Crews bring Green Ridge Fire to 75% containment
(Update: Adding video on drone incident)
Of concern: Private drone was flying over fire area
CAMP SHERMAN, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The more than 2-week-old Green Ridge Fire burning northeast of Camp Sherman is now 75% contained, officials said Monday.
But a private drone seen flying over the fire area Sunday prompted a reminder: That's illegal, and can ground firefighting planes.
Here's the full update:
Size as of IR flight: 4,338
Containment: 75 %
Start Date/Time: August 16, 2020
5:05 p.m.
Location: Camp Sherman, OR
Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 600
Assigned Resources:
Hand Crews: 21
Engines: 20
Dozers: 3
Water Tenders: 10
Other Heavy
Equipment: 0
Assigned Aircraft: 4
Structure Task Forces: 0
Injuries: 1 (bee sting)
Structures
Threatened: 0
Structures
Damaged: 0
Structures
Destroyed: 0
Evacuations: None
Camp Sherman, Ore. – With the Green Ridge Fire showing little sign of activity, Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team is preparing to hand the fire back to local resources. Incident Commander Link Smith and his team will transfer the fire to a Type 4 organization Wednesday, September 2. The 4,338-acre fire is now 75 percent contained.
Of concern to firefighter safety, crews observed a private drone flying over the fire area yesterday afternoon.
While fire activity has diminished, aircraft is still being used to support ground operations. Even a tiny drone can cause a serious or fatal accident if it collides with firefighting aircraft.
In most situations, if drones are spotted near a wildfire, firefighting aircraft must land due to safety concerns.
Per the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 43 CFR 9212.1(f), it is illegal to resist or interfere with the efforts of firefighter(s) to extinguish a fire.Doing so can result in a significant fine and/or a mandatory court appearance. So, be smart and just don't fly your drone anywhere near a wildfire. No amount of video or photos are worth the consequences.
Fire crews will be blessed with favorable weather for today’s mop-up operations. Low clouds with a possibility of sprinkles will hover over the fire area this morning. Clouds will slowly dissipate this afternoon with temperatures in the high 70’s.
The Deschutes National Forest Area Closure remains in place while FS Road 14 and associated campgrounds remain open. Visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7012/ for additional fire and Forest Area Closures information.
Frog Fire Update:
Fast Facts:
Acreage: 4,020
Containment: 90%
Cause: Lightning
Prineville, Oregon – The Frog Fire was started by lightning on the afternoon of Sunday, August 16. Firefighters responded to the incident immediately, building containment lines in steep, rugged terrain.
Crews worked the blaze for several days before a Type 2 Incident Management Team was brought in to add capacity to firefighting efforts. The fire is now 90% contained and crews will work this week to achieve full containment.
While the fire perimeter is cold to the touch, the interior fire area still has pockets of heat. This fire will likely smoke and smolder until winter snow and cold temperatures completely extinguish it. Please do not report this fire to dispatch or emergency services. Firefighters will continually monitor it until it is declared “controlled” or dead out.
An area closure is put in place for all U.S. Forest Service managed lands west of Forest Road 16 in the Maury Mountains. This closure is being implemented for the safety of the public and firefighters working in the area. To view the closure order and map, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ochoco/alerts-notices.
For more information on fires in Central Oregon, visit: www.centraloregonfire.org or keep up on Twitter at twitter.com/CentralORFire.
Ochoco National Forest Decreases Area Closure for Frog Fire
Prineville, Ore. – Effective immediately, forest officials have decreased the area closure that has been in place for the Frog Fire burning in the Maury Mountains on the Ochoco National Forest. The Frog Fire, which started August 16, is now 90% contained at 4,020 acres.
An area closure was put in place for all U.S. Forest Service managed lands west of Forest Road 16 in the Maury Mountains. This closure was implemented for the safety of the public and firefighters working in the area. To view the closure order and map, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ochoco/alerts-notices
The following area closure is in place:
All lands managed by the US Forest Service west of NFSR (National Forest System Road) 16 and 1640 in the Maury Mountains. Including Forest Service managed lands within T. 17 S., R. 18 E., sections 20-29 and 33-36; T. 17 S., R. 19 E., sections 30 and 31; T. 18 S., R. 18 E., sections 1-4, 9-12, 14, and 15; T. 18 S., R. 19 E., sections 6-8, 17, and 18.
Roads
- All National Forest System Roads found within the area closure are closed.
- NFSR 16 and 1640 will remain open for public use.
While the fire perimeter is cold to the touch, the interior fire area still has pockets of heat. This fire will likely smoke and smolder until winter snow and cold temperatures completely extinguish it. Please do not report this fire to dispatch or emergency services. Firefighters will continually monitor it until it is declared “controlled” or dead out.
Warm Springs fires update:
Quick Facts
Incident Summaries
P-515 / Lionshead
Approximate
Size in Acres: 4,609 ac. / 7,397 ac.
Fire
Containment: 85% / 20%
Incident
Commander Eric Knerr
Resources on
the fire:
Crews: 27
Helicopters: 8
Engines: 32
Water Tenders: 11
Dozers: 8
Total
Personnel: 969
Jurisdiction:
Confederated Tribes
of Warm Springs
Oregon Smoke Blog
http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/KWSOnews
https://www.facebook.com/nwteam7/
Inciweb
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7050/
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049/
Incident Commander: Eric Knerr, Northwest Team 7
Fire Information: 971-277-5075
Warm Springs, Oregon - This update is for the P-515 Fire and Lionshead Fire burning on the Warm Springs Reservation. Both fires are being managed for full suppression.
Current Situation: The P-515 Fire is 4,609 acres and 85% contained. With no spot fires observed outside of the perimeter yesterday, the fire passed the wind test, with mop up operations continuing.
The Lionshead Fire is now 7,397 acres and 20% contained. All of the spot fires that have been found during the recent wind event have been lined with a combination of hand line and dozer line. Yesterday the fire expanded to the southeast and today crews will work towards containment of the spots. Fire lines along the north flank were improved and secured. Fire lines along both flanks were extended to the southwest.
P-515 Fire: Mop up activities will continue deeper into the burnt area and crews will begin hauling away equipment and hose that is no longer needed.
Lionshead Fire: Crews are extending fire lines on the southwestern corner while seeking opportunities to engage the fire directly. Crews will improve the fire lines around the spot fires and continue to secure the area in the southeast flank. Aviation assets will support firefighters to slow the fire’s advance.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Skies will be partly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the low 70’s. Northwest winds will gust to 26 mph, decreasing to 2-7 mph with gusts of 12 mph in the afternoon. Active fire behavior continues on the Milk Creek and Whitewater River basins due to abundant dry fuels, difficult terrain and persistent burning conditions.
Closures: Trout Lake Road at pavement end; Road B140 at Potter’s Pond; Road B210 and Road P-500. All trails south of Trout Lake, west of M-120 Metolious Bench, east of Mt. Jefferson, and north of J-195 will be closed to the public. Tenino Road (P-200) is closed to the public, with only fire personnel and residents are allowed.
Evacuations: There are currently no evacuation orders associated with the P-515 or Lionshead Fires.
COVID-19: Precautionary measures have been implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These measures include daily temperature screenings, mandatory use of face coverings, social distancing, and implementing more virtual work. Public and firefighter safety are a top priority.
Prevention Message: We are all in this together, prevent wildfires.
