9-19 Fire Update
Incident: Condon Mountain Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/19/2012
Current Status: Yesterday, the fire was active in the south eastern portion of the fire, in the vicinity of the upper elevation areas of Condon Creek and Smith Creek. Helicopters working the fire were able to cool hotspots and check growth in those areas for the majority of the day; however as the heat of the day increased, bringing higher temperatures and lower relative humilities to the area, the helicopters were not as effective, and moderate fire behavior increased. With an inversion over the valley, a thermal belt held warm temperatures in the fire area, which caused burning to continue to occur into the night time hours. This night time burning was visible from Condon.
Today, Wednesday, September 19th, f ire managers will use four helicopters to put water on the fire in order to limit growth. Heavy equipment, including two excavators, a harvester, and a feller-buncher, three engine crews, and a 10 person hand crew are working building a shaded fuel break line on the road system below the fire area through to the end of Forest Road 9762, and then eastward, to Cooney Lookout. Water pumps with hose and sprinklers are being set up along this fuel beak. Fire managers do not plan to burn out along this fuel break until absolutely necessary. The fire has remained within containment lines to the north along Dog Creek; water pumps with hose and sprinklers remain in place if in the event the fire becomes active in that area.
The fire management objectives for Condon Mountain Fire include keeping the fire north of Smith Creek drainage, south of Dog Creek, and east of road 9762, 9813, and 10513; to use direct and indirect tactics as conditions allow, and to maintain fire fighter safety during incident operations.
