9/14/2014 West Fork Fire Update

Good morning, here's the Fire Update for the West Fork Fire for today and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me on my cell or at work tomorrow.  Cell is 541-519-4623 and work is 541-523-4623. Thank you and have a wonderful Sunday! Jodi Kramer, Wallowa-Whitman Public Affairs Officer

East Blue Mountain Local Interagency Type 3 Team Rick Wagner, Incident Commander West Fork Fire Daily Update For September 14, 2014
Please note the Trail Closures and Area Closure described below for the West Fork Fire. Today firefighters are continuing to extinguish hot spots near the perimeter of the West Fork Fire in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.  Helicopters will be used to drop water from buckets in areas that flare up, and in steep rugged places that are inaccessible to ground crews.  Meals and supplies are being flown in to crews at the spike camp located near the fire, about 3 miles from the West Fork Wallowa River trailhead.  Many resources will be demobilized to return home on Monday, leaving one crew and two helicopters to continue to work on the fire. There will still be some visible smoke within secure areas in the West Fork Fire until the fall rains and snow extinguish the fire. Crews are implementing the suppression rehabilitation plan to reduce adverse impacts to natural resources resulting from firefighting activities. The focus of this work is to prevent the spread of noxious weeds, protect cultural resources, maintain water quality and aquatic habitat in streams, minimize soil loss, maintain habitat diversity for wildlife and plant species, restore wilderness values, and minimize damage to trails. 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.  West Fork Fire at a Glance Size: 135 acres Location:  7 Miles south of Joseph, Oregon Containment: 35% 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 Wallowa River 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: Kathy Arnoldus 541-786-3694 Or visit the fire on inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4101/