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White River Fire Update 31Contact:Sheridan, McClellan, Wasco County Emergency Manager sheridanm@co.wasco.or.us White River Fire Update - Evacuation orders have changed as of Friday, September 4th, 2020. The firefighting teams have made excellent progress these last couple days in containing the fire, containment of the fire is now at 41% and 17,349 acres.Evacuation Levels have been lifted for Smock Rd, Sportsman's Park and Juniper Flat.  Pine Grove has been lowered to Level 1 Get Ready.Level 1 GET READY for Pine Grove from the area east from Bear Springs Ranger Station along Hwy 216 through Pine Grove to the intersection of Endersby Rd and 216, also included are all of Endersby Rd, Linns Mill Rd and Kelly Springs Rd has been lowered to Level 1 GET READY.Evacuation Notice for all residences east side of Endersby Rd and East Side of Kelly Springs Rd to Hwy 197 has been lifted.  Evacuation Notice for the area from Woodcock Rd to Driver Rd to White River Crossing to include Muller Rd,...

MAPLETON, Ore.—Low clouds hung over the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire this morning, signaling a weather change that will aid crews as they continue mopping up the fire. A more stable weather pattern is expected to maintain an onshore flow for the next few days, bringing cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity across the fire. Overnight, crews used handheld infrared thermal imaging cameras to check the fire perimeter for hot spots as they pushed mop up operations further into the interior. Day crews will continue the effort. The fire is now 45% contained.Fire managers have adjusted their estimate of the fire’s total size to 307 acres. It is not uncommon for acreages to change as more accurate information becomes available, especially when fires burn in steep terrain and dense vegetation. As fire activity subsides, it becomes safer for field observers to collect more detailed information about the fire perimeter. Fieldobservations, as well as infrared aerial imaging, are used...

Size: 200 acresLocation: Opal Creek Wilderness, Willamette National Forest, 6 mi. north of Detroit, ORContainment: 0 percentSuppression Strategy: full suppressionDate Detected: August 16, 2020, 11:18 a.m.Cause: unknownResources: 1 crew, 1 road grader, 1 water tender, 1 backhoe, 45 total personnel, 1 Type 2 helicopter. 1 Type 1 helicopter and 1 Rappel shipCurrent Situation:Thursday the fire grew to over 200 acres. The higher relative humidity levels yesterday likely slowed the movement of the fire. It continues backing down towards Beachie Creek and Opal Creek.  The main progression is to the Southeast towards French Creek Ridge. Expect similar movement for Friday. Smoke, especially in the early afternoon, will continue to affect the areas of Detroit, Jawbone Flats and communities in the Little North Fork an Elkhorn Valley.  Smoke from the Lionshead  and  P-515  fire on the Warm Springs Reservation may be affecting the area. Aviation will continue to be used to reduce the...

Update-Friday, September 4, 2020For Immediate ReleaseIncident Commander: Alan Lawson, Northwest Team 10E-mail – 2020.p515@firenet.govFire Information: 971-277-5075Warm Springs, Oregon - This update is for the P-515 Fire and Lionshead Fire burning on the Warm Springs Reservation.  Both fires are being managed for full suppression. Current Status:  The P-515 fire remains in mop up and patrol status. Resources no longer needed on P-515 are assisting crews on the Lionshead fire. As resources reach their 14-day limit, they are being demobilized as appropriate to meet operational needs.   The Lionshead Fire is now 9,989 acres and 31% contained.  The fire has progressed farther to the west and southwest, moving up the Whitewater River and Milk Creek drainages.  The fire has pushed the southwest flank, crossing an established dozer line. Air resources have continued to work on slowing spread, with multiple heavy air tankers dropping retardant on the southern flank throughout the...

