Firefighters with the Central Oregon Fire Management Service picked up 5 new lightning starts today– 3 fires on Prineville BLM lands and 2 on Deschutes National Forest. All of today’s new starts are estimated at 1/10th of an acre and are currently being staffed by firefighters.
Of the 8 new starts picked up yesterday following last evening’s thunderstorms, 7 of the fires are now contained at less than an acre.
The Tumalo Creek Fire is currently mapped at 10 acres. Firefighters have direct hand line around 25 percent of the fire. The fire received heavy precipitation this afternoon giving fire personnel increased options for utilizing direct line construction. Indirect line construction will continue to be utilized where hazards, including snags and loose rocks, cannot be mitigated.
Current resources on the Tumalo Creek Fire include 3 hand crews, 3 engines, 6 smokejumpers, 4 rappellers, and a water tender. Prior to the afternoon storm cell, the incident was staffed by a number of aerial resources, as well.
Forest Service Road 370 is closed at the following locations: FR 370/ FR 380 junction, FR 370 junction at Three Creek Lakes, and at FR 4601/ FR 370 junction. There are no trail closures at this time, but field rangers have posted fire activity notices at the Flagline, North Fork and Mrazek Trailheads.
