06/30/2015 Central Oregon Evening Update

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FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

For Immediate Release:  June 30, 2015 6:00 p.m.

Central Oregon Fire EVENING Update

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Firefighters on the Corner Creek Fire (formerly Incident #297) continued to be challenged by high temperatures and low relative humidity today which contributed to rapid wildfire growth.

The Corner Creek Fire located 11 miles south of Dayville, Oregon near the Black Canyon Wilderness, experienced significant growth and is estimated to be 2,500 acres with no containment. A VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker), three tankers, 4 SEATs (Single Engine Air Tankers), and three helicopters have been working on structure protection where the fire has threatened cabins and various outbuildings along Wind Creek. The fire is continuing to push south and west burning in light grass and brush.

At 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1 will assume command of the Corner Creek, Sugarloaf and #296 fires. The Sugarloaf Fire is still the largest fire in Central Oregon at 5,016 acres and 20% containment. Incident #296 burning about 1 mile south of Dayville grew to about 65 acres. Firefighters are working on containment.

Firefighters were able to respond quickly to lightning start (#283) on the east end of the Maury Mountains east of Prineville this morning, keeping it under ¼ acre. This fire was a “holdover” from lightning storms that have tracked through Central Oregon in the past week. These holdovers can ignite fires up to 2 weeks after the initial lightning strike so fire crews will remain stationed around Central Oregon to respond as quickly as possible to any new fires.

Red Flag Warnings remain in effect through 9 p.m. tonight for lightning, primarily in areas east of Prineville.

  

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