Update-Friday, September 4, 2020For Immediate ReleaseIncident Commander: Alan Lawson, Northwest Team 10E-mail – 2020.p515@firenet.govFire Information: 971-277-5075Warm Springs, Oregon - This update is for the P-515 Fire and Lionshead Fire burning on the Warm Springs Reservation.  Both fires are being managed for full suppression. Current Status:  The P-515 fire remains in mop up and patrol status. Resources no longer needed on P-515 are assisting crews on the Lionshead fire. As resources reach their 14-day limit, they are being demobilized as appropriate to meet operational needs.   The Lionshead Fire is now 9,989 acres and 31% contained.  The fire has progressed farther to the west and southwest, moving up the Whitewater River and Milk Creek drainages.  The fire has pushed the southwest flank, crossing an established dozer line. Air resources have continued to work on slowing spread, with multiple heavy air tankers dropping retardant on the southern flank throughout the...

 Please see attached Air Quality Report and Forecast Sep. 4,

 Please see attached Air Quality Report and Forecast Sep. 4,

 Please see attached Air Quality Report and Forecast Sep. 3,

 Please see attached Air Quality Report and Forecast Sep. 3,

With lighter winds and decreased fire activity, smoke will mostly hang around the fire area today.  Lionshead’s impact should be less today with northwest winds predicted for that fire area. The Columbia River will get smoke overnight from the Evans Creek fire NW of Yakima.  Find out

Quick Facts - Fire SummaryStart Date: 8/17/2020 Cause: Lightning Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3 Approximate Size: 17,379 acres Containment: 41% Total Personnel: 1,184Approximate Distance:  8 miles from Maupin/7 miles from Tygh Valley Resources on the Fire: 34 crews59 engines 8 dozers 18 water tenders8 helicopters Cooperating Agencies:Wasco County SheriffWasco County Emergency ManagementNTSB/FAA Weather and Fire Behavior:  Extreme drought and continuing high temperatures will impact the fire throughout the day.  With temperatures in the 90s and low relative humidity, unburned islands in the fire interior are very dry and can be ignited by nearby smoldering fuels or blowing embers.  Light winds will keep fire active into the early evening. Last 24 hours: On the northwest side of the fire, crews continued improving containment lines, assessing the need for rehabilitation, and extinguishing smoldering logs and other fuels near the perimeter. On...

STAY SAFE THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND! The White River Fire remains active and firefighters and equipment continue to work near and around roadways.  A few things to consider before you head out for the weekend...Be sure to check current road conditions:  https://www.tripcheck.com/ To ensure public and firefighter safety, areas of the Mt. Hood National Forest near the fire are closed. Visit www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mthood/alerts-notices for further information. You can find air quality and updated smoke conditions at https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/columbia_river_gorge_or_wa If you travel to an area with fire activity, please drive with caution and lights on for visibility.  Enjoy your weekend and make sure we all get home safely.

MAPLETON, Ore.—Day crews on the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire pushed mop up 150 to 200 feet into thefire’s interior today. Aided by handheld infrared thermal imaging cameras, night crews plan to re-checkcontainment lines and extend mop up another 25 to 50 feet into the interior. Their work should be aided byovernight humidity levels predicted to reach 90% on some parts of the fire. Last night’s burn out operationon the northwest corner of the fire was successful. Helicopters dropped water on that portion of the firetoday, cooling remaining hot spots. Crews found no spots outside the line. Containment has reached 45%.At this evening’s briefing, the incident fire behavior specialist described very favorable conditions forovernight suppression work on the fire. Low temperatures and high relative humidity, combined withpredicted low wind speeds, will significantly decrease fire activity. Crews were again commended on theincident’s excellent safety record, though fire managers...

Warm Springs, Oregon - This update is for the P-515 Fire and Lionshead Fire burning on the Warm Springs Reservation.  Both fires are being managed for full suppression.At 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, an Interagency Incident Management Team (NW Team 10) from the Pacific Northwest (Alan Lawson, Incident Commander) assumed management of the fire. Current Status:  The P-515 Fire is 95% contained and mop-up continues. The Lionshead Fire is now 8,785 acres and 30% contained.  The fire continues to burn to the west and southwest, moving up the Whitewater River and Milk Creek drainages.  Firefighters were able to establish dozer line further out on the Northwest flank of the fire yesterday. Spotting occurred on the southwest flank of the fire, crossing an established dozer line. Air resources have been supporting crews, containing spots to the southwest when visibility permits. Lionshead: The Lionshead Fire continues to push on the NW and SW corners. Air resources will continue to support ground...

