Dry Gulch Fire Daily Update 9/15/15

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 3

LINK SMITH, INCIDENT COMMANDER

DRY GULCH FIRE

September 15, 2015 Update

Halfway, OR – Close to a quarter inch of rain fell on the Dry Gulch Fire yesterday calming fire behavior and slowing fire spread. The fire, located seven miles northwest of Richland, is currently estimated at 17,536 acres and 20 percent contained.

Today, fire crews will take advantage of the overnight precipitation and build fire line right along the fire’s edge.  While 274 personnel are currently assigned to the fire that includes 8 20-person crews, many firefighters will begin the process of returning to their home units over the next few days.

Conflagration Coincides with Rain
Governor Kate Brown enacted the Conflagration Act on September 14 authorizing resources from around the state to mobilize and respond to the Dry Gulch Fire. 

Based on early situational reports from Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team, the national weather service and the local fire chief, an Incident Management Team from the Office of State Fire Marshal and four task forces to assist local structural protection resources were mobilized to the fire.

Upon arrival on Monday night, the change in weather prompted a reduction in response to two task forces to assist ODF crews in triage and prep work.

Remaining OSFM personnel will spend the morning patrolling and triaging structures along the perimeter of the fire to ensure there is no remaining threat to structures before making a decision to demobilize the incident.

A Level 2 Evacuation Notification (Get Set) remains in effect for the following areas until further notice.

Cornucopia Highway to West Wall of the Halfway Valley; West Wall of Halfway Valley; North of Carnahan Road; Hewitt/Holcomb Park; Sag Road; New Bridge; Dry Gulch; Pine Tower Lane; Moody Road.

To stay current on fire information, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drygulchfire2015 or at www.oregon.gov/odf. To check on this fire and others across the country, visit www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.

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