9/13/2014 West Fork Fire Update

East Blue Mountain Local Interagency Type 3 Team Rick Wagner, Incident Commander West Fork Fire Daily Update For September 13, 2014
	West Fork Fire at a Glance
Please note the Trail Closures and Area Closure described below for the West Fork Fire. Fire crews are strengthening fireline on the West Fork Fire and are working to extinguish hot spots near the perimeter.  Friday afternoon water drops from a helicopter were used in inaccessible areas of the fire where significant heat remained.  As crews work in the steep rugged terrain, they must be cautious of rolling debris as well as falling snags which have burned through at the base.  The firefighter spike camp located near the fire is being utilized to allow the firefighters more rest and eliminate the three mile hike to the fire.  A kitchen and crew from the Snake River Corrections Facility is providing meals to support the fire crews working at the spike camp, helibase, and incident command post.   Firefighters continue to use techniques to ensure suppression activities in this part of the Eagle Cap Wilderness are not readily observed by future visitors.  This includes tactics such as minimizing chainsaw use and constructing fireline only to the size needed to limit fire spread. Development of a rehabilitation plan has been started to ensure wilderness values are protected.  We expect crews to begin working on items from this plan as we transition from securing the fireline and mop-up into the patrol phase. Fire managers encourage the public to respect the trail and area closures around the fire to ensure public and firefighter safety.  A portion of 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: 135 acres Location:  7 Miles south of Joseph, Oregon Containment: 25% Cause: Under Investigation Personnel:  94 2 Hot Shot Crews (20 Person) 2 Type 2 Crews (10 person) 3 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. 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/