80-acre wildfire near Parkdale 75% contained
(Update: New information increases size to 80 acres)
Firefighters on the 80-acre 1620 Road Fire west of Parkdale and north of Mount Hood made significant progress constructing fire line Wednesday and continued to hold the fire within the existing footprint, the Oregon Department of Forestry reported Thursday.
Mop-up work adjacent to the fire line continues on portions of the fire where fire lines are established and secure.
Firefighters were able to take advantage of increased humidity and wetting rain Wednesday, which moderated fire behavior allowing them to focus on line construction.
With the moderated fire behavior, firefighters were able to get around the fire perimeter with GPS receivers and have been able to improve the mapping of the fire perimeters. The combined fire acreage is 80 acres with 75% containment and 50% control.
Today firefighters will continue to construct and secure fire line around the perimeter of the spot fire and mop-up where possible. Direct fire line is being used to minimize acres burned and loss of resources.
Firefighters will be using a grid pattern to work through both fires as they mop-up to ensure there is no heat or flame within the unburned fuels inside and outside the fire perimeters.
The fire was first reported Monday morning burning on private, state-protected lands about 4 miles west of Parkdale.
Late Monday afternoon the fire spotted to the east and became established in a steep draw with difficult access.
Terrain, fuels and weather have challenged firefighters working to construct hand fire line on the spot fire. The original fire has bulldozer line and roads securing the perimeter.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.
A Type 3 organization from Central Oregon Fire Management Service is managing the fire.
Resources on the fire include hand crews, fire engines, dozers, and excavators. A Type 2 helicopter is available as needed. Specific resources assigned to the fire have been pre-identified to support initial attack within the area if there are any new fire starts.
For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
