South Valley Fire
[Dufur, Ore.]
The South Valley Fire was reported Wednesday afternoon around 1:30 p.m.,
burning in ponderosa pine, oak, and wheat, southwest of Dufur, Oregon on Oregon
Department of Forestry (ODF) protected lands.
Dry fuels and steady winds have contributed to the fire’s spread. It is currently estimated at 10,000 acres. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Governor
Kate Brown has invoked the Conflagration Act in response to the fire’s threat
to homes and infrastructure. Tonight Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) mobilized
resources to the fire and is in Unified Command with ODF. Tonight firefighters will take advantage of
increased humidity and reduced wind to engage the fire and build fireline while
the fire behavior is moderated.
Evacuation
information for the fire can be found on the Wasco County Sheriff’s Facebook
page, https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff/
The fire originated
approximately five miles southwest of Dufur, and spread to the southeast,
crossing Highway 197 south of Dufur. Potential spread of the fire overnight toward
the Deschutes River prompted the Bureau of Land Management to implement a Level
3 evacuation order in Segment 3 of the river corridor from Sandy Beach to Mack’s
Canyon.
Resources on
the fire today included large air tankers, very large air tankers, Washington
Department of Natural Resources FireBoss scoopers, ODF Single Engine Air
Tankers (SEATs), several helicopters, ground crews and engines from ODF and the
U.S. Forest Service, additional engines from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue and
other local rural fire departments, and contract dozers. Approximately 150 fire personnel have engaged
in the fire this afternoon and evening, with more resources arriving tonight
with OSFM. Additional resources have
been ordered and will arrive tomorrow.
Aerial resources will be supporting ground suppression activities
Thursday morning.
Year-to-date
the District has responded to 48 human caused fires, burning nearly 350
acres. This is nine more than the
ten-year average for this time period. Fuel
conditions throughout the region continue to be very dry with the potential for
rapid fire growth from every spark.
Regulated Closure is in effect for ODF’s Central Oregon District. Specific restrictions can be found at www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
