7/31/2018 Wilson Prairie AM Update

Wilson Prairie Fire Update

Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson

July 31, 2018 - 9:00 A.M.

This will be the last update from the Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8 (NWIIMT8). This will be the last on the Wilson Prairie Fire unless conditions change.  The local units will provide any updated information. NWIIMT8 would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to the community, cooperators, agency staff, and firefighters for the unwavering support during our management of the Wilson Prairie Fire. 

The transfer of management of the Wilson Prairie Fire is in progress. A Type 4 incident commander (IC), Kristen Marshall, will arrive today to shadow the existing operations.  The proposed schedule is to turn over command of the Wilson Prairie Fire to IC Marshall and her organization on Wednesday morning at 6:00 am. 

Smoke from other fires remains in the local area.  Those with sensitivity concerns should take appropriate precautions.  For more information on air quality please visit: http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ/AQ/Pages/index.aspx 

http://www.airnow.gov/

The Morrow County Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Park, restaurant, and campground remains open, however some OHV trails may be impacted by the fire activity.  Please observe all trail and area closures.

Current Fire Information: Suppression efforts continue to hold the fire within its current footprint.  Mop up progressed with special attention being paid to the Porter Creek area and the green interior islands of unburned fuel, which still contain hot spots and smoldering behavior.  Suppression repair activities continue, which includes water barring (an angled trench, to direct water off the fireline to prevent erosion), removal of hose, and removal of trash from the fire line.  Repairs to OHV trails impacted by fire line construction continue.  The entire firefighter operation briefing may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc-6fmeR3as

Acreage: 405, this will be the final reported acreage.

Containment: 75%

Fire Information Center:  Public Line 844-695-6542. Available 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Beginning Wednesday please contact: Christie Shaw – ODF – at 541-263-0661 or Darcy Weseman – Umatilla National Forest at 541-215-2224.

Information Websites: Inciweb – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6028

               ODF Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ODFCentralOregon/

Resources:  Total personnel assigned – 422:  3-type 2 IA hand crews, 10-type 2 hand crews, 2-camp crews, 1- light helicopter, 6-engines, 1-dozers, 8-water tenders, 1- ambulance, 3-skidgens, and 103 overhead. Right sizing of the fire suppression resources continues with demobilization of resources in response to operational needs.

Air Operations:  The current temporary flight restriction in place over the fire area will be lifted at 8:00 pm today.

Weather:  Today will be partly cloudy with smoke haze settled into the area.  A Heat Advisory and Fire Weather Watch are both in effect for the area today.  Thunderstorms are predicted starting in the late afternoon and continuing into the night.  If thunderstorms develop, gusts of 40 mph winds are possible.  Max temperatures of 96 degrees with relative humidity to 12%.  Winds will be mostly upslope at 6 - 8 mph switching to the northwest 12-16 mph with gusts to 20 mph.   

Closures: The Umatilla National Forest implemented an area closure; including trails and roads within the vicinity of Bull Prairie Lake and the Wilson Prairie area.  A map and detailed description of the area closure is available on the Umatilla National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5286768 and on Inciweb.  Forest Service personnel will be located near the campground to assist recreational visitors with alternative locations to camp.  This closure will be evaluated daily for need as a safety precaution to firefighters and the public.  With the transition of management to a Type 4 incident, agency officials will be looking closely at removing the closure as soon as possible. 

The weather forecast for the region is a continued hot and dry trend with poor humidity recovery.  Any spark landing in light fuels (grass) has a 100% potential to start a fire so please follow restrictions to limit potential human wildfire ignitions.

• Regulated Closure is in effect for ODF’s Central Oregon District.  Specific restrictions, intended to reduce human caused fires, can be found at www.ODFcentraloregon.com.  
• Phase B of the Public Use Restrictions (PURS) for the Umatilla National Forest are in effect.   For more information regarding these and other restrictions on the Umatilla National Forest visitwww.bmidc.org