5 Mile Fire Update

5 Mile Fire – The operational priority is to secure the town of Imnaha and keep the fire from the Oregon Department of Forestry protected private lands of ranches and homes along the Imnaha River Road. The flanks along the north towards Imnaha and west along the river are holding.  The south flank had the majority of burning activity today.  Firefighters are preparing a fireline on a ridge overlooking Jody Creek. Retardant planes are applied retardant in preparation of a burnout operation along this line. The burnout will occur within the next few days as hand crews and hot shots arrive to assist in suppression efforts.  A night shift of firefighters last night patrolled for spots.

5 Mile Fire-Level 1 Evacuation for Imnaha

A Level 1 Evacuation Notice was issued by the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office for the town of Imnaha and for residents along the Imnaha River Road 5 miles south of Imnaha near Freezeout Creek to 10 miles north of Imnaha near Fence Creek this morning.  This is an advisory warning that current or projected threats associated with the approaching fire are severe and this is the time for preparations and precautionary movement of persons with special needs and livestock.

5 Mile Fire Update

Current situation: Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Doug Johnson, assumed command of the 5 Mile and Somers Fires this morning.  The incident command post is located at the Chief Joseph Rodeo Grounds in Joseph, Oregon.  Additional firefighting resources are on order to fill critical needs on the fires but limited resources are available due to high fire activity in Oregon Washington, Idaho, and California.  Resources will be prioritized to protect high value assets and the community of Imnaha.

5 Mile Fire – 3,700 acres, 5% contained. The operational priority is to secure the town of Imnaha and keep the fire from the Oregon Department of Forestry protected private lands of ranches and homes along the Imnaha River Road. Yesterday, retardant was heavily applied in a wide strip to check the movement of the fire toward Imnaha.  Night shift patrolled.  Today, firefighters will provide structure protection; remove fuels away from homes, and burn out around structures where necessary. Air resources usage will be limited this morning until the smoke inversion lifts. Aerial resources are on loan for use from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and the Oregon Department of Forestry.  Retardant planes are available for use.

Additional information is available on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4048/  and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4053/

Information provided by Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3.

Five Mile Fire

The Five Mile Fire was reported at 3:15 p.m. today burning just south of the town of Imnaha on Wallowa Whitman National Forest and scattered private ODF-protected forestlands.  ODF Wallowa Unit did Initial Attack on this fire, estimated at approximately 900 acres (approximately 50-75 acres on ODF protection).  The fire is turned over to the forest, with ODF continuing to provide mutual aid, and an interagency Incident Management Team has been ordered and will assume command of this fire, day/time still TBD.

Ukiah Lightning Bust

Within a two hour period Saturday afternoon over 400 lightning strikes reached the ground in the vicinity of Ukiah.  These strikes resulted in 6 fires on private land protected by the Pendleton Unit.  Two of these fires remained staffed overnight and into Sunday.  Numerous thunder cells in the area kept air resources from flying.  However, an aggressive initial attack response from engine crews and bulldozers, along with scattered precipitation, kept the fires from getting very large.  The 14 acre Buckaroo Flats Fire was the largest of the 6 fires and it was located in an area where no precipitation occurred.  Firefighters expect to find more “sleeper” fires over the next couple of days as fuels dry.  The weather forecast calls for more lightning early this week.     

Rain aids fire fighters

Lightning moved through the Northeast Oregon District late this afternoon and evening, igniting numerous fires on ODF protected lands.  Rain accompanied the thunderstorms and helped to slow fire growth, allowing fire fighters to get the upper hand on most of the fires.  Crews continue to respond to fire reports into the night.

Thunderstorms continue to move through northeast Oregon bringing lightning, gusty winds and hopefully some rain.

Fires kept small in Northeast Oregon District

Pendleton fire crews are responding to three fires in the Northeast Oregon District ignited by lightning this evening.  Two of the fires were single tree fires in Morrow County.  Fire fighters are hiking into the third fire in Umatilla County.

Reconnaissance flights covered the district today looking for holdover fires from yesterday's thunderstorms.  Thunderstorms continue to be in the forecast for the weekend.