Contact: Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry
541-263-0661
Darcy Weseman, Umatilla National Forest
541-278-3722
[Morrow County, Ore.]
Firefighters made significant progress overnight building fireline around the
Wilson Prairie Fire, located in the southwest corner of Morrow County. The fire originated on lands protected by the
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and spread onto the Umatilla National
Forest. The fire is estimated to be 120
acres, burning in grass, brush, and timber.
Yesterday firefighters were challenged with the fire spotting in pockets
of dead white fir. Overnight the fire
held inside the existing retardant lines used to “box in” the fire and check
the spread. There are currently no evacuations or closures in place around the
fire. The cause of the fire is under
investigation.
Firefighters made significant progress overnight building fireline around the
Wilson Prairie Fire, located in the southwest corner of Morrow County. The fire originated on lands protected by the
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and spread onto the Umatilla National
Forest. The fire is estimated to be 120
acres, burning in grass, brush, and timber.
Yesterday firefighters were challenged with the fire spotting in pockets
of dead white fir. Overnight the fire
held inside the existing retardant lines used to “box in” the fire and check
the spread. There are currently no evacuations or closures in place around the
fire. The cause of the fire is under
investigation.
Today additional resources are
arriving to relieve firefighting personnel who worked throughout the night to
stop the spread of the fire. Since the
fire was reported yesterday afternoon firefighters were able to use dozers to
build fireline around most of the fire.
Firefighters will work to complete the fireline, building handline in
steep rocky ground where dozers were unable to work. Resources assigned to the fire today include
two contract crews, two Oregon Department of Corrections crews, three dozers,
two water tenders, eight fire engines from ODF and three initial attack modules
from the Umatilla National Forest’s Heppner Ranger District. Work will also begin today mopping up fire
and heat adjacent to the fireline, strengthening these lines to reduce the risk
of fire moving outside the perimeter.
arriving to relieve firefighting personnel who worked throughout the night to
stop the spread of the fire. Since the
fire was reported yesterday afternoon firefighters were able to use dozers to
build fireline around most of the fire.
Firefighters will work to complete the fireline, building handline in
steep rocky ground where dozers were unable to work. Resources assigned to the fire today include
two contract crews, two Oregon Department of Corrections crews, three dozers,
two water tenders, eight fire engines from ODF and three initial attack modules
from the Umatilla National Forest’s Heppner Ranger District. Work will also begin today mopping up fire
and heat adjacent to the fireline, strengthening these lines to reduce the risk
of fire moving outside the perimeter.
Aerial resources will support
the firefighting effort as needed. These
aerial assets include two Type 2 helicopters used to drop water and cool hot
spots. These helicopters are specially funded by Oregon’s legislature to reduce
impacts from large fires on landowners and Oregon’s natural resources including
water and air quality. A Type 1
helicopter will be arriving today to support the extended attack firefighting
for this fire. Single Engine Air Tankers
(SEATs) and large air tankers are available if the fire moves outside the
fireline.
the firefighting effort as needed. These
aerial assets include two Type 2 helicopters used to drop water and cool hot
spots. These helicopters are specially funded by Oregon’s legislature to reduce
impacts from large fires on landowners and Oregon’s natural resources including
water and air quality. A Type 1
helicopter will be arriving today to support the extended attack firefighting
for this fire. Single Engine Air Tankers
(SEATs) and large air tankers are available if the fire moves outside the
fireline.
Dry fuel conditions throughout
the region combined with continued hot and dry weather in the forecast have the
potential for rapid fire growth.
the region combined with continued hot and dry weather in the forecast have the
potential for rapid fire growth.
- 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 A of the Public
Use Restrictions (PURS) for the Umatilla National Forest is in effect. For more information regarding these and
other restrictions on the Umatilla National Forest visit www.bmidc.org.