PENDLETON, Ore. – Favorable
weather conditions and increased relative humidity continue to keep fire
behavior minimal on recent fires that are burning on the Heppner and North Fork
John Day Ranger Districts.
Given
the time of year and current weather, the Forest has taken a strategic
approach on two of the recent fires to help create fuel breaks to work from in
the event of future wildfires, while also reducing overstocked and hazardous
fuel conditions in the area, restoring forest health and resilience, and improving
foraging habitat for big game. The other two fires on the Forest have been
contained. This will be the final update
unless conditions change.
The West Texas Fire, which is located
approximately nine miles south of Ukiah near Texas Bar on the North Fork John
Day Ranger District, is now 34 acres in size and is creeping in open timber. Firefighters
will continue to patrol and
monitor the
potential spread of the fire in comparison to values at risk.
Fire crews continue
to patrol and monitor on the Skookum Fire
on the Heppner Ranger District, which is located approximately one mile northwest
of the Alder Creek/Skookum Trailhead and two miles northeast of the Tupper
Guard Station. The fire is approximately 115 acres in size and continues to smolder
in a mixture of grass, brush, timber and snags (dead or burned trees).
The public is
asked to use caution when recreating on the Forest and to be aware of increased
hazards, particularly snags and smoky conditions. Both the North Fork John Day
and Heppner Ranger Districts have been actively implementing prescribed burning
activities and forest visitors may see smoke in other portions of the districts.
Utilizing fire as a tool during these current mild conditions reduces the risk
of uncontrolled wildfires during future fire seasons.
Forest
officials also ask that visitors do not camp or hang out in burned areas. Dead
or dying trees that remain standing after a fire are unstable, especially in
high winds. Loose rocks and logs can be present in a burned area and are
unpredictable, creating a falling a hazard. Additionally, burned vegetation can
also contribute to landslides, mudslides and erosion when rain occurs. The
ground in a burned area can also be unstable, due to burned-out roots beneath
the surface. After soils and vegetation
have been charred, rainfall that would normally be absorbed could run off
extremely quickly.
With
many visitors on the Forest right now, Forest officials recommend the following
campfire safety precautions:
·
Campfires should be in fire pits
surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not conducive to
rapid fire spread. All flammable
material shall be cleared within a 3-foot radius from the edge of the pit and
free of overhanging material. Use existing pits wherever possible. (Note:
within the Grande Ronde Scenic Waterway, campfires must be contained in a
fireproof container (i.e., "fire pan") with sides of a height
sufficient to contain all ash and debris, and all ashes and debris must be
removed from the river corridor. Do not use or construct fire pits or rock fire
rings within the Scenic Waterway.)
·
Campfires must be attended at all
times, and completely extinguished prior to leaving.
·
Persons with campfires should
carry a tool that can serve as a shovel and one gallon of water in their
possession. The intent of this recommendation is to ensure individuals with a
campfire to have the tools necessary to completely extinguish their campfire.
The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue
Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue
Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.
For more information about prescribed burning on the
Umatilla National Forest, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/y8b433th.
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