No holiday for 1,000 on Warm Springs, Grant Co. fires

More than 1,000 firefighters were still on the lines Monday on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and in Grant County, working to finish containment of the 67,207-acre County Line 2 Fire and 110,245-acre Canyon Creek Complex Fire near John Day. All evacuation levels were lifted Monday on the latter fire.

Here’s the Monday morning update from Canyon Creek Complex Fire managers, who say it’s now 97 percent contained:

Fire crews continue to make substantial progress with mop-up operations. The overall assessment of the fire perimeter is that it is “looking good.”

Crews are also pulling fire hose deployed during the suppression effort and continue to “back haul” equipment from the fire lines.

Fire managers conducted a simulated medical emergency on the fire line Sunday. This was a great chance for practicing accident response protocols, including patient treatment, patient transportation, medical incident reporting and communications links.

The plan for Monday was to continue with securing the fire perimeter.

Fire managers also were working on fire suppression rehabilitation work. There are approximately 57.4 miles of dozer line and an estimated 1.7 miles of hand line that are being assessed. This work includes piling brush generated in fire line preparation, building water-bars (cross drains), or placing branches/limbs on top of exposed soil to reduce rain impact.

Here’s the Monday morning update on the Canyon Creek Complex Fire:

EVACUATIONS LIFTED: The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all evacuation levels for the Canyon Creek fire area as of Monday, September 7, 2015. This includes all of Strawberry Road and all of Prairie City.

Weather: Expect warmer and dryer conditions over the next several days. Today’s highs will be 54-62 on ridgetops and 68-74 in the valleys. Winds 6-12 mph and gusts to 20 mph. Minimum humidity 20-35 percent.

On the fire

Containment lines are secure on the north, west and south flanks of the fire where firefighters will continue mopup inside those lines. They will also remove equipment and hose line.
Five crews and six rapellers will work the east flank of the fire in the wilderness using minimal impact suppression tactics (MIST). Firefighters have scouted the uncontained line and have a strategy to achieve containment to protect wilderness areas such as the Slide Creek and Strawberry Creek drainages.
Minimal fire behavior is expected along containment lines today, however, there may be increased activity in the interior of the fire over the next few days as temperatures rise and humidity drops.

Canyon Creek Complex Facts

Type, cause, date started: This wildfire began August 12, 2015. Cause was lightning.

Location: One mile south of the towns of John Day and Canyon Creek.

Fuels: Timber, brush and grass understory and medium density logging slash.

Structures Threatened: 100, Damaged: 50, Destroyed: 43

Size: 110,245 acres. Containment: 85%

Personnel: 678 Resources: 1 Type 1 crews, 16 Type 2 crews, 5 helicopters, 28 engines, 8 dozers, 14 water tenders, 7 skidgines, 1 masticator. Due to increased containment, several resources will be released today.

Cost to date: $28.3 million

Open and closed

Malheur National Forest changed restrictions to IFPL III and Public Use Restrictions B regulating campfires, use of combustion engines, chainsaws, smoking and off-road and off-trail vehicle travel. See www.fs.fed.gov/malheur. Forest area and road closures are being reviewed daily and remain in effect for firefighter and public safety.
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT): Highway 395 is open for two-way travel. A pilot car may be on site to lead traffic in specific areas between 6 am and 4:30 pm.
Grant County Sheriff’s Office reminds people to be respectful of private property and to remain on the road unless invited. Trespassing is punishable by law and violators will be prosecuted.

For More Information

Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4495/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/canyoncreekfireoregon and www.facebook.cm/malheurnationalforest

Malheur National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/malheur/

Air Quality Index: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Malheur Hunting Information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3852316

For more on Oregon wildfires: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/38/