Cache Creek Fire Update - September 1, 2012 - 8 AM
Incident: Cache Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/1/2012
Cache Creek Fire Update
Oregon Incident Management Team 3 - Central Oregon
Incident Commander: Mark Rapp
For Immediate Release: September 1, 2012 8:00 a.m.
Fire Information Center: 541-432-0163
Inciweb Website: www.inciweb.org/incident/3202
The community meeting held last night in Joseph was attended by about 20 people interested in learning more about the fire.
The Zumwalt Road to Thomason spike camp is being watered and graded daily due to the heavy fire traffic.
Suppression activities today will focus on fireline patrol and mop-up along the north and northwest containment lines. On the west, crews will build direct line where possible near Buckhorn lookout. In the south, the dozer lines on Cemetery Ridge will be rehabilitated.
Tentative change of command for the fire is early next week, with the fire being returned to the local District to monitor and complete mop-up. Since conditions continue to be conducive for extreme fire behavior adequate crews and resources will be retained for the local Type 3 team to effectively suppress any new fire activity on the west. Additionally, remaining crews will complete rehabilitation of burned areas and suppression impacts.
Wallowa County's burn ban remains in effect. Local residents and recreationists are encouraged to be vigilant with any source of sparks that may start a fire. Since there are still pockets of heat scattered within the overall perimeter of the fire, residents can expect to see smoke intermittently until a season ending weather event.
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: 72,800 acres
Percent Contained: 70%
Total Personnel: 779
Cache Creek Fire
