Unified Command:

       Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2

   Fremont National Forest

Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office

                                                                                              

                                                                                                     Information Contact:

541-943-3513

541-943-0998

                                                                        

Winter Fire Update

July 20, 2002

9:00 AM

 

The Winter Fire made a run to the north and east yesterday, pushing hard against Highway 31 in the Ana Reservoir area where many homes are located.   But firefighters, using all the resources available to them, were able to stop the fire at the highway. Today they hope to pinch off it’s northward movement with a wide fire-trail, water and retardant drops, and a burn-out of vegetation in the path of the fire.

 

The fire has grown to 30,350 acres.  While the fire was growing to the north, firefighters at the south end were building a fire-line across tough terrain with an explosives team that uses blasting caps and prima-cord to quickly make an effective, fire-stopping trail.  The south end is now fully trailed, and water-hoses have been stretched along the trail to help cool the line. 

 

The Winter Fire is 35% contained, and the expected containment date is July 25th.  Although 60 homes remain threatened by the fire, no evacuations are imminent – the head of the fire has moved past the homes in the area.  Many homes in the path of the fire have been saved from burning – none have been lost.

 

Many organizations are participating in the suppression action against the Winter Fire.  Following is a list of the number of people currently on the fire and the organizations they represent.  In addition, many local ranchers and volunteer firefighters have worked to stop the fire.  Members of the Lake County Board of Commissioners were briefed yesterday on fire suppression activities.

 

                        Organization                                                     Number of People

 

            British Columbia Forest Service                                                6

            National Weather Service                                                         1

            Other States (eg Florida, Virginia, Washington)             5

            Oregon National Guard                                                            25

            Douglas Fire Protection Association                                          2

            Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office                                           52 

            Oregon State Police                                                                  1

            City Fire Department                                                                1         

            Department of Corrections                                                        59

            Private Contractors                                                                   572

            US Forest Service                                                                    9

            Oregon Department of Forestry                                                72

 

                                                                        --more--

 

The total number of personnel on the fire is 805.

 

Two hundred fifty National Guardsmen are expected to arrive in Paisley on Monday to help with containment and control of the Winter Fire.

 

Today’s objectives are to continue protecting homes against the possibility of spot fires, to continue construction, burnout, and holding line on the south and west flanks of the fire, and to coordinate fire suppression strategy with the Toolbox Fire as the north end of the Winter Fire is pinched off. 

 

The important communication site on Dead Indian Mountain continues to function, even though fire has burned all around it.  The retardant drops around the site appear to have saved it from the fire.  When safe to enter the area, a team will evaluate any damage to the site.

 

Wind patterns have kept the Toolbox and Winter Fires close, but they have not merged.  The Toolbox Fire was moving to the southeast last night.  Hotter and drier conditions increase the possibility of spotting and fire spread, particularly on the Toolbox fire. 

 

A unified team consisting of Fremont National Forest representatives, Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2, and Oregon Fire Marshal’s Red Fire Team is managing the firefighting effort on the Winter Fire.  An Area Command Team, stationed in Lakeview, is coordinating resource distribution and suppression strategy among the fires in the area.

 

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