Unified Command:

       Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2

   Fremont National Forest

Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office

                                                                                              

                               

Information Contact:

541-943-3513

                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                      

Winter Fire Update

July 18, 2002

9:00 AM

 

The Winter Fire, north of Paisley, Oregon, became the region’s top priority for firefighting resources yesterday. A precautionary and voluntary evacuation of homes in the Ana Reservoir area, near Summer Lake, occurred Wednesday night as the fire continued to move north, pushed by gusty and erratic winds.

The Red Cross set up a shelter for evacuees at the North Lake School in Christmas Valley.

Four residents were reported to have spent the night there, while others stayed with friends or relatives. 

 

Structural firefighting task forces spent the night set up to protect homes near the reservoir after Oregon State Police troopers and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies went door-to-door to alert residents to the situation. The majority of residents opted to stay home, but prepared to leave if necessary.

 

Firefighters were able to keep the fire from growing toward the south yesterday, aided by favorable winds.  On Winter Rim, however, where access is limited and dry fuels are abundant, the fire continues to grow as the pushed by the wind.  The fire has now grown to an estimated 29,300 acres.    

 

Many homes have been successfully defended, and none have been lost.  Sixty homes are still considered threatened in the Summer Lake area. 

 

Six hundred firefighters have joined the effort to protect homes and stop the spread of the fire.  Two helicopters will be dropping water on the fire, and air tankers remain available to drop retardant in the most critical areas.  Crews and dozers on the ground will be working aggressively to establish control lines where possible. 

 

An ankle sprain is the only injury to date. 

 

Highway 31 is closed periodically as smoke and fire cross the road. 

 

The firefighting effort is being managed by a unified team consisting of Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 2, Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Red Fire Team, and representatives from the Fremont National Forest.  Many local, state, and federal agencies are involved in the firefighting effort, as well as many of the landowners themselves.

 

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