The Source For Comprehensive Fire, Health, And Air Quality Information In Central Oregon

As fire suppression tactics have increased containment and lowered the risk to structures, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s resources will be released around noon today. The Oregon Department of Forestry team will remain with local resources to continue mopping up and monitoring any remaining hot spots.

Fire fighters continue to make progress in extinguishing hot spots around the perimeter of the fire. Today they focused their attention on the first, tomorrow they will work in another fifty feet. Higher temperatures and lower humilities are forecasted in the coming days and could make the fire more active.

Hundreds of lightning strikes on June 20 and 21 caused nearly 70 wildfires throughout central Oregon. The Boxcar and South Junction Fires are in Wasco County near Maupin. The Jack Knife Fire is in Sherman County, along the John Day River northeast of Kent. Initial attack resources from the Central Oregon Fire Management Service, the Rural Fire Protection District, Maupin Fire Department, Mt. Hood National Forest, The Dalles Fire Department, and local ranchers have been fighting these fires since their detection. Strategic use of retardant and heavy helicopters has protected values at risk. As the fires have grown to large sizes and complexity, a Type 2 Incident Management Team (Northwest Incident Management Team #13) has taken over command of these fires as of 6:00 a.m. today.

The Oregon Department of Forestry Type 1 Team and Oregon State Fire Marshall Green Team took unified command of the fire on Friday at 6:00pm. Fire crews have made good progress battling the Graham Fire. The fire is estimated at approximately 2,055 acres and is burning in brush, timber and grass south of the Metolius River arm of Lake Billy Chinook near Culver, Oregon. Fire crews completed a burnout operation yesterday and will began mop up operations on Saturday. Today’s firefighting resources include: 7 hand crews, 26 Engines, 2 dozers, 4 water tenders, approximately 375 personnel and containment is estimated at 50%. Aircraft resources assigned to this fire are available to all fires in the area as needed.

It was a day of rapid change for fire in Central Oregon. With two large fires burning in Central Oregon at the start of the day firefighting resources were busy, but with continued initial attack activity and the addition of two new large fires during the day many additional resources were engaged in responding to incidents. A Type 2 federal team (Gales) has been assigned to manage the Boxcar, South Junction and Jack Knife fires. The team will take over management from the Type 3 and 4 teams managing the fires at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning.