FIRE RESTRICTIONS: - Fire Season terminated 12:01 p.m. October 24, 2022.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS: - Regulated Closure Terminated for October 14, 2022
IFPL Map MH1 IFPL: - IFPL not in effect MH4 IFPL: - IFPL not in effect
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS: - Terminated for John Day and Prineville Units

Thursday, June 30, 2016

ODF Implements Regulated Use Closure on Lands Protected by Central Oregon District

Prineville, Ore—Lands protected by ODF’s Central Oregon District (COD) will be placed under a Regulated Use Closure beginning Friday July 1, 2016 at 12:01 am.  The Regulated Use Closure applies to private, county, and state owned lands protected by COD in Deschutes, Grant, Hood River, Wasco, Wheeler, Crook, Jefferson, Morrow, Harney, Umatilla, Lake, and Gilliam counties.  The intent of the Closure is to limit human caused wildfires.  Recent high temperatures have dried wildland fuels and increased the danger of large fire growth.  Human caused fires in COD are above the ten year average for the District, which concerns fire managers as we enter the heart of fire season with dry fuels, warm temperatures and an increasing possibility of lightning caused fires. 

The full Regulated Use Closure Proclamation can be found on the Central Oregon District website:  www.ODFcentraloregon.com. The official Closure includes, but is not limited to the following activities: 
  • Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.
  • Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in designated areas.  A map of designated areas is available on COD's website under Fire Information.  Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
  • Chainsaw use is prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.  Chainsaw use is permitted at all other hours, if the following firefighting equipment is present with each operating saw: one axe, one shovel, and one operational 8 ounce or larger fire extinguisher.  In addition, a fire watch is required at least one hour following the use of each saw.
  • Use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads and except for vehicle use by a landowner and employees of the landowner upon their own land while conducting activities associated with their livelihood.
  • Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling in a motorized vehicle, except on federal and state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher, except all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles which must be equipped with an approved spark arrestor in good working condition.
  • Mowing of dried grass with power driven equipment is prohibited, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
  • Use of fireworks and blasting is prohibited.

 
Open fires are allowed by permit only, please contact your local ODF office for information.  Exploding targets, tracer ammunition and sky lanterns are prohibited during fire season.


For information on restrictions on public lands contact your local US Forest Service ranger district office or Bureau of Land Management district office.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Akawana Fire Update--June 15, 2016

Sisters, Ore…Mop-up operations for the 2,094 acre Akawana Fire are near complete.  The fire is now 95% contained, with a 500 foot cold black line around most of the perimeter.  Smoke may continue to be visible from material burning in the interior of the fire for several weeks.  Cool, moist weather throughout central Oregon has aided firefighters during the mop-up activities, and reduced interior fire activity.  Firefighters experienced scattered showers over some parts of the fire today and the weather forecast calls for additional precipitation over the next few days.

The Type 3 Team, led by Incident Commander Rob Pentzer, will transfer command of the fire back to ODF’s Central Oregon District Thursday morning.  A ten person hand crew from the District will continue to patrol the fire, extinguishing any smoke or flames within the 500 foot perimeter on Thursday.  District personnel will continue to monitor the fire and provide regular patrols throughout fire season.

The Emergency Area Closure implemented for public safety near the fire for the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River Grassland was lifted June 14, 2016 at 6:00 am.  The public is asked to keep clear of firefighting activities, including mop-up operations and patrols within the Akawana Fire perimeter. 

While the weather may be in a cooling trend, with scattered moisture it is still fire season in the Central Oregon District.  Burning is allowed by permit only, please contact your local ODF office for further information.  Exploding targets and tracer ammunition are prohibited during fire season, as well as sky lanterns.

