Pole Creek Fire Update - September 26, 2012 - 8 AM
Incident: Pole Creek Wildfire
Released: 9/26/2012
Current
Status
The Pole Creek Fire is located approximately five miles southwest of Sisters, OR
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http://twitter.com/desnatlforest/
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A community fire information update is planned for Wednesday, September 26th at 7:30 P.M. at the Sisters Elementary School at 611 East Cascade Ave. The briefing will include an in-depth update on the Pole Creek Fire.
The fire size is at 26,285 acres. Firefighters worked on mopping-up and rehabilitating fire lines. Three spot fires were discovered in the Trout Creek drainage and were contained on Tuesday. Warmer temperatures and light winds tested fire lines yesterday.
Helicopters dropped Thermagel, a class A retardant on the northwest corner of the fire to secure the line. One helicopter was released on Tuesday evening and another will be released on Wednesday evening.
ALL major routes remain open to Sisters and other central Oregon communities.
A Level 2 evacuation alert remains in effect for the subdivisions (Crossroads, Edgington and Remuda) located northeast of the fire. The potential for fire movement remains due to continued spotting on the west side of Trout Creek Butte. Firefighters are focusing their efforts to identify and control spot fires using crews, engines, dozers, and aviation resources. Once these spot fires are secured and mopped-up, a recommendation will be made to the Deschutes County Sheriff to lift the evacuation notice. To receive these messages on cell phones, citizens are encouraged to visit http://tinyurl.com/bwvm5o8 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 #3531 and 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
Protect your home from future wildfires; check www.firewise.org for tips and techniques on providing defensible space around your property.
Estimated Acreage:
26,285 acres
Containment:
75%
Cause:
Unknown - Under Investigation
Resources:
Total - 729
Type 1 Crews - 0 Dozers - 4 Water Tenders - 11 Helicopters - 6
Type 2 Crews - 17 Engines - 28 Camp Crews - 2 Overhead - 169
Plans:
Continue mop-up, rehabilitation and patrol for spot fires.
Fire Weather Forecast:
Temps, 79 degrees; Relative humidity, 16%; afternoon winds from the NW, afternoon gusts 19 mph. Drier air expected for today. The inversion should lift around 11:00 A.M. Transport winds becoming northwest around 19 mph by around 2:00 P.M.
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
