Pole Creek Fire Update - September 17, 2012 - 8 AM
Incident: Pole Creek Wildfire
Released: 9/17/2012
POLE CREEK FIRE
OREGON INTERAGENCY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 4
DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST
Current Status
The Pole Creek Fire is located approximately five miles southwest of Sisters, OR
Email:
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/PoleCreekFire
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/desnatlforest/
Flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/polecreekfire
Yesterday the fire remained active with some short range spotting but experienced little growth. Fire crews took advantage of the favorable weather conditions on Sunday and overnight to reinforce current lines, establish new ones and begin contingency lines.
With similar weather expected today, crews will work to mop-up where fire edges have cooled and continue to improve containment lines. Suppression efforts are focused on the N, S and E sides of the fire with new secondary containment lines also being strengthened and added. Fire officials are preparing for forecasted warming and drying conditions through the week which could again test containment lines.
A community fire information update is planned for tonight at 7:30 pm at the Sisters Elementary School, on 611 East Cascades Avenue. The briefing will provide an in-depth update on the Pole Creek fire to those attending.
Residents in the Crossroads and Edgington/Remuda areas remain under a Level 2, pre-evacuation alert (west of the 16 Road and South of Highway 20 in the vicinity of Sisters):
Level 2 alerts signify that: dangerous conditions exist - be prepared to leave at a moment's notice; persons with special needs or in need of assistance should be moved at this time; and large animals should be moved at this time. Public safety agencies will keep the public updated about when to leave and which routes to take.
In the event that there is a need for evacuation, citizens in affected areas will receive a call from 911 Dispatch with a recorded message with specific evacuation information. To receive these messages on cell phones, citizens are encouraged to visit http://www.deschutes.org/citizensalerts and register their numbers with the Citizen Alert program. At this time, there are no towns, subdivisions or structures under evacuation.
Smoke is expected to remain in the greater Sisters area for the next several days due to a temperature inversion over the area. For more information, visit the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/burning/wildfires/index.htm.
For firefighter and public safety, the current closure area includes the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) between Trail #3531and the PCT Trailhead on Highway 242. PCT hikers have a reroute option using the Scott Trailtraveling west to Highway 242. The closure still includes Forest Roads 15 (Pole Ck RD) & 16 (Three Creeks Rd) south to FS 4601 Road. Maps and descriptions are available at Forest Service offices and at http://inciweb.org
Estimated Acreage: 16,500 acres (as determined from more precise infrared flight mapping)
Containment: 10%
Cause: Unknown - Under Investigation
Resources: Total - 1,101
Type 1 Crews - 4 Dozers - 10 Water Tenders - 16 Helicopters - 8
Type 2 Crews - 25 Engines - 43 Camp Crews - 2 Overhead - 322
Plans: Continue with primary line preparation and contingency line preparation on the N, E, and SE sides of the fire while holding and mopping up existing lines. Burnout as appropriate to strengthen and secure containment lines.
Fire Weather Forecast: Temps, 70-80 deg; Humidity, 19%; winds, 4-8 mph from the East
Cooperators: Deschutes County Sheriff, Deschutes County SAR, City of Sisters, Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Ranch RFPD, Cloverdale FD, Oregon Department of Forestry, American Red Cross, Oregon Department of Transportation
