Oregon Department of Forestry - Central Oregon District

Cottonwood Creek-Initial Attack July 30, 2021

 ODF:  Fire Update July 31, 2021

[John Day, Ore.]  Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) John Day Unit responded to several lightning fires Friday and Friday night.  These fires are holdover fires from thunderstorms which passed through on Thursday.  The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for much of central and eastern Oregon beginning this afternoon for abundant lightning in combination with critically dry fuels.  These thunderstorms may come with rain, however the precipitation will not significantly reduce wildfire danger. 

The 140 acre Cottonwood Creek Fire was reported mid-day Friday burning five miles south of Fossil.  Resources from Wheeler County Fire and Rescue assisted ODF firefighters in initial attack of the incident.  By late evening firefighters had completed construction of dozer line around the perimeter of the fire.  Air tankers and helicopters were used to cool the fire and keep the fire within the fireline, allowing firefighters on the ground to strengthen the fireline and widen the “cold, black”.  Throughout the night firefighters were challenged by embers from burning trees and hot rolling material igniting spotfires outside the line in steep terrain and heavy fuels.  Firefighters successfully stopped these spotfires, minimizing fire growth.  Increasing wind and warm temperatures this afternoon has increased fire behavior within the perimeter.  A Type 3 organization from ODF’s Central Oregon District, led by Incident Commander Chris Cook, is managing the fire today.  Resources include five hand crews, eleven wildland engines, a dozer, and additional overhead.  Local aircraft are available as needed to support the suppression efforts. 

Five additional lightning fires within the John Day Unit were controlled at less than an acre.  Resources from Burns District Bureau of Land Management, Umatilla National Forest, and Malheur National Forest were critical in stopping the spread of these fires.  The cause of one new fire start from early this morning remains under investigation.

A Regulated-Use Closure is in effect for the Central Oregon District to reduce human caused fires.  The closure restricts mowing of dried grass, cutting and grinding of metal, and chainsaw use between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. as well as prohibiting campfires, cooking fires and warming fires.  The full proclamation and restrictions are available at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html.  Industrial operations on forestland within the Central Oregon District also have restrictions in place.  Details for these activities are found at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/IFPL.html.  Preventing human caused fires allows firefighters to focus suppression effort on fires started by lightning.  These focused activities result in smaller fires with less damage to natural resources and communities and fewer impacts to air quality.

For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.