9/18/2015 Canyon Creek Fire Update

THE GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CONTINUES THE LEVEL 1 EVACUATION NOTICE: Affected residents in the Dog Creek area are advised to be fire ready, pay close attention to updates from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and be prepared to evacuate should the need arise. Starting today, Friday 9/18, this update will be produced and disseminated every other day or as significant events occur. Please contact fire information at the number or email above with any questions or concerns.

Current situation:

· The fire area received varying amounts of rain yesterday and higher elevations saw a dusting of snow. Clear skies and seasonable temperatures have returned to the area and are forecasted to remain through next week.

· Work continues around the fire perimeter to repair areas where suppression efforts damaged the landscape and fences. Two crews continue working to cool areas of heat on the southeastern portion of the fire.

· The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has finished the initial evaluations and is working on compiling their findings. A presentation from the BAER team will detail their findings at a Community Meeting being held Monday, 9/21, at the Canyon City Community Center at 5:30pm. Multiple agencies will be in attendance to help those affected by the wildfire find ways to start rebuilding.

· When traveling through the fire area it is important to remember that many hazards remain in the burned areas. Fire weakened trees can topple easily, large ash pits can appear cool but hold significant heat well into the winter, and burned out root holes can lead to twisted knees and ankles.

· Smoke from the interior of the fire will remain visible in many areas until a season ending event, such as steady rain over a long period of time or the formation of winter snow pack, arrives.

Open and closed

· Malheur National Forest has area and road closures in the fire area. The Starr Ridge and Parish Cabin Campgrounds are 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 II and Public Use Restrictions A are in effect. Public Use Restrictions A regulates 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/
Malheur Hunting Information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3852316