8/18/2016 Sheridan Fire Morning Update

Firefighters made good progress suppressing the Sheridan fire through the night last night, completing dozer lines around the fire and conducting burnout operations into the early morning hours.

A new assessment of fire size estimates the Sheridan fire is around 169 acres and 10 percent contained, burning in predominantly lodgepole pine forested terrain. Reported yesterday at 4:30 p.m. by the Lava Butte Lookout, the fire's cause remains under investigation.

A Type 3 incident management team took command of the fire at 6 a.m. this morning and will continue working throughout the day to further containment of the fire. The incident command post is located at Wanoga Sno Park.

The team reports the fire still has potential to move to the south or southeast. They will focus firefighting efforts around the southeast flank this morning.

Around 250 personnel are engaged in the firefighting effort this morning, which includes 10 engines, 4 dozers, 4 water tenders, and multiple crews and aircraft. The wildfire response is a multi-agency effort, with support from Sunriver Fire Department, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Oregon Department of Forestry, Forest Service and BLM, among others.

A Level 1 evacuation notice remains in effect for homes in the Fall River Estates subdivision and properties near the Fall River Fish Hatchery.

Multiple roads surrounding the fire are closed to public traffic. Road closures are in place at:

Forest Road 42/4220 junction

Forest Road 42/4230 junction

Forest Road 46/45 junction

Forest Road 40/4230 junction

Forest Road 40/41 junction

Forest Road 42/4240 junction

Forest Road 40/4270 junction

Smoke impacts to the surrounding area are expected to remain in effect throughout the morning.