After a fire goes through an area, resources “hold, patrol and mop up;” but what does that mean exactly?    Mop up is a term used to describe extinguishing residual fire to make sure it doesn’t continue to spread outside of an established containment area.   Mop up includes actions like breaking apart smoldering debris, ensuring embers are completely extinguished, or moving burned debris so it cannot roll downhill and ignite previously unburned fuels.  The amount of area that is mopped up depends on terrain, vegetation type and proximity to homes.   Firefighters mop up along the fire perimeter to ensure the fire line is cooled down enough that it cannot re-ignite, even during high wind events.   When you practice campfire safety by drowning, stirring and drowning again, you are essentially “mopping up.”  

Warm Springs, Oregon - This update is for the P-515 Fire and Lionshead Fire burning on the Warm Springs Reservation.  Both fires are being managed for full suppression.At 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, an Interagency Incident Management Team (NW Team 10) from the Pacific Northwest (Alan Lawson, Incident Commander) assumed management of the fire. Current Status:  The P-515 Fire is 95% contained and mop-up continues. The Lionshead Fire is now 8,785 acres and 30% contained.  The fire continues to burn to the west and southwest, moving up the Whitewater River and Milk Creek drainages.  Firefighters were able to establish dozer line further out on the Northwest flank of the fire yesterday. Spotting occurred on the southwest flank of the fire, crossing an established dozer line. Air resources have been supporting crews, containing spots to the southwest when visibility permits.Lionshead: The Lionshead Fire continues to push on the NW and SW corners. Air resources will continue to support ground...

Tune in to www.facebook/WhiteRiverFire today at approximately 4 p.m. for a LIVE update from our Air Quality Advisor.  You do not need a Facebook account to

Tune in at noon today for a LIVE update from our Air Advisor!Smoke summary: With lighter winds, smoke will mostly hang around the fire area today. The Columbia River may get smoke overnight from the Evans Creek fire NW of Yakima.Find the complete smoke outlook -

  Size: 150 acres Location: Opal Creek Wilderness, Willamette National Forest, 6 mi. north of Detroit, OR Containment: 0 percent Suppression Strategy: full suppression Date Detected: August 16, 2020, 11:18 a.m. Cause: unknown Resources: 1 crew, 1 road grader, 1 water tender, 1 backhoe, 43 total personnel, 1 Type 2 helicopter. 1 Type 1 helicopter and 1 Rappel ship Current Situation: Wednesday the fire tripled in size and is now estimated to be 150-160 acres.  The fire burns actively at night and starts off in the morning with a lot of heat.  Yesterday the fire was most active from 11:00 a.m. to noon and moderated in the afternoon due to its position on the slope, the smoke column shading the fire and the aviation support dropping water.  There were some short runs and spotting with most of the fire growth to the south, along the top of the ridge away from the Opal Creek drainage. The increased smoke seen on...

MAPLETON, Ore.—Overnight, firefighters successfully completed a burnout operation in the northwest corner of the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 Fire. The operation helped secure that corner of the fire by removing about 10 acres of unburned fuels between the fire perimeter and established fire line. Elsewhere on the fire, crews kept water flowing as they continued to grid for hot spots and complete mop up operations. As of this morning, the fire is 30% contained. Today, crews will be looking for and responding to spots outside of the line as they continue mopping up interior portions of the fire. Two type 1 helicopters will also join the effort, increasing capacity to deliver water from the air. Speaking at the morning briefing, Operations Section Chief Mike Carlson asked crews to be “slow, productive, and safe” as they complete the methodical work of locating and extinguishing hot spots. Fallers have removed hazard trees near the fire line, but rolling debris and steep terrain continue...