07/29/2017 Upper Mine Wildfire - Final Update

Upper Mine Wildfire Update

Fact Sheet July 29, 2017 – PM

Announcements: This will be the last fire update from Johnson’s NWIMT8.  Management of the Upper Mine Fire will transition to Kevin Thissell, incident commander (IC), of a local, type 4 organization at 6:00 am tomorrow.  The incident command post will be established in Fields, Oregon.

IC Johnson would like to thank all the local community members for their patience and cooperation during our suppression efforts.

Fire Information Center: (541) 670-0812 (cellphone) Available 7:30 am to 9:00 pm tonight.

The new number beginning at 8:00 am tomorrow, July 30^th, (541) 573-4519 or e-mail tthissell@blm.gov

Information Websites: Inciweb – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5425/ and Facebook Upper Mine Wildfire; this Facebook page will be closed tomorrow morning but will remain viewable.

Incident Management: Northwest Incident Management Team 8 (NWIMT8), Doug Johnson, IC, will transition management of this fire at 6:00 am tomorrow morning. 

Fire Size: 4,135 acres

Percent Contained: 95%

Threatened:  Structures-18 total (3 residences); fire spread has been checked by containment efforts but is unlikely to escape containment lines.

Closures: None 

Cause: Fires started July 24, 2017.  The cause was lightning.

Resources:  Total personnel assigned - 74; 1-type 1 crew, 1-helicopter, 11-engines, 1-dozer, and 1-water tender.

Air Operations:  The temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over Mahogany and Upper Mine Fires will be removed by 8:00 pm.  Please check the NOTAMs prior to flying. Flying within the TFR is prohibited and against the law.

Weather:  Hot and dry conditions will continue through-out the week with temperatures near 90 degrees and relative humidity in the lower teens.  Tonight will be partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms through 12:00 am.  Temperatures will be in the mid-50’s to upper 60’s with a relative humidity of 30-50%. General winds will be from the west at 6-8 mph.

Today’s Operations: Firefighters hiked to the fire’s flank north of Pueblo Mountain to mop-up any remaining heat.  Helicopters assisted the crew with water drops.  Other firefighters patrolled for smoke around structures.

Firefighters remain diligent and at the ready to respond to any new wildfire starts.

An Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) of III, partial shutdown, is in effect on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Burns District and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Public use restrictions are also in effect.  For more information on the IFPL, fire danger or public use restrictions, call the Burns Interagency Communication Center at (541) 573-4545. To report a wildfire, call (541) 573-1000.       

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