Rowena Fire Afternoon Update

Date:  June 29, 2020-Afternoon

Contacts:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry (541-263-0661)

      

[Rowena, Ore.]  Today firefighters on the Rowena Fire focused efforts on mopping-up interior hot spots and extinguishing visible smokes.  Crews worked to grid within the fire area, exposing the trapped heat, then dousing with water.  Sandy soils and light flashy fuel conditions in the fire area allowed fire to burn through quickly and trap minimal heat.   Containment is expected to be 90% contained at the end of shift today.  There will be no night shift tonight.

Firefighters from Oregon Department of Forestry’s The Dalles Unit will complete the remaining mop-up work tomorrow then place the fire in patrol status.  Resources will include six wildland fire engines, a four person hand crew and overhead personnel.  These firefighters will also be available for initial attack response for any new starts in the area.

The fire was initially reported Sunday afternoon burning in grass, scrub oak and ponderosa pine near Rowena in Wasco County.  Two Fireboss Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) from Washington Department of Natural Resources and a federal Type 1 helicopter were critical in slowing the spread of the fire in difficult terrain, allowing firefighters on the ground to access the fire and build fireline.

Wasco County Sheriff’s Office cancelled the Level 1 evacuation notice for residences in the area Monday morning.

The fire is human caused and under investigation.  

This will be the last update for this fire.

Regulated-Use Closure in Effect for ODF's Central Oregon District

[Prineville, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will enter Regulated-Use Closure beginning at 12:01 a.m. July 1, 2020.  The closure is intended to restrict activities that could spark fires in dry wildland fuels. Lands included in this closure include private, municipal and state owned lands protected by the Central Oregon District, in the following counties:  Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Grant, Wheeler, Morrow, Gilliam, Hood River, Lake, Harney, Umatilla, and Wasco.

Activities below are restricted by this closure.  Additional restrictions and the full proclamation can be accessed at www.Oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx

·        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.

·        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.

·        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.

·        Mowing of dried grass with power driven equipment is prohibited, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

·        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.

·        The use of fireworks and blasting is prohibited.

Fire season in the Central Oregon District began June 1^st.  Year-to-date ODF’s Central Oregon District has had thirty-five fires, ten lightning starts and twenty-five human caused fires, for a total of thirty-three acres burned.  The ten year average for this time period is ten lightning fires and twenty-two human starts, burning 1,164 acres.  Recent precipitation has helped to keep fires small, however the weather is transitioning into warm dry summer conditions.

ODF’s Central Oregon District continues to serve landowners and the public as an essential service for Oregonians.  Please call or email to talk with our staff or schedule an appointment.  For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Rowena Fire Update

Date:  June 29, 2020

Contacts:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry (541-263-0661)
     
[Rowena, Ore.]  Overnight firefighters on the Rowena Fire were able to complete fireline around the perimeter and begin mop-up on the interior of the fire.  This morning there is limited visible smoke or flames.  Firefighters will continue mop-up work today, with the plan to have 100% mop-up across the fire using a gridding process to locate any heat inside the perimeter. Mop-up in some of the more rugged portions of the fire did not occur overnight due to safety concerns.  These areas will be focused on today. The fire has been mapped at fourteen acres and has 50% containment.  Windy conditions are expected to continue today with moderate temperatures and good relative humidity.

Today Oregon Department of Forestry is being assisted by resources from Mt. Hood National Forest, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue.  Resources include a tender, five wildland engines, one four-person hand crew, a fifteen person Type 2 initial attack crew, and overhead personnel.  The public should be aware of firefighting personnel using Mayer State Park to fill fire engines and for other support of firefighters.  Please be cautious in the area. 

The fire was initially reported Sunday afternoon burning in grass, scrub oak and ponderosa pine near Rowena in Wasco County.  Two Fireboss Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) from Washington Department of Natural Resources and a federal Type 1 helicopter were critical in slowing the spread of the fire in difficult terrain, allowing firefighters on the ground to access the fire and build fireline.

Wasco County Sheriff’s Office cancelled the Level 1 evacuation notice for residences in the area Monday morning.

The fire is human caused and under investigation. 

Rowena Fire

For Immediate Release

Contacts:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry (541-263-0661)

                  Colton Whitworth, USFS-Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (425-530-8285)

[Rowena, Ore.]  The Rowena Fire was reported early afternoon on Sunday, June 28^th, burning in grass, scrub oak and timber near Rowena, Oregon in Wasco County.  The fire burned approximately fifteen acres before spread was stopped.  Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Oregon Department of Forestry and US Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area are in Unified Command working to suppress the fire.  Resources on scene include five wildland fire engines, one Scenic Area crew, several overhead personnel and engines from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Mosier Fire Department and Hood River Fire Department.  Two Fireboss Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) from Washington Department of Natural Resources and a federal Type 1 helicopter were used to check the spread of the fire and allow firefighters on the ground to make progress digging handline and wetting fuel on the perimeter of the fire.

Additional resources will be arriving this evening to complete handline around the perimeter and begin mop-up work on the interior of the fire.  Containment is estimated at 40% with a combination of fireline to mineral soil and fire hose with “wetline” around the perimeter.  The fire burned in steep rugged terrain near the fire scar from the 2014 Rowena Fire.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level 1 Evacuation (Get Ready!) from 6090 Hwy 30 to 5220 Hwy 30 (Old Columbia River Highway) as a precaution.  For information regarding the evacuation notice please call 541-506-2792.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.