7/11/2017 Ana Fire Evening update

The Ana Fire is 50 percent contained and remains at 5,833 acres with minimal fire growth occurring today. Approximately 400 firefighters are working to suppress this human-caused wildfire. A group of wildland fire engines, water tenders, fireline supervisors and a helicopter were reassigned to two new wildfires in South Central Oregon.

Fire crews and bulldozers made significant progress today building containment lines on Winter Rim between Forest Road 2901 and Highway 31 in an effort to stop the fire from progressing further south. Helicopters supported ground personnel with water drops to address areas of heat along the fire’s edge. Steep, rocky terrain with limited access continues to challenge fire suppression efforts along the southern fire perimeter, so an alternate control line was built above Summer Lake as a precautionary measure.

Firefighters continued patrolling and reinforcing containment lines along the west, north and east areas of the fire. Unburned pockets of fuel with large downed logs continue burning well within the fire perimeter producing smoke that may be seen from the local communities, but pose no threat to fire containment.

Northwest Incident Management Team 12 under Incident Commander Richy Harrod is currently managing the wildfire in conjunction with local land management agencies. The Incident Command Post is located at the North Lake School in Silver Lake, Ore. 

Highway 31 is open with flaggers managing through traffic during fire operations. Motorists should use extra care, expect delays and use alternate routes if possible.

A Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation notification remains in place for the area along Hwy. 31. This notice covers two miles north of Forest Road 2901 and extends two miles south of The Lodge at Summer Lake, as well as all of Ana Estates.

Freemont Point Lookout was not affected, however, the Fremont-Winema National Forest has closed the site through August 1 to allow unrestricted suppression and recovery traffic in the area. Reservation holders will be notified by www.recreation.gov and receive a refund.

 

A long, wet spring yielded an abundance of grass, which is now dry enabling fire to spread rapidly. Please be extremely careful with any type of heat source, including power tools, firearms and vehicles as well as more traditional sources of fire, such as matches and lighters. 
 

Please note, the fire information and media contact number has changed to (458) 206-1737. The contact email, scofmp.fire.info@gmail.com, is the same. Daily wildfire information, maps and social media links can be found at https://tinyurl.com/SCOFMP.