8/24/2015 Bendire Complex Update - Contained

Bendire Complex Contained

Vale, Ore., August 24, 2015 – The Bendire Complex Fire which had burned nearly 45,000 acres of rangeland 15 miles north of Juntura, was contained over the weekend.

The fire has since been downgraded to a Type IV fire. Resources that are still on scene are in patrol status, meaning that they are working to identify what, if any, danger still exists for the fire to jump the established perimeter. The fire was officially contained on Saturday, August 22 at 6 p.m. The fire began the morning of August 11, and at its height, commanded the attention of scores of engines, hand crews, bulldozers and aircraft.

The Bendire Complex also burned at one of the most vulnerable times in recent memory for wildfire resources. The Bendire Complex burned at nearly the same time as the Cornet and Windy Ridge Fires near Baker City, the El Dorado Fire near Unity and the Soda fire west of Boise, ID.

The entire nation, and especially the northwest U.S., is currently at Preparedness Level 5 (PL-5) —meaning that wildfire resources are almost completely committed to existing incidents. The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group (NMAC) at the National Interagency Fire Center established PL-5 early this month. 

“We don’t have the fire under control yet, but it is well contained,” said Bob Narus, Fire Management Officer for the Vale District Bureau of Land Management (BLM). “With conditons the way they are it’s essential that we have those resources that were previously committed to the Bendire Complex ready to take on any new fires that might start.”

New starts are a very real possibility. Relative humidity remains extremely low and according to forecasts, temperatures are expected to remain high well into September.

“We’re only halfway through fire season,” said Don Gonzalez, Vale District BLM Manager. “Kids are back to school, but the summer isn’t over for us.” Gonzalez also warns the public that with fires so widespread and resources so limited, it is crucial that fire restrictions are observed.

“Lightning can’t be avoided, it’s just part of life around here,” Gonzalez said. “The last thing we need though, is an avoidable fire.”

The current fire restrictions in effect can be found on the Vale BLM website at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/Fire_Prevention_Order1.pdf.