STAY SAFE THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND! The White River Fire remains active and firefighters and equipment continue to work near and around roadways.  A few things to consider before you head out for the weekend...Be sure to check current road conditions:  https://www.tripcheck.com/ To ensure public and firefighter safety, areas of the Mt. Hood National Forest near the fire are closed. Visit www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mthood/alerts-notices for further information. You can find air quality and updated smoke conditions at https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/columbia_river_gorge_or_wa If you travel to an area with fire activity, please drive with caution and lights on for visibility.  Enjoy your weekend and make sure we all get home safely.

After a fire goes through an area, resources “hold, patrol and mop up;” but what does that mean exactly? 

Mop up is a term used to describe extinguishing residual fire to make sure it doesn’t continue to spread outside of an established containment area.

Mop up includes actions like breaking apart smoldering debris, ensuring embers are completely extinguished, or moving burned debris so it cannot roll downhill and ignite previously unburned fuels.  The amount of area that is mopped up depends on terrain, vegetation type and proximity to homes.

Firefighters mop up along the fire perimeter to ensure the fire line is cooled down enough that it cannot re-ignite, even during high wind events.

When you practice campfire safety by drowning, stirring and drowning again, you are essentially “mopping up.”

Visit https://www.facebook.com/WhiteRiverFire/ for an update from Dr. Kathleen Navarro, Air Quality Advisor. 
You do not need a Facebook account to view.

Tune in at noon today for a LIVE update from our Air Advisor!Smoke summary: With lighter winds, smoke will mostly hang around the fire area today. The Columbia River may get smoke overnight from the Evans Creek fire NW of Yakima.Find the complete smoke outlook - https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/columbia_river_gorge_or_wa

Quick Facts - Fire Summary
 

Start Date: 8/17/2020 
Cause: Lightning 
Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3
Approximate Size: 16,952 acres 
Containment: 40% 
Total Personnel: 1,229
Approximate Distance:  8 miles from Maupin/7 miles from Tygh Valley 

Resources on the Fire: 
 32 crews
89 engines 
8 dozers 
17 water tenders
9 helicopters 

Cooperating Agencies:
Wasco County Sheriff
Wasco County Emergency Management
NTSB/FAA

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Hot and dry weather conditions with temperatures in the 90’s and lower humidity will continue to impact fuels along the fire perimeters and unburned islands in the fire interior. Terrain driven light winds will keep fire active into early evening. Extreme drought and higher temperatures will drive active fire behavior across the fire throughout the day.

Last 24 hours: Along the northwestern perimeter crews and dozers continue to secure containment lines and mop up activities have started. On the eastern side of the fire, in the light flashy fuels, crews were able to increase containment and aircraft supported efforts along the southeast of the fire near Pine Grove. The burn out operation along the southwest corner of the fire was successful and crews concentrated efforts to hold and monitor continued active fire behavior in the area. Helicopters were utilized to cool down the fire and stop spotting in heavy timber. Redmond Interagency Hotshot Crew was able to complete line construction down to the White River in the canyon.

Today’s Activities: Crews and heavy equipment will continue constructing control lines and improving existing containment lines. Along the southwestern corner crews will continue to build containment line, connecting yesterday’s burn out operation down to the river. On the eastern perimeter firefighters will continue to perform mop up operations and secure line. Structure protection resources continue monitoring threats around the structures in the southwest area of the fire. Engines, equipment and firefighters are still actively using Highway 216, drivers are reminded to remain cautious when traveling through the fire area.

Evacuations and Forest Closures for the fire area may impact holiday weekend activities. Check Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff) and the Mount Hood National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood/) for details.

Evacuations:  The Wasco County Sheriff has updated the evacuation notices. For the most up-to-date information on the evacuation notices please visit the Wasco County Sheriff Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff) and an interactive map can be found at https://arcg.is/1janHC

Wasco County residents are encouraged to register for Wasco County Citizen Alert at: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612392#/login All emergency information including evacuations will be distributed through the citizen alert system.

FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7013      

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhiteRiverFire

Email:  2020.whiteriver@firenet.gov    

Fire Information: 541-604-8582

White River Fire perimeter continues to hold and look good while firefighters manage hotspots within the burn out area from last night.

In the Canyon, the Redmond Hotshots were able to complete fireline down to the White River.

No LIVE update is planned for this evening.  Stay tuned for tomorrow morning's update from our Incident Commander. 

Barlow and Hood River Ranger District Fire Closure
Forest Order No. 06-06-06-20-06 - See below for official Closure Order and map

This closure includes all National Forest System lands, roads and trails administered by the Mount Hood National Forest, Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts as depicted in Exhibit “A” within the following area:
 

• Forest Service Road 3550 at the intersection of 4410 and 4420 south to Camp Windy then continues on Forest Road 3550 from Bennett Pass Snopark southeast to the junction with 4891.

• All land, roads and trails east and southeast of the Badger Creek Wilderness and north of Forest Road 48 are closed beginning at the junction of Forest Road 48 and Highway 35.

• All National Forest Lands south of the Badger Creek Wilderness to its southeast corner across from Bonney Crossing Campground are closed.

