Excellent progress
continues to be made by firefighters to contain the 36 Pit Fire. The
northwestern portion of the fire which is closest to any homes or
structures is becoming more secure. The northwestern and northern flanks
of the fire are nearly completely lined. Firefighters are mopping up
and putting out hot spots adjacent to the firelines, making the lines
more secure. Last night, crews continued to mop up hot spots and secure
the area of the fire closest to the Silver Fox RV Park. Yesterday,
residents of the RV Park were escorted by Estacada Fire District and the
Oregon State Fire Marshal’s IMT Blue Team personnel allowing residents
to obtain necessities from their homes.
The
fire is burning in extremely steep terrain presenting crews with
hazards such as rolling debris. However, elite hot shot crews are
building hand line at the fire’s southern perimeter from the ridge tops
to the highway and Clackamas River. Today, crews also plan to build hand
line directly adjacent to the southern perimeter of the fire located
south of Highway 224. In addition, contingency containment lines are
being “prepped” along roads located near the southern perimeter of the
fire. “Prepping” of these roads consists of removing smaller understory
trees and brush resulting in the roads becoming more defensible should
the fire approach these roads.
Fire
managers are evaluating whether the South Fork of the Clackamas River
would serve as a good barrier to the fire. However, contingency plans
are being developed to contain the fire should the fire move west of the
South Fork. The fire has not moved appreciably in any direction since its initial spread last Sunday and Monday.
Due
to the decreased threat to structures, the Oregon Fire Marshal Blue
Team will be demobilizing at end of today’s shift. The Unified Command
Team has been greatly appreciative of the team’s contribution to the
suppression of this fire.
Weather
conditions continue to assist firefighters in their efforts to suppress
the fire. Cooler temperatures, light winds, and high humidity including
some measureable rain are predicted through tomorrow. Fire managers
intend to take advantage of the favorable weather to suppress the fire
before the expected warm and dry weather on Saturday.
Local
resource advisors have also been an integral component of the fire
suppression team. Resource Advisors collaborate with fire managers to
fight fire aggressively while protecting resources such as fisheries,
cultural resources and wilderness values. If the fire moves into a
congressionally designated wilderness area, minimum impact suppression
tactics (MIST) will be implemented.
The
public is urged to be aware of increased fire related traffic on local
roads and to drive defensively. For information related to evacuations,
please go to: http://www.clackamas.us or call 503-655-8224. Information related to smoke can be found at: www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com For more information, please use the contact information listed above.
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