Grant County fire tops 67,000 acres; 17 pct. contained
The Canyon Creek Complex Fire has grown to more than 67,000 acres, officials said Saturday as containment slowly grew to 17 percent, more than a week after the blaze exploded down a canyon and destroyed at least 39 homes, according to an updated tally.
The Blue Mountain Eagle reported Friday that Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer had confirmed three more homes destroyed by fire a week earlier,, including one near Dry Soda Creek.
Authorities cut the number of threatened structures by more than half, to around 300, amid the efforts of more than 900 firefighters and support personnel.
Here’s Saturday’s Canyon Creek Complex update:
Updated Fire Information phone numbers: 541-820-3643, 541-820-3633
Type of Incident: Wildfire
Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: August 12, 2015
Location: One mile south of the towns of John Day and Canyon City, Oregon.
Types of Fuel: Timber with brush/grass understory and areas of medium density logging slash. Structures Threatened: 300+
Structures Damaged: 50+
Residences Destroyed: 36 (according to the earlier tally by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office) Current Size: 67,456 acres
Percent Containment: 17%
Number of Personnel: 902
Types of resources: 3 Type 1 Crews, 14 Type 2 Crews, 4 Helicopter, 64 Engines, 19 Dozers, 8 Skidgines, 25 Water tenders
ODOT: will begin a pilot car for Hwy 395 travel south today from 9AM- 5PM every day leaving from John Day at the top of the hour. Expect delays on Hwy 395.
Weather: temperatures will begin to increase creating warmer and drier conditions with light winds from the southeast increasing to southwest by Sunday afternoon.
Air Quality Index: Today is moderate to good.
Jerry’s Draw Fire:
Jerry’s Draw Fire occurred August 20 at 4:45 PM in the Ricco Road area north of Prairie City. Using aggressive initial attack by both ground and air resources it has been held at 240 acres. Firefighters made great progress completing a fireline around the fire and will continue to reinforce with dozer and handline today. Structure protection was provided and no structure was lost.
Canyon Creek Complex Recent Activities:
• Air operations held the line when the wind kicked up yesterday, and burnout operations along road 15 into the Parrish Cabin Fire was successful in securing a fireline into the wilderness.
• Crews were able to reinforce line to the north and are continuing to secure the fireline on the west side of the fire.
• Night operations continue to assist with the suppression efforts.
Planned actions include :
• Continue to secure priority divisions where highest public and community infrastructure are threatened. Hold completed line on the north, west, and south sides of the fire perimeter to continue to improve and extend fireline to increase total containment.
• Continue strategic planning to assess suppression action into the wilderness.
• Utilize air resources on the southern flank to assist crews in building fireline and securing the perimeter.
• Oregon Trails Electric Coop is continuing their efforts to restore power to residences along Hwy 395.
Evacuation Update on Canyon Creek Complex
Morning update as of 09:00 Saturday, August 22, 2015,
Joint Information Center Hotlines: 541-820-3643 or 541-820-3633
Level 3 Evacuations: Jerry’s Draw Fire
There are no level 3 evacuations in place at this time for the Jerry’s Draw fire. All areas have been reduced to a level 1
Level 3 Evacuations: Canyon Creek Complex
The area west of County Road 62, south of the forest boundary (MP 12) and north of the 16 to the junction of FR 15/16 is in a level 3 evacuation. CR 62 and the 16 are open for through travel, at this time.
Forest Closures remain in effect. Current Forest Orders are available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/home/?cid=stelprd3845529.
Level 2 Evacuations: Jerry’s Draw Fire
Dixie View
Decreased to Level 2: Canyon Creek Complex
South on Dog Creek Road to Little Dog Creek
Upper end of Pine Creek Road from Berry Ranch Lane
From J – L south to the end of County Road 65.
