Cornet Fire Daily Update 8/14/15

Fire Information
Cornet Fire Joint Information Center 541-523-2905

Incident Management Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 4, Type 2, Incident Commander Brian Goff, transitioning to Southwest IMT, Type 1 today. The Type 1 team will manage both the Cornet and Windy Ridge Fires.

Incident Command Post
Burnt River School, Unity, OR

Update
Acres: 22,792

Percent contained: 10%

Today’s update and objectives:
 South and west: The south flank was held yesterday due to firefighting efforts. Today, firefighters will continue to secure line and add dozer line along Highway 245 and Pine Creek Road. They will also work to hold and construct line into Forest Road 11.
 North: Thursday, the fire moved quickly to the north leading to evacuations. There was likely damage/loss of structures (specific information not available at this time). To the north, the objective today is to limit fire spread on private lands and toward structures. Firefighters will start working the fire edge to the northwest. Baker County is protecting structures. The Oregon State Fire Marshall Green Team mobilized under the Oregon Conflagration Act will also work on structure protection.
 East: There was some movement of the fire to the east on Thursday. Efforts Thursday night were effective in anchoring the east flank on the Bridgeport Road to Glasgow Gulch. Operations today will focus on controlling the fire edge in Glasgow Gulch working north.
Overall objectives
 Provide for safety of firefighters and public.
 Stop fire progression into areas with residences, minimize acres burned on private land and in sage grouse habitat, and protect communication infrastructure, mines and cattle.
 Keep communities and interested parties informed of fire conditions and fire management actions.
 Coordinate with emergency management agencies.

Resources
There are 452 resources on the fire.

Weather
A cold front will push into the region today mid to late afternoon, shifting the wind from southerly to westerly. Air will remain dry with sunny skies, temperatures around 90, RH in the teens and winds of 8 to 14 mph – very similar to Thursday’s weather.

Fire Behavior
Fire is mainly in grass and shrubs in the alleys changing to juniper and pine further upslope with a mix of conifer at higher elevations and ridges. Slopes are steep and with the wind, contribute to rapid spread rates and spotting. Fire behavior is likely to be intense, similar to Thursday’s fire behavior.

Closures
Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 Evacuation Orders for Stices Gulch, Rancheria Creek, Black Mountain and Denny Creek. Evacuation levels: Level 1 – Ready, Level 2 – Set, Level 3 – Go.