This will be the final news release for the Akawana Fire.  Please direct questions or requests for information to Christie Shaw (541-263-0661), Information Officer for the Central Oregon District.  For more information on ODF’s Central Oregon District visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Akawana Fire Update--June 14


Akawana Fire update…Today firefighters continued mop up activities within the fire perimeter, working to extinguish flames and smoke within 500’ of the fireline.  Most of the work is complete, however smoke may be visible from smoldering stumps or burning material well in the interior of the fire perimeter.  Crews also worked hard today to remove the remaining fire hose from the fire line.  Mop-up will continue tomorrow.  The fire is now 90% contained with 2,094 acres burned.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Akawana Fire Quick Facts--June 12th, 2016 9 pm


Oregon Department of Forestry
Incident Management Team 3
Link Smith, Incident Commander

                     http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4772

Type of Incident:                     Wildfire
Cause:                                      Lightning
Date of Origin:                        June 7th, 2016
Location:                                 Akawana Butte, 13 miles North of Sisters
Types of Fuel:                         Grass, Brush and Timber
Structures Threatened:            0
Structures Damaged:               0
Residences Destroyed:            0
Current Size:                           2094 acres
Percent Containment:              80%
Number of Personnel:             537               
Hand Crews:                            21
Engines                                   16
Dozers                                     5
Water Tenders                         11
Skidgines                                  5 (track equipment with a water tank and pump)
Helicopters                              6

Note: It was another great day on the fireline. Firefighters continued aggressive mop up making sure that this fire will not reignite and flare up later this summer. No additional growth has occurred in the last operational period. The size remains 2,094 acres and is now 80 percent contained. A warming trend and stronger winds are expected tomorrow that will pose a mild test to containment lines.

Cooperators: Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State Fire Marshal, US Forest Service, Lake Chinook Fire District, Crooked River National Grasslands, Central Oregon Fire Management Services, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, PGE/Warm Springs Tribes Land Ownership

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Akawana Fire Quick Facts--June 11th, 2016 9pm

Fire Information:                     
Email Address:                        Akawanafireinfo@gmail.com
Facebook:                                facebook.com/odfcentraloregon
Twitter:                                     @centralORFire

Type of Incident:                      Wildfire
Cause:                                       Lightning
Date of Origin:                         June 7th, 2016
Location:                                  Akawana Butte, 13 miles North of Sisters
Types of Fuel:                           Grass, Brush and Timber
Structures Threatened:              912
Structures Damaged:                0
Residences Destroyed:             0
Current Size:                            2094 acres
Percent Containment:               72%
Number of Personnel:              595               
Hand Crews:                             22
Engines                                    17
Dozers                                      6
Water Tenders                           1
Skidgines                                   4 (track equipment with a water tank and pump)
Helicopters                                6

Note: The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Incident Management Team and structural task forces working under the Conflagration Act have been released today to return to their home areas. The threat to structures has decreased significantly and conditions continue to improve. OSFM’s Green IMT will remain on the incident through this morning to help ensure a smooth transition.

Cooperators: Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State Fire Marshal, US Forest Service, Lake Chinook Fire District, Crooked River National Grasslands, Central Oregon Fire Management Services, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, PGE/Warm Springs Tribes Land Ownership

Akawana Fire Update - 06-11-16 morning


Contact: Tom Fields
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
503-983-8897

Sisters, OR –  Fire crews were very successful yesterday and overnight thanks to hard work, cool temperatures and higher humidity. All Level 2 evacuation notifications have now been lowered to Level 1 (be ready). This includes homes in the Three Rivers subdivision (as of June 9), Forest Park, Air Park, Rim Park and their outlying areas (as of yesterday). Gusty afternoon winds spurred one spot fire across containment lines in the southeast corner of the fire that crews, equipment and helicopters quickly attacked and extinguished. Infrared imaging taken overnight shows a solid decrease in heat near the fire’s perimeter.

The fire has burned 2,094 acres and has line completely around it. It is currently 60 percent contained. Total firefighting costs are close to $1.8 million.

