WW-0616-07): Fire restrictions (campfire, smoking, driving off-road) are in effect on lands within a ¼ mile of the Grande Ronde River located in Wallowa county, OR.
· Wallowa-Whitman: Snake River in Hells Canyon NRA (WAW Forest Order 207-01): Yearlong fire restrictions (building, maintaining, attending or using fire or campfires) on land within a ¼ mile of the Snake River in Hells Canyon NRA.
o All lands within ¼ mile of Hells Canyon Reservoir between the mouth of Spring Creek and downstream to Hells Canyon Dam on the Oregon side only.
o All lands within ¼ mile of the Snake River on both sides of the river from Hells Canyon Dam downstream 71.5 river miles to the Oregon-Washington border at Snake River Mile 176.0.
· Wallowa-Whitman: Eagle Cap Wilderness (WAW Forest Order 357-02): Specific campfire restrictions in the Eagle Cap Wilderness such as:
o Building, maintaining, attending or using a camp fire within 100 feet of any lake or posted wetlands (36 CFR 261.52(a)).
o Building, maintaining, attending or using a camp fire within ¼ mile (1320 feet) of the following lakes: Bear Lake (Bear Cr. Area), Blue Lake, Chimney Lake, Dollar Lake, Eagle Lake, Frazier Lake, Little Frazier Lake, Glacier Lake, Hobo Lake, Ice lake, Jewett Lake, Laverty Lake, Maxwell Lake, Mirror Lake, Moccasin Lake, Prospect lake, Steamboat Lake, Sunshine Lake, Swamp Lake, Tombstone Lake, Traverse Lake, and Upper Lake. 36 CFR 261.52(a).
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