9/17/2015 Dry Gulch Update

Dry Gulch Fire 60 percent contained

Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Incident Management Team 3
Link Smith, Incident Commander

September 17, 2015 Update

Halfway, Ore – Due to better mapping, the Dry Gulch Fire that started Saturday, September 12, stands at 17,800 acres and is now 60 percent contained. Total suppression costs to date are estimated at $1.5 million.

All evacuation level notifications for communities surrounding the fire have been lifted. To learn more about the Ready Set Go evacuation level system, visit www.wildlandfirersg.org .

Firefighters will continue mopping up hot spots near the fire perimeter to prevent any future flare ups and spread. Rehabilitation efforts are also taking place to repair the landscape and infrastructure damaged by fire suppression efforts. Rehab work includes mending fences and constructing water bars along dozer and hand lines to prevent future erosion from heavy rains.

Oregon Department of Forestry’s Type 1 Incident Management Team is also preparing to transition the fire back to a smaller fire management organization. The team is expected to hand the fire back to local jurisdictions at the end of shift Friday and travel back to their respective home units Saturday. There are currently 216 personnel assigned to the fire consisting of 48 overhead, six 20-person crews, 15 fire engines, two bulldozers, one water tender and one helicopter.

To stay current on fire information, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drygulchfire2015 or at www.oregon.gov/odf. To check on this fire and others across the country, visit www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.