News Release from Oregon Dept. of Forestry – Posted on FlashAlert: July 27th, 2015 11:43 AM
FIRES ON ODF-PROTECTED LANDS
Rye Fire
Progress has been made on the lightning-caused Rye Fire located approximately 38 miles north of Enterprise in steep rocky terrain in Northern Wallowa County. The fire is currently 763 acres. The decrease in size is due to more accurate mapping by crews on the ground. The fire is now estimated at 80% contained and weather is cooler today. A fire camp has been established near Flora, Oregon to help support firefighters and limit the amount of traffic on area roads. The team is transitioning to a Type 4 Incident Commander in the local unit later today.
Fires on other lands
The Oak Canyon Fire (BLM) reported July 24 burning in grass and brush 9 miles SE of Dufur has the following resources assigned: two 20-person crews, 6 engines, 4 helicopters and 2 Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATS). The fire, estimated at 930 acres, is now 90 percent contained.
FIRE STATISTICS*
Fire statistics are for the current year and the average over the past 10 years for the 16 million acres of private and public forestlands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
January 1, 2015 through July 27, 2015:
Lightning-caused fires: 188 fires burned 3,807 acres
Human-caused fires: 417 fires burned 777 acres
Total: 605 fires burned 4,584 acres
10-year average (January 1 through July 27):
Lightning-caused fires: 111 fires burned 13,673 acres
Human-caused fires: 313 fires burned 2,257 acres
Total: 350 fires burned 6,916 acres
Fire statistics can be accessed any time from the ODF website.
*When personnel are heavily engaged in firefighting activities, the latest information may not always appear in the statistics.
NEWS MEDIA
News media may contact the Fire Information Duty Officer, who is currently Cynthia Orlando, 503-945-7421 (office), 503-510-7972 (mobile), or Cynthia.A.Orlando@oregon.gov any time for fire information. If the duty officer is unable to take your call, you can expect a prompt return call.
Media may also call the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters office, 503-945-7200, weekdays during business hours.
OTHER FIRE INFORMATION
For information on wildfires on all jurisdictions in Oregon, view:
* the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center website, or
* the national Incident Information System site.
For information on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands view:
* the department’s blog for news on wildfires statewide and provides current fire statistics.
* the Southwest Oregon District blog with district specific wildfire info, and follow the Twitter feed covering fires as they occur.
* the Blue Mountain Fire Information Blog with information about wildfire activity in the Blue Mountain area of NE OR and SE WA.
ABOUT THIS UPDATE
This update provides information primarily about fires on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands involving fires 10 acres or larger. ODF provides fire protection primarily on private and state-owned forestland. The department also provides fire protection on some other lands, including U.S. Bureau of Land Management land in western Oregon.
The Oregon Department of Forestry works closely with neighbors and partner agencies to support the firefighting efforts on major fires outside its authority because sharing firefighting resources can help better protect all of Oregon’s forests.