FIR MOUNTAIN FIRE—MORNING UPDATE
THE DALLES, ORE. - Late Monday night an infrared camera was
flown over the Fir Mountain Fire. This
flight provided valuable information to firefighters as to the location of spot
fires and the intensity of heat in the fire perimeter. Firefighters on the line can use this
information to focus efforts and secure areas which pose the greatest risk for
spotting outside the existing fireline.
The perimeter was mapped using this information and the acreage has been
updated to 313 acres. This includes
areas of unburned fuels within the perimeter between spot fires. Containment for the fire is 15%.
Today firefighters will continue to
use direct and indirect tactics to construct fireline on the perimeter of the
main body of the fire and the spot fires.
Aircraft will be used to cool the east side of the fire to allow
firefighters to build fireline in these areas.
The heavy fuel load within the fire perimeter and the unburned fuel
between spot fires creates a significant workload because of the intense heat
in the large fuels, increased fireline needed along the perimeter of each “spot”,
and difficulty in constructing fireline to mineral soil in areas with
vegetation. Crews are working to
continue construction of hoselays from the western part of the fire to
distribute water for mop-up and to use for cooling the fire edge as needed.
There are approximately 200 fire
fighters assigned to the fire. Resources
include dozers, skidgens, excavators, tenders, feller bunchers, wildland fire
engines, Type 1 and Type 2 hand crews, helicopters, and air tankers. Resources assigned to the night shift have
focused on mop-up work, opening roads for better access to the east side of the
fire and containing any additional spotting.
For public safety road closures are
in place for Godberson Road and Fir Mountain Road due to fire suppression
activity. Evacuation information for the
eastern flank of the fire is available at https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff.
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.
