CANYON CREEK COMPLEX UPDATE – 08-23-15

News Release from Oregon Dept. of Forestry  – Posted on FlashAlert: August 23rd, 2015 11:22 AM
Updated Fire Information phone numbers: 541-820-3643, 541-820-3633
Community Meeting at Grant Union High School, 5 p.m. today, August 23

Cause: Lightning

Date of Origin: August 12, 2015

Location: One mile south of the towns of John Day and Canyon City, Oregon.

Types of Fuel: Timber with brush/grass understory and areas of medium density logging slash. Structures Threatened: 150+

Structures Damaged: 50+

Residences Destroyed: 39 (according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office)

Current Size: 69,606 acres

Percent Containment:23%

Number of Personnel: 832

Types of resources: 2 Type 1 Crews, 18 Type 2 Crews, 4 Helicopter, 56 Engines, 19 Dozers, 8 Skidgines, 26 Water tenders

ODOT: will have a pilot car for Hwy 395 travel today from 9AM- 5PM leaving from Canyon City. Expect delays on Hwy 395. After 5:00 pm the road will be closed to all traffic.

Weather: temperatures will begin to increase creating warmer and drier conditions with light winds from the southwest increasing by Sunday afternoon.

Air Quality Index: Smoky conditions should improve today, except Prairie City where the southwest winds will continue to push the smoke.

Red Flag Warning for Sunday and Monday.

Jerry’s Draw Fire:
Jerry’s Draw Fire occurred August 20 at 4:45 p.m. in the Ricco Road area north of Prairie City, holding at 161 acres. Dozer line has been completed around the fire and crews will continue to mop up and extinguish interior hotspots. Structure protection was provided and no structures were lost.

Canyon Creek Complex Recent Activities:

* Fire perimeter to southeast has had improvement in containment and currently is in mop-up status. Southeast corner of the fire had successful burn-out operations which helps tie the fire into the wilderness.

* North and northwest fire perimeter continues to become more contained. Crews have secured handlines to Mud Springs. Low fire behavior has contributed to crews’ successful operations.

* Night operations continued despite smoky conditions.

Planned actions include:

· Crews are working to tie up the northeast fire perimeter where highest public and community infrastructures are threatened. Crews will continue to improve and mop up completed line on the north, west, and south sides of the fire perimeter.

* Continue strategic planning to assess suppression action into the wilderness.

* Priority is containment of Jerry’s Draw Fire to prevent spread into roadless area;

* Air resources are on standby for visibility conditions to improve.

* Oregon Trails Electric Coop is continuing its efforts to restore power to residences along Hwy 395.

Evacuation Update on Canyon Creek Complex

Joint Information Center Hotlines: 541-820-3643 or 541-820-3633

Level 3 Evacuations: Jerry’s Draw Fire
There are no level 3 evacuations in place at this time for the Jerry’s Draw fire. All areas have been reduced to a level 1

Level 3 Evacuations: Canyon Creek Complex
· The area west of County Road 62, south of the forest boundary (MP 12) and north of the 16 to the junction of FR 15/16 is in a level 3 evacuation. CR 62 and the 16 are open for through travel, at this time.

· Forest Closures remain in effect. Current Forest Orders are available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/home/?cid=stelprd3845529.

Decreased to Level 2: Canyon Creek Complex

· South on Dog Creek Road to Little Dog Creek

· Upper end of Pine Creek Road from Berry Ranch Lane

· From J – L south to the end of County Road 65.

Level 1 Evacuations: Canyon Creek Complex

· Adams Road and Adams Drive Marysville

· Eagle Peak Gardner Ranch

· Pineview Buckhorn

· Edgewood Little Pine

· Rebel Hill Lower Pine Creek from Berry Ranch Lane

Lifted Evacuations: Canyon Creek Complex

· Canyon Creek along Hwy. 395, from the fire perimeter north at Canyon City to the J-L Ranch

· Izee-Paulina Road from Hwy 395

· Seneca

· Nan’s Rock Road, Laycock Creek Road, Luce Creek, West Bench Road

Roads Reopened:

· Marysville from Hwy. 395 to Dog Creek and the junction of Hwy. 26

Road Closures:

· Hwy. 395 remains closed to through traffic

· Homeowners on the lower Little Canyon Mountain Trail area can also access their homes.

· The 15 road remains closed.

· South from Dog Creek to Little Dog Creek is closed

Evacuation level definitions:

LEVEL 1: A Level 1 Evacuation means “BE READY” for potential evacuation.

LEVEL 2: A Level 2 Evacuation means “BE SET” to evacuate.

LEVEL 3: A Level 3 Evacuation means “GO” Evacuate now, leave immediately.

Email Address: canyoncreekcomplex@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/canyoncreekfireoregon
Malheur NF www.facebook.com/malheurnationalforest
Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4495/

Twitter: @CanyonCreekFire #CanyonCreekComplex

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