News releases articles

News Release:  Area and Road Closures Reduced on the Wilson Prairie Fire Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018 Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                    541-263-0661                    Darcy Weseman, Umatilla National Forest                    541-278-3722 [Morrow County, Ore.] Umatilla...

Wilson Prairie Fire Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson July 31, 2018 - 9:00 A.M. This will be the last update from the Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8 (NWIIMT8). This will be the last on the Wilson Prairie Fire unless conditions change.  The local units will provide any updated information. NWIIMT8 would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to the community, cooperators, agency staff, and firefighters for the unwavering support during our management of the Wilson Prairie...

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”...

A community meeting is planned for July 30, 2018, 5:00 pm at the Heppner Ranger District office, Heppner, Oregon.Fire officials will provide:Current and future Wilson Prairie Fire situation.Update on the regional and national fire outlook; andQuestion and answer period will follow. Please join us.

Wilson Prairie Fire Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson July 29, 2018 - 9:00 A.M. Starting today only one update will be generated and posted in the morning from the Wilson Prairie Fire. The Morrow County Off-Highway Vehicle Park and Campground is currently open, however some trails may be impacted by the fire activity.  Please observe all trail and area closures. Current Fire Information: Firefighters completed containment lines around all perimeters of the fire. Hose lays have been installed completely...

Wilson Prairie Fire Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson July 28, 2018 - 9:00 P.M. Current Fire Information: Firefighters completed the containment line on the east perimeter of the fire in the Porter Creek area. Hose lays have been installed and mop up has begun.  Mop up has progressed in other areas of the fire, advancing into the interior 20-50 feet.  The small interior islands of unburned fuels have been isolated with focused mop up around the perimeters. Acreage: 437 Containment: 50% Fire Information...

Wilson Prairie Fire Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson July 28, 2018 - 9:00 A.M. Smoke from a large fire to the west 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/ The Morrow County Off-Highway Vehicle Park and Campground is currently open, however some trails may be impacted by the fire activity.  Please observe all...

Wilson Prairie Fire Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson July 27, 2018 - 9:00 A.M. Special Announcements: A Community Meeting is planned for this evening, July 27th at 5:00 pm at the Heppner City Hall at 111 North 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....

Wilson Prairie Fire Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson July 26, 2018 - 9:00 A.M. Special Announcements: Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson, assumed management of the Wilson Prairie Fire this morning at 6:00 am.  The fire is burning in timber and grass on private lands, protected by Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Umatilla National Forest.  The incident command post (ICP) and helibase are located at the Morrow County OHV Park northeast of Spray,...

Contact: Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                541-263-0661                Darcy Weseman, Umatilla National Forest                541-278-3722 [Morrow County, Ore.] Fire behavior increased late yesterday afternoon on the Wilson Prairie Fire, resulting in the fire moving outside the fireline on the southern portion of the fire.  The fire, pushed by afternoon winds and warm temperatures spotted across the retardant...

Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                    541-263-0661                    Darcy Weseman, Umatilla National Forest                    541-278-3722 [Morrow County, Ore.] Today additional resources arrived to support fire suppression efforts on the Wilson Prairie Fire in Morrow...

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...

[Morrow County, Ore.] The Wilson Prairie Fire was reported around 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon burning on Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protected lands within the Morrow County Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Park.  The fire is located approximately twenty-three miles southwest of Heppner, Oregon.  This evening the fire is estimated at 120 acres, burning in grass, brush, and timber.  Cause of the fire is under investigation.  There are currently no evacuations or closures in place around the fire. Aerial resources, including five Single Engine Air...

Regulated Closure Link [Prineville, Ore,] Prompted by fuel conditions and weather trends, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is increasing restrictions for lands within their protection boundary.  The District will implement Regulated Closure-Phase 2 as of 12:01 a.m. Friday July 20, 2018.  This Closure will modify the timeframe when some high risk activities are prohibited.  All other restrictions remain in effect.  The restricted timeframe is now 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for mowing of dried grass, chainsaw use and cutting...

News Release:  Memaloose Park Fire Monday July 10, 2018 11:00 a.m. Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                 541-263-0661               [Hood River, Ore.]  Firefighters on the Memaloose Park Fire continue to make progress mopping-up fuels within the fire perimeter.  This morning the fire is 90% contained, with the final acreage mapped at 74 acres.  Incident Commander Kiel Nairns...

News Release:  Memaloose Park Fire Monday July 9, 2018 9:00 a.m. Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                 541-263-0661                [Hood River, Ore.]  The Memaloose Park Fire, located along Interstate 84 ten miles east of Hood River, is 70% contained this morning.  Crews made significant progress mopping-up the heat and flames within the fire perimeter on Sunday.  Kiel Nairns,...

News Release:  Memaloose Park Fire Sunday July 8, 2018 11:00 a.m. Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                 541-263-0661                 Stan Hinatsu, U.S. Forest Service                 541-490-0961   [Hood River, Ore.]  Firefighters worked on Saturday to complete fireline around the sixty-five acre Memaloose...

News Release:  Memaloose Park Fire Saturday July 7, 2018 5:00 p.m. Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                 541-263-0661                 Stan Hinatsu, U.S. Forest Service                 541-490-0961   [Hood River, Ore.]  Firefighters on the Memaloose Park Fire worked today on strengthening the existing...

News Release:  Memaloose Park Fire Saturday July 7, 2018 9:00 a.m. Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                 541-263-0661                 Stan Hinatsu, U.S. Forest Service                 541-490-0961                [Hood River, Ore.]  Firefighters...

The Central Oregon District off the Oregon Department of Forestry is implementing Regulated-Use Closure effective at 12:01 a.m., Friday June 29, 2018.  These lands include private, municipal and state lands protected by the Central Oregon District. “Recent fire activity has shown a significant potential for rapid fire growth,” says Rob Pentzer, Assistant District Forester.  “We are looking to reduce potential fire starts from high risk activities.”  The public use restrictions included in the Regulated-Use Closure are intended to limit preventable...

News Release:  Graham Fire Tuesday, June 26, 2018 12:00 a.m.   Contact:  Jamie Knight, Oregon Department of Forestry                 541-963-3168 SISTERS, Ore. - After three days with no additional perimeter growth and well-established control lines, the ODF Incident Management Team 2 will be handing management of the Graham Fire back to Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District Wednesday morning. Control lines around the fire’s perimeter have been mopped up to at...

News Release:  Graham Fire Friday June 21, 2018 12:00 a.m. Contact:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry                 541-263-0661 The Graham Fire was reported Thursday afternoon, burning in brush, timber and grass south of the Metolius River arm of Lake Billy Chinook near Culver, Oregon.  The fire has burned private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry and Lake Chinook Fire and Rescue, as well as Bureau of Land Management ownership.  Aerial resources,...