Special Safety Alert:

Residents on 3 Mile Road and Dodson Road in Wamic may see increased fire traffic today, Saturday, September 5th through Sunday, September 6th.Fire traffic will be diverted around Wamic to avoid congestion from this weekend’s Sportsman’s Grass Car Races.  Best of luck to the racers!

Yesterday smoke in the area was coming from Lionshead Fire, but NW winds today on that fire should keep our skies clear. For a complete report visit: 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: 17,379 acres 
Containment: 50% 
Total Personnel: 1,167
Approximate Distance:  8 miles from Maupin/7 miles from Tygh Valley 

Resources on the Fire: 
34 crews
53 engines 
16 dozers 
18 water tenders
8 helicopters 

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

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Although temperatures will be slightly cooler today, hot dry weather will continue to impact the fire throughout the day.  With temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s and low relative humidity, unburned islands in the fire interior are very dry and can be ignited by nearby smoldering fuels or blowing embers.  Light winds will keep fire active into the early evening.

Last 24 hours: On the northwest and eastern portions of the fire, crews continued improving containment lines, assessing the need for suppression repair, checking for residual heat, and extinguishing smoldering logs and other fuels near the perimeter. In the southwest area near Clear Creek, fire crews developed a preliminary containment line toward the White River canyon. Helicopters assisted crews with targeted water and retardant drops in active fire zones.

Today’s Activities:  On the northwest and eastern sides of the fire, crews and heavy equipment operators will reinforce established containment lines and mop up smoldering fuels near the perimeter. The structure protection group will continue to mop up and patrol in the Pine Grove area during their final days on the fire. In the southwest section of the fire, crews will improve the newly developed containment line near Clear Creek towards the White River. Resource advisors will plan and implement repairs to areas damaged by suppression activities.

Driver and recreators are encouraged to used extra caution while in the area as firefighters and equipment continue to work near roadways. Evacuations and Forest Closures may also impact holiday weekend activities in the area. Check Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (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 evacuation notices. For the most up-to-date information please visit the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff). An interactive evacuation 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 Update 31Contact:Sheridan, McClellan, Wasco County Emergency Manager sheridanm@co.wasco.or.us White River Fire Update - Evacuation orders have changed as of Friday, September 4th, 2020. The firefighting teams have made excellent progress these last couple days in containing the fire, containment of the fire is now at 41% and 17,349 acres.Evacuation Levels have been lifted for Smock Rd, Sportsman's Park and Juniper Flat.  Pine Grove has been lowered to Level 1 Get Ready.Level 1 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 1 GET READY.Evacuation Notice for all residences east side of Endersby Rd and East Side of Kelly Springs Rd to Hwy 197 has been lifted.  Evacuation Notice 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 has been lifted. The Evacuation Notice for Sportsman’s Park has been lifted.Below is information taken directly from the Pacific Northwest Team 3 Press release.Last 24 hours: On the northwest side of the fire, crews continued improving containment lines, assessing the need for rehabilitation, and extinguishing smoldering logs and other fuels near the perimeter. On the eastern half of the fire on both the north and south sides of the perimeter, crews patrolled containment lines, making improvements and checking for residual heat under junipers. In the southwest area near Clear Creek, fire crews scouted and planned for building containment line toward the White River canyon. Helicopters assisted crews with targeted water and retardant drops in active fire zones. Today’s Activities:  On the northwest and eastern sides of the fire, crews and heavy equipment operators will reinforce established containment lines, mop up smoldering fuels near the perimeter, and plan for rehabilitating areas impacted by suppression efforts. The structure protection group will continue to mop up and patrol in the Pine Grove area. In the southwest section of the fire, crews will scout for and develop containment line in steep and complex terrain near the White River.Please continue to stay out of the area to allow crews to continue work. For more information about the White River Fire, contact Wasco County Emergency Management at 541-989-0200 or visit the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

Quick Facts - Fire Summary

Start Date: 8/17/2020 
Cause: Lightning 
Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3
Approximate Size: 17,379 acres 
Containment: 41% 
Total Personnel: 1,184
Approximate Distance:  8 miles from Maupin/7 miles from Tygh Valley 

Resources on the Fire: 
34 crews
59 engines 
8 dozers 
18 water tenders
8 helicopters 

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

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Extreme drought and continuing high temperatures will impact the fire throughout the day.  With temperatures in the 90s and low relative humidity, unburned islands in the fire interior are very dry and can be ignited by nearby smoldering fuels or blowing embers.  Light winds will keep fire active into the early evening.

Last 24 hours: On the northwest side of the fire, crews continued improving containment lines, assessing the need for rehabilitation, and extinguishing smoldering logs and other fuels near the perimeter. On the eastern half of the fire on both the north and south sides of the perimeter, crews patrolled containment lines, making improvements and checking for residual heat under junipers. In the southwest area near Clear Creek, fire crews scouted and planned for building containment line toward the White River canyon. Helicopters assisted crews with targeted water and retardant drops in active fire zones.

Today’s Activities:  On the northwest and eastern sides of the fire, crews and heavy equipment operators will reinforce established containment lines, mop up smoldering fuels near the perimeter, and plan for rehabilitating areas impacted by suppression efforts. The structure protection group will continue to mop up and patrol in the Pine Grove area. In the southwest section of the fire, crews will scout for and develop containment line in steep and complex terrain near the White River.

Evacuations and Forest Closures may impact holiday weekend activities in the area. Check Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (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 evacuation notices. For the most up-to-date information please visit the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff). An interactive evacuation 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

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