Lightning sparks E. Oregon fires; biggest 5,000 acres
The Bureau of Land Management’s Vale District reported Monday it is fighting several fires from Baker to Malheur County. In total, more than 20 fires were sparked in the district over the weekend, most caused by lightning.
The largest of the new fires is the Simmons Fire, located about 15 miles east of Juntura, just south of U.S. Highway 20. The fire is estimated to be 5,000 acres in size. Numerous resources are already on site, en route or on order. These resources include:
3 Type 1 Crews
3 Type 2 Initial Attack Crews
8 Engines
6 Bulldozers
3 Water Tenders
1 Fuel Tender
A camp crew is on order for the Simmons Fire, along with equipment necessary for prolonged fire suppression activities. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered to manage the Simmons Fire. The NorthWest Interagency Incident Management Team 13 will be brought on and in-briefed Monday and will likely take control of fire suppression operations by Tuesday.
Wildland fire types measure the complexity of wildland fires. The scale ranges from a Type 5 to a Type 1—Type 1 being the most complex wildland fire classification. As fires become more complex, qualified IMTs may be brought in to manage the fires.
Additionally, fire suppression personnel may be assigned to the fires for which they are most qualified. More information on wildland fires classifications can be found at https://www.nps.gov/fire/wildland-fire/learning-center/fire-in-depth/incident-command-system-levels.cfm.
The Sheep Rock Fire is burning approximately seven miles south of Juntura, and is approximately 3,500 acres in size. Three engines and a water tender are on site. Rooster Comb Fire is burning approximately 20 miles southeast of Juntura and is estimated to be 125 acres in size.
The complex of fires in Baker County, including the China, Estrada, Pedro and Trail Creek Fires continue to burn. Both the China and Estrada Fires are contained. The Pedro fire will likely be contained this evening, according to fire suppression personnel.
The Trail Creek Fire is as yet uncontained, but progress is being made. The fires, now being collectively called the Durkee Complex, are being managed by the High Desert Type 3 Team—an IMT made up of fire suppression and support personnel from the BLM’s Vale and Burns Districts. In total, the Durkee Complex has burned 370 acres—much of which is on state-managed and private land.
Lightning came through Baker County on Sunday morning, sparking many smaller fires. In addition to assisting with the Durkee Complex, the Burnt River Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA) and Oregon Department of Forestry personnel have been instrumental in attending to the smaller fires which could have potentially siphoned needed resources off of the Durkee Complex.
The largest of five other fires around the Vale District is the 200-acre Log Creek Fire, 30 miles west of Vale.
