9/13/2015 Canyon Creek Complex Update

LEVEL 2 EVACUATION NOTICE ISSUED BY THE GRANT COUNTY SHERRIFF’S OFFICE: Residents in the following area of Dog Creek Road are affected; 2 miles South of Hwy 26 to the Northern fire perimeter, West of Diesel Creek, East of Little Dog Creek. Residents are advised to pack emergency items, pay close attention to updates from the Grant County Sherriff’s Office, and be prepared to evacuate should the need arise.

On the fire

• The John Day Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team has assumed command of the Canyon Creek Complex as of 6:00 am today.
  
• Today’s maximum temperatures are forecasted to be 5-10 degrees cooler than yesterday’s record tying temperatures. While temperatures will be cooler, humidity will remain low today and tonight. As the weather transitions to cooler tempertures and higher humidity over the next couple days, an increase in northwest wind is expected as early as mid-day today. Red flag warnings have been issued for parts of eastern Washington and north-central Oregon. No red flag warnings or fire weather watches have been issued for our area.
• Aircraft will continue aerial suppression today, cooling areas of heat enough for firefighters to access and extinguish hot spots.
• No heat was found on the Strawberry Lake and Slide Lake spot fires with infra-red cameras or by firefighters. All firefighters have hiked out of the area and are engaged elsewhere on the fire today.
• The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team continues to assess areas damaged by the fire. They are evaluating areas in need of emergency stabilization to prevent resource damage such as erosion and water runoff.

Canyon Creek Complex Facts
Type, cause, date started: The lightning-caused wildfire began August 12, 2015.
Location: One mile south of the towns of John Day and Canyon Creek.
Fuels: Timber, brush and grass understory and medium density logging slash
Structures Damaged: 50, Destroyed: 43
Size: 110,422 acres. Containment: 90%
Personnel: 362 Resources: (2) Type 1 crews, (4) Type 2IA crews, (2) Type 2 crews, (3) helicopters, (6) engines, (4) dozers, (7) water tenders, (2) skidgines.

Open and closed

• Malheur National Forest has area and road closures in the fire area. The Starr Ridge and Parish Cabin Campgrounds are now open to the public as well as the FS Road 15 from the junction of County Road 65 to the junction of FS Road 16. IFPL III and Public Use Restrictions B are in effect. Public Use Restrictions B regulate campfires, use of combustion engines, chainsaws, smoking, and off-road and off-trail vehicle travel.
  
• Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT): Highway 395 is open for two-way travel. A pilot car may be on site to lead traffic in specific areas between 6 am and 4:30 pm.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office reminds people to be respectful of private property and to remain on the road unless invited. Trespassing is punishable by law and violators will be prosecuted

For More Information

Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4495/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/canyoncreekfireoregon 

and www.facebook.cm/malheurnationalforest

Malheur National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/malheur/

Air Quality Index: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Malheur Hunting Information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3852316