8/18/2018 Watson Creek Fire Update

The Watson Creek Fire burned actively through the day Friday in dense standing and downed vegetation dominated by bug killed lodgepole pine. Access to the fire is difficult, challenging fire fighters on their ability to directly attack the fire. Air resources supported the fire with water drops and will continue today, as smoke and visibility allow. An infrared camera was flown over the fire last night, allowing managers to more accurately map the fire size at 10,455 acres. Northwest Incident Management Team 6 assumed command of the fire on Friday evening and is setting up an Incident Command Post in Paisley. The Fremont-Winema National Forest has issued an emergency fire closure for several roads and recreation areas on the Forest. The Order is Number 06-02-03-18-02 and closes an area extending from near Picture rock south to Forest Roads 33 and 28, and from the eastern boundary of the Forest west to the eastern edge of the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness and the Forest boundary at Forest Roads 3411 and 30. The Gearhart Mountain Wilderness remains open, but Forest Road 34 north of Corral Creek Campground is closed extending to Forest Road 28 to the junction of Forest Road 33. On the western edge of the fire area, Forest Road 30, also known as Silver Creek Marsh Road, is closed approximately three miles from the Forest boundary, and Road 3411, also known as Thomas Road, is closed at the Forest boundary. Many recreation sites in the area are also closed, and are listed in the “Fire at a Glance” section of this update. Fire conditions are expected to be a couple degrees warmer today with relative humidity a bit lower. Under such extreme conditions, members of the public are reminded to take care in their activities to avoid starting any additional wildfires. Put off mowing the lawn or using any equipment that may spark until fire conditions are less dire!

Fire at a Glance Size: 10,455 acres Location: 13 miles West of Paisley, Oregon (Paisley Ranger District) Cause: Under Investigation Resources Aircraft: 3 Type 2 medium helicopters 1 Type 3 helicopter Closures: Forest Roads 2901, 29, 3315, 3360, 33, 28, 34, 3411, 30 and 2901-035 Recreation sites: Bald Butte Lookout; Bear Creek Trailhead; Campbell Lake Campground; Chewaucan Crossing Campground; Currier Guard Station; Horse Camp & Trailhead; Dead Horse Lake Campground & Trailhead; Fremont National Recreation Trail #160 between Chewaucan Crossing Campground & Dead Indian Rim; Fremont Point Cabin & Trailhead; Hanan/Coffeepot Trailhead; Hanan/Sycan Campground & Trailhead; Harris Trailhead; Jones Crossing Campground; Lee Thomas Campground & Trailhead; Marster Spring Campground; North Fork Sprague Trailhead; Pikes Crossing Campground; Rock Creek Campground; Sandhill Crossing Campground; Slide Lake Trailhead; Winter Rim Trailhead; Withers Lake Day Use Area Trailhead Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6153/ Facebook: Fremont-Winema National Forest and SCOFMPFireInfo or R6FWNF