Firefighters anticipate favorable weather today as they focus their efforts on mop-up operations into the fire’s interior. While some heavy equipment and air resources are being released, additional crews are being brought in to do the more labor-intensive dirty work of digging out hot spots from beneath stumps and soaking larger fuels on the ground. Crews working on this fire are also available to help local resources, should any new fires occur within the area.
 
To date, just one minor hand injury has occurred.

Structural task forces working under the Conflagration Act have been released to return to their home areas. The threat to structures has decreased significantly and conditions continue to improve. Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green incident management team will remain on the incident through this morning to help ensure a smooth transition.

Cooperating agencies assisting in the fire suppression effort include the Central Oregon Fire Management Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Jefferson and Deschutes County Emergency Management.    

For the latest updates on the fire, log on to www.facebook.com/ODFCentralOregon.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Akawana Fire update - Thursday, June 9, 2016 evening

Fire Information:   503-983-8897                 
Email Address:                         Akawanafireinfo@gmail.com
Facebook:                                   facebook.com/odfcentraloregon
Twitter:                                         @centralORFire

Type of Incident:                     Wildfire
Cause:                                       Lightning
Date of Origin:                         June 7, 2016
Location:                                 Akawana Butte, 13 miles North of Sisters
Types of Fuel:                         Grass, Brush and Timber
Structures Threatened:              912
Structures Damaged:                0
Residences Destroyed:             0
Current Size:                            1,930 acres
Percent Containment:               44%
Number of Personnel:              561               
Types of resources:                 20 hand crews, 6 helicopters, 5 air tankers, 20 fire engines, 9 bulldozers, 8 water tenders.

The evacuation level for Three Rivers has been lowered to a level 1 (Be Ready), Forest Park, Air Park, Rim Park and outlying properties remain in level 2. A total of 262 structures remain at evacuation level 2 (Be Set).

Akawana Fire Recent Activities:

   Fire crews made solid progress as cooler conditions moderated fire activity, allowing crews to gain direct access to the edge of the fire.
   Spot fires occurred in a few areas, but crews were able to quickly contain them. 
   Air resources (planes and helicopters) played a major role in expanding control lines.
   Tomorrow’s objectives include mopping up hot spots from containment lines into the interior and strengthening lines along the northeast corner of the fire.
   Structural Task Forces protecting homes under the Conflagration Act will continue prepare and safeguard homes until the danger has abated.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

ODF Declares Fire Season in Central Oregon District


Fire Season 2016 will begin Friday June 3rd at 12:01 am for ODF’s Central Oregon District (COD).  Warm spring temperatures have quickly melted the winter snowpack and dried wildland fuels.  District fire managers have monitored fuel indices over the last few weeks to determine fire danger and the risk of fire spread.  Long term weather forecasts indicate a pattern of above normal temperatures with minimal possibility of precipitation, further drying fuels.
June 28, 2015—Sugarloaf Fire in Grant County
With implementation of fire season, burn permits issued earlier this spring may not be valid, check with your local ODF office before burning.  Industrial slash and debris burning will no longer be allowed on ODF protected lands.  Landowners are encouraged to check burn piles/areas which were burned earlier this spring or late last fall for any hold-over heat.  In addition to these restrictions, logging and other industrial operations must meet requirements for fire prevention, such as fire tools, water supply, and watchman service when those operations are occurring on lands protected by ODF.  Contact your local stewardship forester for more information.

Recreationists are asked to put fire prevention into practice, be deliberate with your actions.  Make sure campfires are DEAD OUT!  Never leave a fire unattended.  Clear the area around your campfire, removing flammable material outside the campfire.  Fully extinguish cigarettes and properly dispose of them.  The public is also reminded that sky lanterns and the use of tracer ammunition or exploding targets is illegal within the District during fire season. 
COD had sixteen more human caused fires in the 2015 Fire Season than the ten year average (2005-2014), which accounted for 60% of the total fire starts in the District for 2015.  “We can’t predict when and how many lightning fires we will get, but we can reduce the number of human starts by being smart and deliberate in our actions,” says Central Oregon District Forester, Mike Shaw.  For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.