Level 1 Evacuations: Canyon Creek Complex
Adams Road and Adams Drive Marysville
Eagle Peak Gardner Ranch
Pineview Buckhorn
Edgewood Little Pine
Rebel Hill Lower Pine Creek from Berry Ranch Lane
Lifted Evacuations: Canyon Creek Complex
Canyon Creek along Hwy. 395, from the fire perimeter north at Canyon City to the J-L Ranch
Izee-Paulina Road from Hwy 395
Seneca
Nan’s Rock Road, Laycock Creek Road, Luce Creek, West Bench Road
Roads Reopened:
Marysville from Hwy. 395 to Dog Creek and the junction of Hwy. 26
Road Closures:
Hwy. 395 remains closed
Homeowners on the lower Little Canyon Mountain Trail area can also access their homes.
The 15 road remains closed.
South from Dog Creek to Little Dog Creek is closed
Evacuation level definitions:
LEVEL 1: A Level 1 Evacuation means “BE READY” for potential evacuation.
LEVEL 2: A Level 2 Evacuation means “BE SET” to evacuate.
LEVEL 3: A Level 3 Evacuation means “GO” Evacuate now, leave immediately.
Email Address: canyoncreekcomplex@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/canyoncreekfireoregon Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4495/
Twitter: @CanyonCreekFire #CanyonCreekComplex
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Earlier story:
Gov. Kate Brown traveled to Canyon City Wednesday to tour the devastation, thank firefighters, get a briefing and announce a call-up of National Guard troops to help stretched-thin firefighting forces.
Brown was briefed on the fire, personally thanked firefighters taking a break from the front line, and perhaps most importantly gave hugs to fire victims who have lost everything.
“It’s a devastation up there, really horrible,” Brown told reporters after her tour. “My heart goes out to the families over the loss of their homes.”
Brown also announced she was deploying about 120 troops with the National Guard to join firefighters on the front lines of Oregon fires as soon as they are trained.
As fire victims waited for Brown to arrive — delayed by thick smoke prompting her arrival by car, not by air — they looked back on Friday’s firestorm with only one word in mind:
“Hell,” said Canyon City resident James Dunn, who fortunately only lost an outbuilding to the flames.
So far, 36 homes have been destroyed, Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer announced Wednesday, along with more than 100 other buildings leveled and dozens of pets killed.
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell also was on hand, at the nation’s top firefighting priority, and said conditions were ripe for something much worse.
“When I look at the situation in that canyon — and that we didn’t lose any lives — I want to compliment the sheriff’s department, the local fire folks that worked together to make sure they got everyone out,” Tidwell said.
But the mood was more dour at a private meeting with the governor at the Canyon City Community Center, where homeowners expressed frustration and anger for losses said they didn’t need to happen.
“I have no faith in our government,” said Tad Houpt, who lost three homes he owned to the fire. “I told (Brown) when we to do a lot more than thin — we need to log (the forests). This is entirely preventable.”
Residents told NewsChannel 21 the now over-48,000-acre fire was small for days before it blew up Friday. They said fire crews wanted to watch the fire, instead of taking action.
Top fire officials said there simply hasn’t been enough manpower.
“Right now, the pipeline of resources is empty,” said Oregon State Forester Doug Decker.
Brown vowed to do everything to help those devastated by this and other wildfires ravaging the state.
“We know that general fund resources are available,” Brown said. “What is unique about Oregon is that we’ve got the private sector coming to the table to assist financially.”
She also acknowledged some residents had no warning when the threat of fire was imminent.
“There was a lot of frustration over the lack of notice,” Brown said.
Still, Brown added she was impressed by the community.
“I know the residents of Grant County,” Brown said. They’re tough and resilient, and they’re going to survive and rebuild.”
The words of support didn’t douse the pain
“We didn’t retrieve anything,” said one woman who was on vacation while her house burned to the ground.
The scar in Canyon City is deeper than the wasteland that’s left.
“Everybody in the community is devastated Dunn said. “It’s a war zone — nothing’s left.”
