[Hood River, Ore.] Steep, rugged
terrain has slowed mop-up work on the Westcliff Fire. Today firefighters
held the fire within the containment lines, and were able to improve control to
75%. Evacuation orders were reduced today, however some areas
remain under a Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation. Updates are available from
the Hood River County Sheriff at www.facebook.com/hrcso/.
Safety is the highest priority.
Because of the cliffy nature of the terrain firefighters are being extra cautious
in their actions on the fire. Potential rolling debris is a concern as
crews grid through the fire interior. They
must constantly be watching for crew members below and hazards above.
During mop-up they dislodge material and mix water with dirt and burning fuels,
thus increasing the potential for hazards to shift downslope.
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| Type 1 Helicopter using bucket to drop water on hots spots |
Today timber fallers were able to fall
several trees which still had live fire burning within the canopy. A Type
1 helicopter was then used to drop water on the flames to reduce the heat and
allow firefighters to fully extinguish the heat. The trees fell within
the existing fire perimeter.
Resources on the fire today were four
wildland engines, a pair of timber fallerss, and a 20-person crew. Two
helicopters, a Type 1 and Type 3 were available as needed to support the
suppression activities. The engines and crew will return to the fire tomorrow.
Union Pacific train traffic is moving
through the area slowly, coordinating with firefighters as it enters the
area. Firefighters are also watching to ensure no debris has rolled onto
the tracks.
The fire was reported around midnight
Saturday night. It is located northwest of Hood River near Westcliff
Drive, between Interstate 84 and the Columbia River.
The weather forecast calls for
continued dry hot days. Please remember that wildland fuels are extremely
flammable under these conditions. Regulated Closure is in effect for
ODF’s Central Oregon District. Specific restrictions can be found at www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
