Update: Rattlesnake Fire 65% contained, new Grant County wildfire burns 570 acres
(Update: Adding Rattlesnake Fire update, new Dixie Creek Fire in Grant County)
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Firefighters remained busy Friday, tackling seven new fires, the largest of which was Incident 494, a five-acre fire off of Highway 20 near the Oregon Badlands. Crews also responded to two new starts Saturday morning, one east of Madras and a fire near Skyliner Road on the Deschutes National Forest.
Here's the full 9 a.m. Saturday update from the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center:
Engines are still mopping up Incident 494 on Prineville District BLM-managed lands Saturday morning. The wind-driven fire grew quickly and suppression efforts on the ground were assisted by Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) dropping several loads of retardant to slow the spread. Two engines remain assigned to the fire Saturday.
The largest fire in the Central Oregon remains the Wrentham Market Fire, currently estimated at 7,222 acres east of Dufur in Wasco County. It is now 78% contained. For more information on this fire, visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7589/
The Rattlesnake Fire is estimated at 5,479 acres, with 65% containment (see Saturday evening updated news relesae below), burning on Prineville District BLM-managed lands in the area of South Junction campground and the Warm Springs Reservation. For more information on this fire, visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7592/
The Ryegrass Fire is holding at 1,102 acres east of the Maury Mountains and south of the Paulina Highway on Prineville District BLM lands. All containment lines held Friday and crews will continue mopping up Saturday to work toward containment.
The Dry Creek Fire (Incident 449) burning south of the historic Rager Ranger Station on the Prineville District BLM remains 53 acres Saturday morning. Fire lines held Friday and through the night and the 20 person hand crew and 10 smokejumpers assigned to the incident will continue mopping up Saturday.
The Sulphur Spring Fire (Incident 447) by Maupin Butte east of the Maury Mountains and south of Paulina Highway remains 81 acres, burning on Prineville District BLM lands. Several smokejumpers and a 10 person hand crew will continue to hold and improve containment lines and will use a helicopter to cool hot spots from interior burning.
The Black Mountain Fire (Incident 475) is in the area of Deep Creek on the Ochoco National Forest, 6-7 miles east of Big Summit Prairie. Three hotshot crews will continue to secure preliminary fire lines to contain the 150 acre blaze Saturday. A Type 1 helicopter will be available to assist in cooling hot spots.
The Bologna Fire (Incident 165, dispatched out of John Day) is about 7.5 miles east of Spray, and is 140 acres, 70% lined and 10% contained. It is burning on about 25 acres of Prineville District BLM-managed land with the remainder of the fire under the protection of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Multiple crews and three helicopters have been attacking the blaze, burning in grass and brush. Three structures are threatened by this fire.
With a return to hot and dry conditions over the holiday weekend, fire officials anticipate more fire starts to pop up in the next two weeks. The public is reminded that we remain in EXTREME fire danger and public use restrictions are in place on all federally managed public lands.
For up-to-date information on Central Oregon fires, visit www.centraloregonfire.org or www.twitter.com/CentralORFire.
Rattlesnake Fire Update – July 3, 2021 7 p.m.
Current Situation – The Rattlesnake Fire has burned 5,479 acres, with 65% containment. Level 2 evacuations of Trout Creek Campground and boat ramp have been lifted. For questions regarding river access, please contact Prineville BLM at 541-416-6700.
The fire is burning on Prineville District BLM-managed lands in the area of South Junction campground, the Warm Springs Reservation and private lands. The Rattlesnake Fire continues to be managed under unified command of Warm Springs Incident Commander Lionel Smith and Type 3 Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) Incident Commander Larae Guillory.
Fire crews had a good day on the line Saturday and made significant progress in containing the fire. They worked to secure lines and continue mop up. There continues to be some interior smoldering. Crews will be continuing with mop up again tomorrow (Sunday).
Closures - South Junction road and South Junction Campground are closed; for updates check with Wasco County Sheriff’s office.
Weather - Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 90’s, with west winds increasing through the weekend. It is very dry with low relative humidity recoveries overnight. Fire officials anticipate more fire starts to pop up in the next two weeks.
The public is reminded that we remain in EXTREME fire danger and public use restrictions are in place on all federally managed public lands. Ensure vehicles are parked in safe places, campfires are only in designated areas, spark arrestors are on chainsaws, chains on trailers are picked up and protected, and guidelines for fireworks for the 4th of July are followed.
For up-to-date information on Rattlesnake Fire, visit:
- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7592/
- www.twitter.com/CentralORFire
- “CTWS – Fire Management” Facebook
- or call 541-903-5848
News release Saturday night from the Oregon Department of Forestry Central Oregon District:
Dixie Creek Fire
[John Day, Ore.] The Dixie Creek Fire was reported just before 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, burning 3 miles northwest of Prairie City in Grant County. The fire was ignited by a lighting strike Thursday afternoon, and has been smoldering, unobserved until today. Wind and hot temperatures caused the fire to rapidly spread through timber, brush and grass on lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry’s John Day Unit and Prairie City Rural Fire Department. The fire is visible from Prairie City and from Highway 26.
Resources assigned to the nearby Lewis Rock and Bologna fires as well as initial attack resources quickly took action on the fire. These resources included four large air tankers, three single engine air tankers, two type 1 helicopters, two type 2 helicopters, five dozers, one twenty-person contract crew, two crews from the Malheur National Forest, nine engines and the La Grande Interagency Hotshots. Fire personnel from Prairie City Rural Fire Department also engaged in suppression efforts as the fire spread within their protection area. The fire is currently estimated to be 570 acres.
No structures are threatened at this time and no road closures are in place. Fire managers are working in coordination with the Grant County Sheriff to monitor any threat due to changing conditions.
Overnight the fire will be staffed by five dozers, two contract engines, and some overhead working to establish fireline and monitor fire conditions. Fire behavior has begun to moderate tonight with cooler temperatures and increasing humidity, however winds continue to influence the fire behavior.
A local Type 3 Team from the Malheur National Forest and Burns District Bureau of Land Management will be working with fire personnel on Sunday and management of the fire will transfer to this organization Monday morning. Additional resources are mobilizing to the fire and will be on the fireline Sunday.
Regulated-Use Closure is in effect for the Central Oregon District. Fireworks and campfires (including cooking fires) are not allowed within the district boundary. For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
