***Final*** Falls Creek Fire Daily Update

Falls Creek Fire Morning Update

Sunday, Aug 30, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

Fire Information: (541)426-5689

Joseph, OR:  Today, Sunday August 30, will be the last daily update for the Falls Creek Fire.  For further information please consult InciWeb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4561/# .

The fire has not spread.  It is approximately 396 acres in size and 35% contained.  It is burning on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, as well as on private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry.  It is burning in timber, brush and grass, in steep and difficult terrain.  The cause is still under investigation.

The fire behavior is currently minimal with heavy fuels smoldering within the perimeter. There may be visible drift smoke seen in the surrounding area over the next few days. Ground crews and aircraft worked to combat winds and changing weather conditions, with much success, on Saturday August 29^th.  Crews and helicopters will began to ramp down operations on the Falls Creek Fire over the next few days.

Portions of the fire have been placed in ‘patrol’ status while other areas are in the ‘mop-up’ stage.  Rehabilitation has begun on large portions of the hand line put in place for containment.  This rehabilitation will include:

-          Removal of almost  5 miles of hose and fittings

-          Placement of water bars

-          Removal of pumps, flagging, and other firefighting/safety equipment

Repair on areas of the Hurricane Creek and Falls Creek Trail is ongoing. 

Due to the cooler temperatures and work completed on Saturday, Aug 29^th the following updates to Evacuation Levels will take place beginning at noon on Sunday, Aug 30^th.:

·         All residents of the Upper Hurricane Creek Road who have been at Level 2 (Set) evacuation notice will be moved back to Level 1 (Ready) evacuation notice. 

·         Those residents that were placed in a Level 1 (Ready) evacuation notice on Friday August 28^th have now been removed from any evacuation notice.

Questions regarding evacuation notices and the evacuation process can be directed to the Wallowa County Communication Center at 541-426-3131. Any changes to the evacuation notice will be coordinate by Wallowa County Communication Center.  Evacuation notices and orders are issued by the Wallowa County Sheriff’s office.

Road closures remain in effect at Upper Hurricane Creek Road (Local traffic only), Forest Trail 1807 (Hurricane Creek) and Forest Trail 1753 (Falls Creek).

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.  

-Additional information about Public Use Restrictions and emergency closure areas on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest can be found at: www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman/  and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4561 . 

-Regulated Use Closures are in effect on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon.  Additional information can be found at  http://bmidc.org/restrictions.shtml

-Information on incidents in the Blue Mountain Region can be found at              www.bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com

-Oregon smoke condition information is available at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.