FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2014 PM
Somers and 5 Mile Fires, Joseph, Oregon
Information Contact Number: 541-432-0119
Location: Two fires near Imnaha, Oregon.
Special Announcements:
The Level 1 Evacuation Notice for Imnaha and the Upper Imnaha River Road residents has been lifted by the Wallowa County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with fire managers. The Upper Imnaha Road is also now open to all traffic. Smoke may be visible from the road; however these smokes are interior and are not considered a threat to the containment lines. Firefighters are working in the area patrolling. The public should use caution while in the area.
Current Situation:
The Eastern Great Basin Team 4 arrived in Joseph and received a briefing from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3. The Eastern Great Basin Team will shadow Oregon Team 3 in preparation of assuming command Friday morning.
Somers Fire – There was very little movement of the Somers Fire perimeter today. Crews on the north-end worked uphill from the Snake River and downhill from the Tryon Ranch, cold trailing the line. The northwest flank has abundant down, dead, heavy fuels with the potential to produce hot and intense fire. Structures and cultural sites are being prepped using various actions including removing receptive fuels, lining, burning out, installing hose lays, sprinklers, pumps, and wrapping buildings in fire resistant foil. Firefighters worked along the ridge prepping the two-track trail towards Grassy Knoll as a containment line. Proposed indirect containment lines have been defined including Saddle Creek on the south, Summit Ridge on the west, and the Tryon Ridge to the north where it meets the Snake River. A spike camp has been established at Thomason Meadows as a crew shuttle location into Dorrance Cow Camp. The helibase was moved near Thomason Meadows. A spike camp and a 15,000 gallon heliwell large portable tank are established at Memaloose guard station. Helicopters will continue dipping water from the Snake River, so boaters should remain aware of this and other fire related activities and use caution while in the area. Hazards in the area include caches of propane tanks stored by hunters, poisonous snakes, poisonous plants, rolling rocks, and treacherous terrain.
Start Date-August 3
Cause-Lightning
Acres- 27,000
Percent Contained-25%
Total Personnel-358
Crews-7 Engines-5 Helos – 6 Water Tender-7 Jet Boat-1
5 Mile Fire –Crews continued to patrol, mop-up and provide traffic control. The fire is now in patrol status. Staff from this fire are available to respond as initial attack on new fire starts in the area.
Start Date-August 3
Cause-Under investigation
Acres- 4,525
Percent Contained-90%
Total Personnel-29
Crews-1 Engines-4 Water Tenders-2 Dozers-2
Weather:
A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 11:00 pm tonight for dry lightning. Local unit and incident firefighters are prepared to respond to any new fire starts. Occasional showers with gusty outflow winds are forecasted for tonight, Thursday, and Thursday night. A seasonal weather pattern of warm and dry conditions will return this weekend and continue through next week.
Closures:
The Hat Point Road FR4240 on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest remains closed to the public. The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has placed two Closure Orders closing the Oregon and Idaho river frontage of the Snake River ¼ mile inland. The river will be closed on the Oregon side from Copper Creek to Rush Creek and on the Idaho side from the Forest Boundary to the north and the mouth of the Salmon River to the south. For a full listing of the closures, please see the following links:
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): One TFR remains in place over the Somers Fire. Please check the NOTAM for current information. This TFR is in place for safety to restrict other aircraft from entering the fire area while incident aircraft are working.
For more information on the 5 Mile and Somers Fires visit:
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