Green Ridge Fire Update for August 24

Firefighters continue to make progress establishing and holding containment lines on the Green Ridge Fire, in spite of being challenged by repeated spot fires. The Prineville and Wolf Creek Interagency Hotshot crews successfully completed burnout operations on the western side of Green Ridge, bringing the edge of the fire down to more defensible, flat ground. Additional hand crews, engines and heavy equipment arrived yesterday to begin the process of mopping up, improving containment lines and patrolling for additional spot fires.

Updated Evacuation Levels Due to Green Ridge Fire

Updated Joint Press Release by Deschutes and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Offices

Released by: DCSO Sgt. Nathan Garibay – Emergency Services Manager

The Level 2 (Get Set) Evacuation notices for residences north of Indian Ford between Green Ridge Rd (FS 11) and Fly Lake Rd (USFS 2050/2055) have been reduced to Level 1 (Be Ready) Pre-Evacuation Notice.

A Level 1 (Be Ready) Pre-Evacuation notice is issued for the following areas:

• Residences along Indian Ford Road from Hwy 20 to Stevens Canyon Road
• Residences east of Fly Lake Rd (FS 2055) to Stevens Canyon Rd (including all residences along Stevens Canyon Rd)
• Private residences and campgrounds west of USFS 14 within the Metolius Basin in the Camp Sherman area.
• Residences in Jefferson County north of the Deschutes County line, west of Whychus Creek and the Deschutes River north to Lake Billy Chinook.  This includes areas commonly referred to as Geneva, Grandview, Three Rivers, Air Park Estates, Perry South and Monty Campgrounds.

Level 1: Means “BE READY“ for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. This is the time for preparation and precautionary movements of persons with special needs, mobile property and (under certain circumstances) pets and livestock. If conditions worsen, emergency services personnel may contact you via an emergency notification system.

Please avoid these evacuation areas and abide by any area closures issued by the Deschutes National Forest.

Follow the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter and Facebook for up to date information.

Current maps including evacuation areas can be found at:

www.deschutes.org/emergency

For fire information, you can visit the Central Oregon Fire Information site at:

www.centraloregonfire.org

##End of Update##

Green Ridge Fire

Virtual Public Meeting

Monday, August 24, 2020, 6:00 p.m.

The Oregon Department of Forestry, Incident Management Team 3, will livestream a virtual public meeting at 6 p.m. PST, Monday, August 24. The team will provide an overview of the current situation including updates on the fire’s condition, predicted weather and fire behavior, and operations strategies for the next several days.

To join the meeting, please go to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenridgefire2020

To participate, viewers do not need a Facebook account to view the meeting. The live stream will appear at the top of the Green Ridge Fire Facebook page a few minutes before 6:00 p.m.
 
If you are planning on watching live tonight and need special audio or visual accommodations, please contact us at 541-604-8461. 

 8/21/20, 5pm - Jefferson County Sheriff

Level 1 Evacuation Notice "BE READY"

The Green Ridge wildfire continues to grow raising concern. A level 1 Evacuation Order is now in effect for the Lands in the Lake Chinook F.D., 3 rivers subdivision, Metolius Arm lake homes, Monty Campground and Perry South Campground. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. This is the time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons with special needs, mobile property and (under certain circumstances) pets and livestock. If conditions worsen, emergency services personnel may contact you via an emergency notification system. 

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Team 3 will take over management of the Green Ridge Fire tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. This Type 1 Team, led by Incident Commander Link Smith, shadowed the outgoing Northwest Incident Management Team (IMT) 10 today to ensure a smooth transition. ODF is assuming command of the fire due to the large number of acres of ODF-protected lands within and adjacent to the fire’s perimeter. 

Northwest Team 10 Incident Commander Alan Lawson would like to thank our cooperators, stakeholders, the communities of Sisters and Camp Sherman, and the outlying communities and property owners for their cooperation in this firefighting effort. In particular, we would like to thank the Sisters School District and the Sisters Middle School for allowing the team to use their property as our Incident Command Post. Although we are already in a difficult fire season, especially with COVID-19 restrictions, it is the cooperation such as we have experienced here that has enabled us to meet firefighting objectives in a safe and efficient manner.

The past week was challenging to firefighters because strong westerly winds drove the fire east into state timberland, while threatening communities both northeast and west of the fire. Today, firefighters took advantage of good weather and mild winds to make significant progress holding and improving the fireline. Air support aided hand crews in this effort. Crews along the western slope of Green Ridge completed a 1-acre burnout operation to clean up the northwest line.

More resources arrive tomorrow with the new team, including five additional 20-person crews and five engines. ODF Team 3 will continue to aggressively manage this fire to protect the public, state lands and private development. Public and firefighter safety remains the top priority while working within CDC guidelines to protect from COVID-19. 
Current Evacuation Notices and Forest Area Closures: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7012/

Incident Management Team Transition: Oregon Department of Forestry Team 3 will shadow IMT 10 today and will take over management of the fire due to significant spread of the fire onto lands protected by ODF. This Type 1 Team will begin managing the fire tomorrow at 6:00 a.m.High winds yesterday afternoon challenged firefighters as the fire burned through extremely dry fuels and pushed past dozer lines on the eastern edge. An 800’ wide strip of fire spread east to the 1129 road and south of the 700 road. Multiple helicopters and air tankers helped keep the fire from spreading further. Despite this setback, weather conditions are favorable today for firefighting efforts as temperatures and winds are expected to remain lower. Crews and dozers will work to re-establish and strengthen the line on the perimeter of the fire and air support will be available to aid the ground effort.

Yesterday, high afternoon winds pushed the fire across dozer lines on the eastern edge of the fire. Crews and dozers worked overnight to re-establish a line on the perimeter of the fire and firefighters will hold and improve this line today.