9/8/2020 White River Fire Update

 

White River Fire Update – Tuesday, September 8, 2020 – 9:00 a.m.

QUICK FACTS – FIRE SUMMARY
Start Date:  8/17/2020	Approx. Size: 17,507 acres	Resources on the Fire:	Cooperating Agencies:
Cause: Lightning	Containment: 70%	25 Crews	Wasco Co. Sheriff
Incident Commander:	Total Personnel: 809	30 Engines	Wasco Co. Emergency Management
Noel Livingston   Pacific Northwest Team 3	Approx. Distance:   8 miles from Maupin   7  miles from Tygh Valley	9 Dozers  17 Water Tenders    7 Helicopters	NTSB/FAA

The fire containment line was tested by yesterday’s high winds and did not grow in size. Firefighters will continue to patrol the fire perimeter.  This is the last daily update for the White River Fire.  Additional updates will occur as changes warrant.   

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Much of the state is under a Red Flag Warning today indicating increased risk of fire danger due to strong gusty winds associated with yesterday’s cold front. High winds with gusts up to 30 miles per hour will continue into the evening. Temperatures will be much cooler today with highs in the low 70s. Logs and stumps continue to smolder and unburned islands are likely to burn today inside the fire perimeter. Blowing dust and ash from fires in Washington is limiting visibility. 

Last 24 hours: Crews patrolled the fire perimeter, concentrating on the southern edge which was most likely to be impacted by northeast winds. Crews continued improving containment lines, checking for residual heat, and extinguishing smoldering stumps and logs near the fire perimeter. Fire crews worked to repair areas damaged by suppression activities. This included hauling out unneeded hose lines and equipment, building water bars to prevent erosion, restoring damaged stream banks, and chipping and spreading tree limbs and brush that were cut during fire suppression.  

Today’s Activities: With fire containment lines holding and fire activity increasing across the west, some crews and equipment will be shifted to other fires. The remaining crews will patrol the fire perimeter while continuing to reinforce established containment lines and extinguish heat in smoldering logs and tree stumps near those lines. Resource advisors will work with crews and heavy equipment operators to repair areas damaged by suppression activities and remove unneeded equipment and trash. 

National Forest Closures: A Closure Order remains in effect for portions of Mount Hood National Forest, including Forest Road 48. Check the Mount Hood National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood/) for details. 

Evacuations: For the most up-to-date information please visit the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff). An interactive evacuation map can be found at https://arcg.is/1janHC . 

 

FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:  

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7013       

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhiteRiverFire  

Email:  2020.whiteriver@firenet.gov     

Fire Information: 541-604-8582