Cache Creek Update - August 31, 2012 - 9 PM
Incident: Cache Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/31/2012
Cache Creek Fire Update
Oregon Incident Management Team 3 - Central Oregon
Incident Commander: Mark Rapp
For Immediate Release: August 31, 2012 9:00 p.m.
Fire Information Center: 541-432-0163
Inciweb Website: www.inciweb.org/incident/3202
The 72,000 acre Cache Creek Fire is now close to 30 miles long in the Snake River drainage of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. The northernmost area of the fire is in Asotin County, Washington with the southern perimeter bounded by the Imnaha River in Oregon. 779 personnel continue to work the fire which is now 70% contained.
About twenty interested citizens attended a public meeting in Joseph tonight to learn more about this lightning caused fire which started on August 20.
Due to the large size of this fire, air patrols monitor the fire perimeter along the north and northwest sides in Washington where firelines were contained earlier this week. Engines are patrolling on the Oregon side to initiate any response needed. Fire activity increased late in the day along the west/southwest perimeter as afternoon temperatures increased, relative humidity decreased and terrain induced upslope winds increased. Several hand crews assisted by helicopter water drops worked to check this active fire area and keep the fire from moving closer to the historic Buckhorn lookout and communication repeater. Overall the west/southwest perimeter is in a monitor status due to steep, inaccessible ground posing high risks to firefighters. The remainder of the perimeter going south has been cold trailed and is in mop-up stage.
Firefighters again held the line along the Powerline Road in the Imnaha drainage. Crews continued to work to surround the fire's southern perimeter and burn out along the Powerline Road to increase and strengthen the containment line.
Falling timber, rolling debris, and rocks in the fire area make the area unsafe for public activities. A Forest Area Closure remains in place on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. A map and description of the Forest Closure can be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman or www.inciweb.org/incident/3202 A partial closure of Forest Service Road 46 remains in place. An alternate route is available to detour around the fire area. Road guards are staffing road blocks limiting public access into the fire area for both firefighter and public safety. The need for the closures will be assessed daily and removed as soon as possible.
The Wallowa County Sheriff's Department (WCSD) issued a closure on Lower Imnaha Road/Dug Bar Road (Forest Service Road 4260). The closure begins at the junction of Fence Creek (six miles north of Imnaha) north to the Dug Bar Landing on the Snake River. The WCSD will be staffing the closure.
Location: Wallowa and Asotin Counties
Date Started: 08/20/12
Cause: Lightning
Injuries: 3
Size: 72,000 acres
Percent Contained: 70%
Total Personnel: 779
