Wilson Prairie Fire Update July 30, 2018

July 30, 2018

Wilson Prairie
Fire Update
Northwest
Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson
July 30, 2018 – 9:00 A.M.
Special Announcements:
A Community
Meeting is planned for this evening, July 30th at 5:00 pm at the
Heppner Ranger Station at 117 South Main Street.  Fire managers will provide a fire update with
maps and an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of the
presentations. If you are unable to attend, this meeting will be live streamed
through Periscope.  Please download the
app, create an account and “follow” NWIMT8. 
Once the broadcast begins you will receive a notification. 
Smoke from fires in the
region has drifted into the local area. 
Those with sensitivity concerns should take appropriate
precautions.  For more information on air
quality please visit: http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ/AQ/Pages/index.aspx 
http://www.airnow.gov/
One update will be generated
and posted in the morning from the Wilson Prairie Fire.
The Morrow County Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Park, restaurant,
and campground is currently open, however some OHV trails may be impacted by
the fire activity.  Please observe all
trail and area closures.
Current Fire Information: Suppression
efforts were able to hold the fire within its current footprint despite being
tested by increased wind activity. Mop up has progressed, advancing into the
interior 200 feet on large areas of the fire. 
Small interior islands of unburned fuels continue to be isolated with
focused mop up around the perimeter. 
Suppression repair activities continue, which includes water barring (an
angled trench, to direct water off the fireline to prevent erosion), removal of
hose, and removal of trash from the fire line. 
Repairs to OHV trails impacted by fireline construction have begun.  The entire firefighter operation briefing may
be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LuSxGz6pDE
Acreage: 437
Containment: 60%
Fire Information Center:  Public Line 844-695-6542. Available 8:00 am
to 9:00 pm.
Information
Websites:
Inciwebhttps://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6028
Resources:  Total personnel assigned
– 422:  3-type 2 IA hand crews, 10-type 2
hand crews, 2-camp crews, 1- light helicopter, 9-engines, 2-dozers, 10-water tenders,
1- ambulance, 2–faller modules, 3-skidgens,
                                                                                    ~more~
and 103 overhead. Right sizing of the fire suppression
resources continues with demobilization of resources in response to operational
needs.
Air
Operations:  
A
temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area restricting aircraft
access.  Please check the NOTAMs prior to
flying. The public is reminded all air operations are grounded any time a drone
is sighted within the TFR, delaying fire suppression efforts. Flying within the
TFR is prohibited and against the law.
Weather:  Smoke has entered the area but should stay in
the upper elevations.  Today will be
sunny with max temperatures of 98 degrees with relative humidity to 9%.  Winds will be mostly upslope at 6 – 8 mph
switching to the northwest 5-10 mph with gusts to 15 mph. After 6:00 pm, wind
will increase to 8-12 mph with gusts to 18 mph.   
Closures:
The Umatilla National
Forest implemented an area closure; including
trails and roads within
the vicinity of Bull Prairie Lake and the Wilson Prairie area.  A map and detailed description of the area
closure is available on the Umatilla National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5286768
and on Inciweb.  This Closure will be
evaluated daily for need as a safety precaution to firefighters and the
public.  Forest Service personnel will be
located near the campground to assist recreational visitors with alternative
locations to camp.
The weather forecast for the
region is a continued hot and dry trend with poor humidity recovery.  Any spark landing in light fuels (grass) has a
100% potential to start a fire so please follow restrictions to limit potential
human wildfire ignitions.
  • Regulated Closure is in effect for
    ODF’s Central Oregon District. 
    Specific restrictions, intended to reduce human caused fires, can
    be found at www.ODFcentraloregon.com.  
  • Phase B of the Public Use Restrictions
    (PURS) for the Umatilla National Forest are in effect.   For more information regarding these and
    other restrictions on the Umatilla National Forest visitwww.bmidc.org

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