8/19/2017 Nena Springs Fire Update

Nena Springs Fire Update - Aug. 19 Office: (541) 460-7525 Email: NenaFire2017@gmail.com InciWeb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5489 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CTWSFireMgt/

Evacuation Notices Lower on the Nena Springs Fire Warm Springs OR –This morning, Warm Springs Law Enforcement officers again reduced the Kah-Nee-Ta Resort Evacuation Notice to a Level 1. Charley Canyon, Webster Flat Road, South Junction, Culpus Bridge, and Wolf Point Subdivision were also reduced to a Level 2 Evacuation Notice.  All roads except Webster Flat are open. If traveling , please be aware of fire traffic and drive safely. Lighter wind today will slow fire growth. High temperatures are returning. This warmer weather will create dryer conditions.  In the last two days, the fire has gained just over 19,000 acres, bringing the fire’s total to 66,003 acres. With the size growth, firefighters are now working to keep the fire west of Deschutes River; south of Highway 216; east of Highway 26, and north of BIA Road 3. They are also working to keep it out of Beaver Creek Canyon. Their priority is to keep the public and firefighter safe during these intense periods of fire growth while also protecting structures, timber, natural resources, and visual resources. Where possible, firefighters will take advantage of opportunities to use fire to fight the fire in order to create or strengthen containment lines. Structural engines will be supporting these efforts, and ensuring the fire does not threaten structures again. Overnight, firefighters constructed a contingency dozer line along the northern flank of the fire where the new fire growth took place. Other firefighters worked containment lines where new fire growth took place to extinguish heat 50-100 feet inside the burned area.  There was no new growth last night. A large airtanker was used yesterday evening to strategically place a line of retardant along a ridgeline where the fire crossed the Warm Springs River. The fire ran less than a half mile before this action effectively stopped the run. Two Bureau of Land Management engines also successfully extinguished a fire that had grown a ¼ acre across the Deschutes River. They are in place working to prevent any fires from establishing east of the river. The Deschutes River is open to rafters; however, Bureau of Land Management river rangers will stop rafters if a helicopter comes in to dip from the River.  Smoke from the Nena Springs Fire may become visible over the river. Evacuation Notices: Charley Canyon, Webster Flat Road, South Junction, Culpus Bridge, and Wolf Point Subdivision are at a Level 2 Evacuation Notice. The Kah-Nee-Ta Resort & Spa is at a Level 1 evacuation notice. Evacuation Center: The Red Cross established an evacuation center at the Warm Springs Community Center for residents that have been evacuated. Road Closures: Webster Flat Road is closed to all traffic.