9/01/2014 - 790 Fire Update

The 790 Fire is located 10 miles southeast of Prospect, Oregon and is burning in the Sky Lakes Wilderness. The fire is being fought with the objective of immediate full suppression, using tactics suitable to management objectives in the wilderness including utilizing natural barriers and containment lines.

Yesterday’s Operations – Nearly 440 firefighters are “spiked out”—living in very elementary temporary camps—around the perimeter of the fire close to the fireline. Helicopters supported firefighters in the wilderness by dropping water on hotspots and supplying eight spike camps. Pack strings of mules were used to deliver supplies and to move campsites as the work shifts. The fire continued to burn with isolated areas of intense heat. Helicopters were very effective in keeping these areas from developing into larger, faster moving fires, allowing firefighters to continue with direct attack on the perimeter. 

Firefighters continued extending a hose network across the northern and southern flanks and building fireline directly against the fire’s edge. Firefighters strengthened lines on the east flank and “mopped up”—applying water to the burned area next to the fireline to extinguish all heat. Several mobile pump/tank combination modules were flown into the Wilderness and were resupplied by helicopter, allowing firefighters to avoid using water from sensitive lakes that are already drought stressed. Clearing of material continued on indirect contingency lines in roaded areas outside the wilderness.

Weather and Fire Behavior –Firefighters expect drier air today with winds from the northwest to north on ridges. Very dry fuels could contribute to active fire spread with group tree torching and short-range spotting. A continued trend toward drier air and slightly higher temperatures will increase the potential for active fire behavior over the next several days.

Today’s Operations – Firefighters will continue direct suppression and mop-up in the wilderness using natural fuel breaks such as rock outcrops and building fireline where possible. Indirect tactics will be used outside of the wilderness including continued clearing and preparing existing roads to be used as containment lines, should they be needed.

Closures - The Pacific Crest Trail remains closed from the south boundary of Crater Lake National Park south to Highway 140. In addition, other trails near the fire area are closed within the Sky Lakes Wilderness. An area closure remains in effect around the fire. These closures are for both firefighter and public safety. Hunters and recreationalists need to be aware of the very dry conditions and take precautions.

Pacific Crest Trail information is available at http://www.pcta.org/ .

There is especially heavy fire traffic on the Westside Road between Short Creek and Malone Springs Roads. The public is advised to drive cautiously when traveling near fire operations during this busy holiday weekend.