9/11/2014 REVISED West Fork Fire Update

East Blue Mountain Interagency Type 3 Team Rick Wagner, Incident Commander West Fork Fire Daily Update For September 11, 2014
	West Fork Fire At A Glance
There will be a public meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at the Wallowa Lake Fire Hall, located on Mt. Howard Lane, to provide information about the West Fork Fire.  Please note the Trail Closures and Area Closure described below for the West Fork Fire. Firefighters on the West Fork Fire continue to make progress linking fireline with natural barriers and areas that have already burned.   Weather was favorable again yesterday as temperatures dropped and humidity rose.  Windy conditions late in the afternoon did increase fire behavior as a cold front moved into the area.  Fire personnel will hit the fire hard for the next few days before warmer temperatures return this weekend.  Crews will be using a spike camp along the West Fork Trail to reduce travel time in and out of the fire.    The West Fork Fire is burning subalpine fir, Douglas-fir, brush and grass in steep rugged terrain.  Fire growth has primarily been to the southwest toward the higher elevation rim rocks.  Firefighters have used helicopter water drops to slow fire growth in this inaccessible terrain.  Single tree torching, causing sparks to ignite spot fires outside the existing perimeter is a concern for firefighters. Fire managers encourage the public to respect the trail and area closures around the fire to ensure public and firefighter safety. Wallowa Lake State Park is being utilized as fire camp to support the crews and firefighting resources.  Please use caution in the area. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place for the air space surrounding the West Fork Fire. The TFR has a 5 mile radius.  Details for the West Fork Fire TFR, FDC 4/3745 can be found at http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_3745.html.  This restriction also prohibits para-gliders and hang gliders in this air space near the fire.	Size: 120 acres Location:  7 Miles south of Joseph, Oregon Containment: 10% Cause: Under Investigation Personnel: 120 2 Hot Shot Crews (20 Person) 2 Type 2 Crews (10 person) 7 helicopters Evacuations:  No evacuations currently in place. Closures/Restrictions: The West Fork Trail (Trail #1820) is closed from the junction with the Chief Joseph Trail (Trail #1803) to Six Mile Meadow (junction with Trail #1810).  Ice Lake Trail (#1808) is also closed.  An area closure is in place for the area surrounding the West Fork Fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for a 5 mile radius from the center of the fire. Announcements: Public meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at the Wallowa Lake Fire Hall For More Information: Christie Shaw 541-263-0661 Kathy Arnoldus 541-786-3694 Or visit the fire on inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4101/