8/20/16 Central Oregon Fires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            August 20, 2016

Contact: COIDC Information (541) 416-6811                                             

Firefighters Make Progress on all Three Central Oregon Wildfires

Central Ore. – Firefighters reported significant progress today on all three wildfires burning in Central Oregon:

• Crews on Incident #516 on Tumalo Mountain across from Mount Bachelor ended the day with a report of “no smoke, no heat,” and the fire is fully contained.
• The day shift on the Pine Mountain Fire burning east of Bend continued the work started by the night shift and held the fire at 252 acres today; the fire is now 60% contained. The Observatory and nearby campground are open.
• Finally, fire crews on the Sheridan Fire burning near Sunriver also made gains; the Sheridan Fire remains about 200 acres and is also 60% contained. The Level 1 Evacuation for Fall River Estates and the Fall River Fish Hatchery lifted this afternoon. Fire Officials are keeping the 40, 45 and 4220 Roads closed due to the high number of hazard trees. Visitors in Sunriver trying to get to the Cascade Lakes Highway can head west from Sunriver on the 42 Road, or north from Sunriver on the 41 Road.

Much of Central Oregon is under a Red Flag Warning tomorrow for low relative humidity and increasing wind. This means that wildfires that start are very likely to spread rapidly. Low RH and wind, combined with continued warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.  Please continue to use caution when recreating out in the woods and rangelands – make sure campfires are out when someone isn’t there to watch them, dispose of cigarettes properly, and avoid parking over vegetation.

  

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