Pole Creek Fire Update - September 18, 2012 - 8 AM
Incident: Pole Creek Wildfire
Released: 9/18/2012
Current Status:The Pole Creek Fire is located approximately five miles southwest of Sisters, OR
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Fire crews worked through the smoke filled chilly night to continue strengthening containment lines. Additional burnouts were used to deepen and establish primary lines in advance of changing weather which is anticipated to challenge existing fire perimeters.
Crews will continue efforts today with mopup along fire edges and into the blackened interior of the 17,500 acre Pole Creek Fire. Fuels will also be reduced along roads using mechanized equipment to reduce the spread, intensity of burning and/or rates of spread.
Forecasters predict warming, drying conditions coupled with an unstable air mass moving back into the central Oregon area later today and on through the week.
Despite smoke filled skies, all major routes remain open to tourist destinations like Sisters and other central Oregon communities. For information on smoke tips, visit the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/burning/wildfires/index.htm., or call (503) 229-6397.
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 addition, agencies will notify residents when the alert is lifted.
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.
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 Trail traveling 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: 17,500 acres (as determined from infrared flight)
Containment: 15%
Cause: Unknown - Under Investigation
Resources: Total - 1,230
Type 1 Crews - 4; Dozers - 12; Water Tenders - 16; Helicopters - 8
Type 2 Crews - 29; Engines - 42; Camp Crews - 2; Overhead - 382
Plans: Burnout and hold containment lines to limit fire spread on SE ( from Three Creek Lakes north along Road 60 to the upper snowpark); and NE (along Road 1018 to junction with Road 1024; then south along Road 1024 to Scott Pass trailhead).
Fire Weather Forecast: Temps, 75-83 degrees; Relative humidity, 28%; winds, 4-8 mph from the SE
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