• This closure extends south of Forest Road 48 at its junction with Forest Road 43 and extends to Highway 26 and State Highway 216.

• The closure follows the southern and eastern end of the closure follow the forest boundary after State Highway 216 reaches the forest boundary in T5S, R9E, Section 13.

This closure affects the following trails:

• Crane Creek
• Crane Prairie
• Boulder Lake
• Forest Creek
• Hidden Meadows
• Bonney Meadows
• Threemile
• Camas
• Rimrock
• All of Rock Creek OHV Area
• All of McCubbins Gulch OHV Area

This closure affects the following recreation sites:

• White River Station

• Forest Creek

• Keeps Mill

• Boulder Lake

• Little Boulder Lake

• Post Camp

• Camp Windy

• Bonney Meadows

• Bonney Crossing

• Post Point OHV Staging Area

• Gate Creek OHV Staging Area

• Barlow Crossing

• Rock Creek Day Use and Boat Launch

This closure affects the following campgrounds:

• Rock Creek Campground

• Clear Creek Campground

• McCubbins Gulch Campground

White River Fire Update 29
NEW EVACUATION LEVELS

Firefighters made great progress on the hotspot in the northwest quadrant right above Pine Hollow. As per Sheriff Magill directions Evacuation level will be lowered and lifted in certain areas. There are no remaining level 3 areas. Please use caution when transiting the area due to Fire Teams still actively fighting fires in the area.

White River Fire Evacuation Area Updates are as follows:
Level 2 GET READY: for Pine Grove from the area east from Bear Springs Ranger Station along Hwy 216 through Pine Grove to the intersection of Endersby Rd and 216, also included are all of Endersby Rd, Linns Mill Rd and Kelly Springs Rd has been lowered to Level 2 GET READY.

Level 1 GET READY: All residences east side of Endersby Rd and East Side of Kelly Springs Rd to Hwy 197 have been lowered to Level 1 Get Ready.

LEVEL 1 GET SET: for the area from Woodcock Rd to Driver Rd to White River Crossing to include Muller Rd, Smock Rd, Ayres Rd, Barber Lane and Barlow Rd have been lowered to LEVEL 1 GET READY.

The LEVEL 1 GET READY: evacuation has been lifted for Pine Hollow, Wamic, Maupin and east side of Hwy 197 to include Oak Springs Rd and Old Wanpinita Rd have been lifted.

Sportsman’s Park remains at LEVEL 1 GET READY. 

With west winds predicted for the fire area today, smoke should continue to move east and not impact communities along Highway 197.

View the complete report here:- https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/columbia_river_gorge_or_wa

Quick Facts - Fire Summary
 

Start Date: 8/17/2020 
Cause: Lightning 
Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3
Approximate Size: 16,356 acres 
Containment: 10% 
Total Personnel: 758
Approximate Distance:  8 miles from Maupin/7 miles from Tygh Valley 

Resources on the Fire: 
10 crews
85 engines 
8 dozers 
17 water tenders
9 helicopters 

Cooperating Agencies:
Wasco County Sheriff
Wasco County Emergency Management
NTSB/FAA

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Hot and dry weather conditions with temperatures in the 90’s and lower humidities will impact fuels along the fire perimeters and unburned islands in the fire interior. An afternoon low pressure system will bring in winds gusting into the 20’s from the west/northwest that could result in single tree torching and spotting outside the perimeter. Active fire behavior is expected throughout the entire day as seasonal temperatures combined with extreme drought will keep fuels receptive to ignitions.

Last 24 hours:  Crews continued efforts to prepare for possible burn out operations in heavy timbered areas along the southwestern perimeter of the fire. Established dozer lines are holding, keeping fire from reaching the highway.  Firefighters continued to perform mop up and patrolled along the fires northwest edge as fire perimeters were reinforced. Conditions aligned overnight, allowing crews to successfully accomplish a burn out operation along the southwestern fire perimeter north of Bear Springs. Over 50 families attended a public meeting in Wamic learning more about ongoing fire suppression efforts. Go to the White River Fire Facebook www.facebook.com/WhiteRiverFire to watch a recording of the meeting.

Today’s Activities: As of 6:00 a.m. this morning Highway 216 has reopened. Drivers are encouraged to drive cautiously through the area as engines and crews are still actively working along the highway. Firefighters will monitor and hold the line from last night’s successful burnout operations along the southwestern edge of the fire. Crews and heavy equipment will continue constructing control lines and improving existing containment lines. Structure protection resources continue monitoring and mop up around property. Along the eastern perimeter, crews and aircraft will continue to hold the spread of the fire and are working towards increased containment.

Evacuations:  The Wasco County Sheriff has issued evacuation notices. For the most up-to-date information on the evacuation notices please visit the Wasco County Sheriff Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff) and an interactive map can be found at https://arcg.is/1janHC

Wasco County residents are encouraged to register for Wasco County Citizen Alert at: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612392#/login All emergency information including evacuations will be distributed through the citizen alert system.

FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7013      

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhiteRiverFire

Email:  2020.whiteriver@firenet.gov    

Fire Information: 541-604-8582