Cache Creek Fire Update - September 2, 2012 - 8:00 AM
Incident: Cache Creek Fire Wildfire
Released: 9/2/2012
Cache Creek Fire Update
Oregon Incident Management Team 3 - Central Oregon
Incident Commander: Mark Rapp
For Immediate Release: September 2, 2012 - 8:00 a.m.
Fire Information Center: 541-432-0163
Inciweb Website: www.inciweb.org/incident/3202
Yesterday firefighters held and continued mop-up of the containment line in the Imnaha drainage. Along the southwest perimeter, a burnout operation occurred in upper Cherry Creek and near the Buckhorn viewpoint connecting to Forest Service Road (FSR) 46. The burnout consumed fuels between the main fire and established containment lines. This also provided protection to the Buckhorn Campground. While a large column of smoke was visible from Joseph the fire stayed within containment lines.
Today, air patrol will monitor along the north and northwest containment lines. On the west, crews will continue to look for opportunities to build direct line and/or burnout steep draws to deepen and strengthen containment lines. In the south, dozer lines on Cemetery Ridge will continue to be rehabilitated. Marr Spike Camp is closing at the end of Sunday's dayshift.
The Wallowa County Sheriff's Department (WCSD) reopened the Lower Imnaha Road/Dug Bar Road (Forest Service Road 4260) this morning. Citizens are asked to consider avoiding this area given the potential congestion from the continuing fire suppression traffic.
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 Zumwalt Road to Thomason spike camp is being watered and graded daily due to the heavy fire traffic.
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.
Location: Wallowa and Asotin Counties
Date Started: 08/20/12
Cause: Lightning
Injuries: 3
Size: 73,300 acres
Percent Contained: 80%
Total Personnel: 615
