OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY FIRE UPDATE
July 7, 2015
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News Release from Oregon Dept. of Forestry – Posted on FlashAlert: July 7th, 2015 11:17 AM
This is the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) fire update for Tuesday, July 7, 2015.
FIRES ON ODF-PROTECTED LANDS
Niagara Fire – This morning, the 70-acre Niagara Fire is 35 percent contained. It is burning mostly on state forest lands in the Santiam Unit of the North Cascade District along Highway 22 adjacent to the Big Cliff Dam. Approximately 180 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, and ODF will continue to work today to secure containment lines, with two helicopters dropping water on the fire which is burning in steep terrain. ODF continues to receive valuable assistance from the Willamette National Forest and several local fire departments, as well as Oregon Department of Transportation helping ensure that traffic remains moving on Highway 22. The Niagara Fire was first reported July 4, 2015, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. More information: http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/.
FIRES ON OTHER LANDS
Corner Creek Fire – The lightning-caused Corner Creek Fire is 26,517 acres and 15 percent contained. Private lands in the fire area are protected by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) through an offset agreement with ODF, which has jurisdictional responsibility. ODF’s Incident Management Team 1 is working today to transition management of this fire over to the Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 2 (IC: Brett Fillis), who will assume command on Wednesday, July 8. More information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4349/ .
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.
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 forestland protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
January 1, 2015, through July 7, 2015:
Lightning-caused fires: 103 fires burned 1,009 acres
Human-caused fires: 308 fires burned 646 acres
Total: 411 fires burned 1,655 acres
10-year average (January 1 through July 2):
Lightning-caused fires: 35 fires burned 40 acres
Human-caused fires: 173 fires burned 1,360 acres
Total: 208 fires burned 1,400 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 call the Fire Information Duty Officer, who is currently Jeri Chase, 503-945-7201 office, 503-931-2721 mobile, Jeri.Chase@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.
