Yesterday’s strong winds brought smoke into the area from new fires in Washington. With continued strong northeastern winds today, smoke from Washington will continue to move

into the Columbia River Gorge and throughout the fire area today.

Expect similar conditions in the area today – smoke may be in “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range later today.

Quick Facts - Fire Summary

Start Date: 8/17/2020 
Cause: Lightning 
Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3
Approximate Size: 17,507 acres 
Containment: 70% 
Total Personnel: 809
Approximate Distance:  8 miles from Maupin/7 miles from Tygh Valley 

Resources on the Fire: 
25 crews
30 engines 
9 dozers
17 water tenders
7 helicopters 

Cooperating Agencies:
Wasco County Sheriff
Wasco County Emergency Management
NTSB/FAA

The fire containment line was tested by yesterday’s high winds and did not grow in size. Firefighters will continue to patrol the fire perimeter.  This is the last daily update for the White River Fire.  Additional updates will occur as changes warrant. 

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Much of the state is under a Red Flag Warning today indicating increased risk of fire danger due to strong gusty winds associated with yesterday’s cold front. High winds with gusts up to 30 miles per hour will continue into the evening. Temperatures will be much cooler today with highs in the low 70s. Logs and stumps continue to smolder and unburned islands are likely to burn today inside the fire perimeter. Blowing dust and ash from fires in Washington is limiting visibility.

Last 24 hours: Crews patrolled the fire perimeter, concentrating on the southern edge which was most likely to be impacted by northeast winds. Crews continued improving containment lines, checking for residual heat, and extinguishing smoldering stumps and logs near the fire perimeter. Fire crews worked to repair areas damaged by suppression activities. This included hauling out unneeded hose lines and equipment, building water bars to prevent erosion, restoring damaged stream banks, and chipping and spreading tree limbs and brush that were cut during fire suppression.

Today’s Activities: With fire containment lines holding and fire activity increasing across the west, some crews and equipment will be shifted to other fires. The remaining crews will patrol the fire perimeter while continuing to reinforce established containment lines and extinguish heat in smoldering logs and tree stumps near those lines. Resource advisors will work with crews and heavy equipment operators to repair areas damaged by suppression activities and remove unneeded equipment and trash.

National Forest Closures: A Closure Order remains in effect for portions of Mount Hood National Forest, including Forest Road 48. Check the Mount Hood National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood/) for details.

Evacuations: For the most up-to-date information please visit the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff). An interactive evacuation map can be found at https://arcg.is/1janHC .

FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7013      

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhiteRiverFire

Email:  2020.whiteriver@firenet.gov    

Fire Information: 541-604-8582

Quick Facts - Fire Summary

Start Date: 8/17/2020 
Cause: Lightning 
Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3
Approximate Size: 17,507 acres 
Containment: 55% 
Total Personnel: 1,003
Approximate Distance:  8 miles from Maupin/7 miles from Tygh Valley 

Resources on the Fire: 
32 crews
42 engines 
12 dozers
20 water tenders
7 helicopters 

Cooperating Agencies:
Wasco County Sheriff
Wasco County Emergency Management
NTSB/FAA

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Much of the state is under a Red Flag Warning today through Tuesday as a dry cold front moves through the area bringing high winds with gusts up to 35 miles per hour. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 80s today and drop into the low 70s on Tuesday. The fire has not grown in size for several days. Logs and stumps continue to smolder and unburned islands are likely to burn today inside the fire perimeter.

Last 24 hours: Crews continued improving containment lines, checking for residual heat, and extinguishing smoldering stumps and logs near the fire perimeter. Resource advisors (trained in minimizing suppression damage and repairing fire lines) worked with fire crews to evaluate and repair areas damaged by suppression activities. This includes hauling out unneeded hose lines, supplies and trash, building water bars to prevent erosion, restoring damaged stream banks, and chipping and spreading tree limbs and brush that were cut during fire suppression. In the southwest section of the fire near Clear Creek, crews reinforced the containment line recently established in steep, complex terrain.

Today’s Activities: Crews will patrol the fire perimeter, watching for changes in fire activity triggered by anticipated strong northeast winds, while continuing to reinforce established containment lines and mopup smoldering logs and tree stumps. Resource advisors will work with crews and heavy equipment operators to repair areas damaged by suppression activities and remove unneeded equipment and trash.

