Oregon Department of Forestry - Central Oregon District

 Dixie Creek Fire

[John Day, Ore.]  The Dixie Creek Fire was reported just before 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon burning 3 miles northwest of Prairie City in Grant County.  The fire was ignited by a lighting strike Thursday afternoon, and has been smoldering, unobserved until today. Wind and hot temperatures caused the fire to rapidly spread through timber, brush and grass on lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry’s John Day Unit and Prairie City Rural Fire Department.  The fire is visible from Prairie City and from Highway 26.

Resources assigned to the nearby Lewis Rock and Bologna fires as well as initial attack resources quickly took action on the fire.  These resources included four large air tankers, three single engine air tankers, two type 1 helicopters, two type 2 helicopters, five dozers, one twenty-person contract crew, two crews from the Malheur National Forest, nine engines and the La Grande Interagency Hotshots.  Fire personnel from Prairie City Rural Fire Department also engaged in suppression efforts as the fire spread within their protection area.  The fire is currently estimated to be 570 acres.

No structures are threatened at this time and no road closures are in place.  Fire managers are working in coordination with the Grant County Sheriff to monitor any threat due to changing conditions.

Overnight the fire will be staffed by five dozers, two contract engines, and some overhead working to establish fireline and monitor fire conditions.  Fire behavior has begun to moderate tonight with cooler temperatures and increasing humidity, however winds continue to influence the fire behavior.

A local Type 3 Team from the Malheur National Forest and Burns District Bureau of Land Management will be working with fire personnel on Sunday and management of the fire will transfer to this organization Monday morning.  Additional resources are mobilizing to the fire and will be on the fireline Sunday.

Regulated-Use Closure is in effect for the Central Oregon District.  Fireworks and campfires (including cooking fires) are not allowed within the district boundary.  For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.