Eldorado Fire Update

Eldorado Fire Update

  Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, 12 p.m.

  Fire Information: (541) 786-0501

Baker City, Oregon: The Eldorado Fire is currently burning near the junction of Forest Service Road 16 and Highway 26, 8 miles Southeast of Unity. The fire is approximately 2500 acres in size. There are several dozers and fire engines on scene as well as air resources and a Type 3 Incident Commander. A Type 1, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) team, with Incident Commander Link Smith, will be taking over management of the fire on Saturday, August 15^th.

The fire was reported Friday morning and is burning in sage brush and grass. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Fire officials are recommending that people avoid driving near the fire due to increased firefighting traffic. The safety of the public and firefighters is very important. Additional Eldorado Fire can be found at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4502/

Baker County Sheriff has issued evacuation notices for the following locations:

-          Level 1 (READY):

o   Shirts Creek

o   Job Creek & South of Job Creek Road

o   East of Bull Run Road

o   South of Campbell Lane

-          Level 2 (GET SET):

o   Dry Gulch Area

o   Ripley Gulch Area

-          Level 3 (GO):

o   Beam Creek Area

o   Eldorado Ditch Area

o   Long Creek Area (Baker Co.)

o   Long Creek Reservoir

o   Camp Creek South of Highway 26

Highway 26 is closed between Milepost 231 and Milepost 213 in Unity. Oregon Department of Transportation and Fire Officials recommend checking www.tripcheck.com before traveling in the area.

The National Fire Preparedness Level is at 5, the highest possible.  The preparedness level ranges from one, indicating minimal activity, to five, which signals very high activity.  It assesses the degree of wildfire activity, the current commitment of fire resources, and the probability of continued severe conditions.  A red flag warning with strong, gusty winds and low humidity is in effect through Friday evening. 

Fire officials want to remind everyone that the current fire danger rating remains at EXTREME and Public Use Restrictions involving campfires and chainsaw use are in effect on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.  Regulated closures are in effect on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon. 

For more information about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s Public Use Restrictions, please contact any forest office or visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman/. Additional Fire information can be found at www.bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com

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