Evacuations and Forest Closures may impact holiday weekend activities in the area. Check the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (facebook.com/wascocountysheriff) and the Mount Hood National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood/) for details.

Evacuations:  The Wasco County Sheriff has updated evacuation notices. For the most up-to-date information please visit the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff). An interactive evacuation map can be found at https://arcg.is/1janHC .

Wasco County residents are encouraged to register for Wasco County Citizen Alert at: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612392#/login All emergency information including evacuations will be distributed through the citizen alert system.

FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7013      

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhiteRiverFire

Email:  2020.whiteriver@firenet.gov    

Fire Information: 541-604-8582

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the area of the White River Fire on Monday, September 7th from 11 a.m. through Tuesday 11 p.m.  
A dry cold front arrives tomorrow bringing extreme fire weather conditions across much of Oregon. 

Multiple days of 100+ degree temperatures along with low humidity and sustained high, and sometimes erratic, winds have created conditions that are ideal for wildland fire combustion and rapid spread.
Firefighters have made tremendous progress on strengthening containment lines over the last few days.  We are prepared for these lines to be tested throughout the day.
Mt Hood National Forest Fire Restrictions remain in effect: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd776420.pdf

This is the time in the fire when you hear us talking about "suppression repair," but what is it? 

Fire suppression repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities.

This work usually begins before the fire is contained and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. 

This work repairs the hand and dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones and drop points used during fire suppression effort.

Not much smoke expected from the White River Fire today. West and north winds should keep smoke from the Lionshead Fire out of our forecast area.

For a complete report visit: https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/columbia_river_gorge_or_wa

Quick Facts - Fire Summary

Start Date: 8/17/2020 
Cause: Lightning 
Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3
Approximate Size: 17,496 acres 
Containment: 50% 
Total Personnel: 1,166
Approximate Distance:  8 miles from Maupin/7 miles from Tygh Valley 

Resources on the Fire: 
34 crews
54 engines 
16 dozers 20
water tenders
8 helicopters 

Cooperating Agencies:
Wasco County Sheriff
Wasco County Emergency Management
NTSB/FAA

Weather and Fire Behavior:  High temperatures and low relative humidity will continue today. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s with light winds. Although the fire is unlikely to grow in size, unburned patches of fuel inside the perimeter will continue to burn. Light winds will keep the fire active into the early evening.

Last 24 hours: On the northwest and eastern portions of the fire, crews continued improving containment lines, assessing the need for suppression repair, checking for residual heat, and extinguishing smoldering stumps and logs near the perimeter. In the southwest area near Clear Creek, fire crews improved a recently established section of containment line in an area with steep and complex topography. Helicopters provided assistance to ground crews as needed.

Today’s Activities: Crews and heavy equipment operators will reinforce established containment lines and mop up smoldering fuels near the perimeter. In the southwest section of the fire, crews will improve the newly developed containment line near Clear Creek. Resource advisors are working with fire crews to evaluate and repair areas damaged by suppression activities. This includes hauling out supplies and trash, building water bars to prevent erosion, restoring damaged stream banks, and chipping and spreading downed tree limbs.

Evacuations and Forest Closures may impact holiday weekend activities in the area. Check the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (facebook.com/wascocountysheriff) and the Mount Hood National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood/) for details.

Evacuations:  The Wasco County Sheriff has updated evacuation notices. For the most up-to-date information please visit the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff). An interactive evacuation map can be found at https://arcg.is/1janHC .

Wasco County residents are encouraged to register for Wasco County Citizen Alert at: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612392#/login All emergency information including evacuations will be distributed through the citizen alert system.

FOR ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7013      

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhiteRiverFire

Email:  2020.whiteriver@firenet.gov    

Fire Information: 541-604-8582

Firefighters are in the process of a burn out operation to improve the southwest portion of the fire line near Clear Creek. This technique reinforces the fire perimeter by removing vegetation between the containment line and the fire's edge. #WhiteRiverFire

Special Safety Alert:

Residents on 3 Mile Road and Dodson Road in Wamic may see increased fire traffic today, Saturday, September 5th through Sunday, September 6th.Fire traffic will be diverted around Wamic to avoid congestion from this weekend’s Sportsman’s Grass Car Races.  Best of luck to the racers!