Phillips Creek Fire Daily Update 8/9/15

Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, 9:00 a.m.
Fire Information: (541) 437-1159

Public Meeting Notice
The Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 2 will hold a community meeting Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Elgin Community Center. Fire managers will be on hand to talk about the Phillips Creek Fire. Break-out sessions will follow the meeting for those that want to ask more questions. The US Forest Service, Union County Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, and representatives from the Sheriff’s Office will all be in attendance.

“The continued community support for this effort has been awesome” said Bill Gamble, Umatilla Forest Supervisor.

Smokey conditions and delays can be expected on the Hwy 204 corridor again today and a pilot car may be used between MP 32 and 36. For up to date information on highway conditions, check www.tripcheck.com.

Yesterday’s Operations: Firing operations were effective in securing fire lines on the east and portions of the west side of the fire. There were several spot fires, less than 1/4 acre in size, just outside the fire line on the north end, west of Hwy 204. The spots were quickly suppressed with the help of two Single Engine Air Tankers and helicopter support. The spots were mopped up by the end of the day. Mop-up was ongoing on most of the other flanks.

Weather and Fire Behavior: A Red Flag Warning has been issued for today for the threat of thunderstorms with potential gusty outflow winds up to 40 mph in the evening. Continued warm and dry conditions will provide the potential for very active fire behavior today.

Today’s Operations: Firing operations will continue to remove unburned fuel between the fire and the fire line on the northwest flank and in small areas on the eastern flank, along Highway 204. Actions today will expand on yesterday’s efforts, connecting areas of black within the fire lines. Firefighters will continue mopping up hot spots from the fire’s edge towards the interior portions of the fire on multiple divisions.

Phillips Creek Fire information can be found on Inciweb at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4443/ and on Facebook at Phillips Creek Fire | Facebook.

Evacuations
Union County officials have issued Level I Evacuation Notices for residents of Ruckle Road and Sanderson Springs Road, Highway 204 between Phillips Creek and Valley View, Valley View between Hwy 204 and Gordon Creek and all of Gordon Creek Road. A Level I evacuation notice means residents should be READY to evacuate and continue to closely monitor incident information. Questions regarding evacuation notices and the evacuation process can be directed to the Emergency Operation Center at 541-963-1049.

Road Closures
Road closures have been expanded for public and firefighter safety and include:
· Forest Road 3738 (Phillips Creek Road) from its junction with Forest Road 3100 (Summit Road) to State Highway 204.
· Forest Road 3148 from its junction with Forest Road 3100 (Summit Road) to its end.
· Forest Roads 3148-010 and 3148-900 from their junction with Forest Road 3148 to their end.
· Forest Road 3740 from its junction with Forest Road 3738 to the forest boundary.
· Forest Roads 3740-020, 3740-025, 3740-030, 3740-040, and 3740-05.
· Forest Road 3734 from its junction with State Highway 204 to its end.
· Forest Road 3200 from its junction with Forest Road 3100 (Summit Road) to the forest boundary.
· Forest Road 3217 from its junction with Forest Road 3200 to its end.
· Forest · F Road 3100-035.
· County Roads: Sanderson Springs and Ruckle Roads west of Elgin; except to resident travel.

State Highway 204 remains open at this time though travelers should consider alternate routes to avoid firefighter traffic and smoke.

The official Road Closure Orders can be found at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4443/

Smoke continues to be an issue in the Grande Ronde Valley and surrounding communities. To monitor the air quality index, the public can access the Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality’s website at www.deq.state.or.us/aqi.

The fire danger rating has increased to EXTREME and Public Use Restrictions involving campfires and chainsaw use are in effect. For more information about the Umatilla National Forest’s Public Use Restrictions, please contact any forest office, call our Forest Information hotline at 1-877-958-9663, or visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla/ or on the Blue Mountain Fire Information BlogSpot at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

Regulated closures are in effect on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon. Please check with your local Oregon Department of Forestry office for public use restrictions on lands protected by ODF. Visit the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch webpage at: www.bmidc.org or contact a local Oregon Department of Forestry office for more complete information. Similar restrictions may be in effect on State and private lands protected by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WA-DNR). More information can be found on the WA-DNR website at: http://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/firedanger/BurnRisk.aspx.