South Fork Complex Update 0800 and closure order for roads and trails on the Ochoco NF

Fire Information Office Phone: 1-866-347-0636 

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4042/
 FaceBook Page: South Fork Complex

www.southforkcomplex.blogspot.com
southforkcomplex@gmail.com

Current Status:
The South Fork Complex is currently managed by Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (Brian J. Watts).  Firefighters experienced another active fire day on Thursday.  The Murderers Creek South and Buck Fork fires have now grown together.  Westerly winds combined with heavy fuels and topography produced increased fire activity yesterday and moved the Buck Fork Fire north and east of the South Fork of the John Day River.  The fire spread further to the east across Deer Creek Flats and joined together with the Murderers Creek South Fire on its southern flank. 

Local terrain and winds then caused the fire to move in a southerly direction crossing Deer Creek Road 24 and progressed just south of Big Baldy Mountain and into Dugout Creek.  Firefighters are now working to reestablish anchor points to build primary dozer containment lines on the southern perimeter. 

Dozer work and retardant were also utilized to strengthen (or reinforce) the 512 Road (west of the South Fork of the John Day River) in anticipation of pinching off the Buck Fork fire’s progression to the north.

Firefighters and heavy equipment continue to brush along Road 2150 (Aldrich Mtn. Lookout), the primary containment line along the northern perimeter.  Containment lines on the upper west and east flanks of the fire are holding.  

Evacuations: 
Fire managers continue to work with the Grant County Sheriff’s Department to identify threatened structures and any needed evacuations.  A Level 1 Evacuation remains in place for the area south of Highway 26, west of 21 Road (Fields Creek) and east of 42 Road (South Fork of the John Day River).  Grant County Sheriff’s Department has also issued a Level 1 Evacuation for the area south of Deer Creek and east of the South Fork of the John Day River.

Evacuations are based on a Level 1-2-3 system often referred to as Ready-Set-Go, with Level 1 being the lowest.  At Level 1, residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area and continue to monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information.   This is the time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons with special needs and livestock.

Closures:  
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place and a Fire Closure is in effect for the entire South Fork Complex fire area.  Visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4042/ for a complete copy of the closure.

A Fire Information Open House is planned in Dayville, OR on Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to provide fire information and answer questions about the South Fork Complex. The open house will be held at the Community Hall on Highway 26 in Dayville.

Estimated Acreage:       
Murderers Creek South:               41,807  
Buck Fork:                                        7,583    
Total:                                                49,390 acres      

Date Started:                                   7/31/2014                                                           
Containment:                                   25 %                          

Total Personnel:                               575                                                                        
Cause:                                                Lightning

Order Number   06-07-02-14-001

TEMPORARY AREA AND USE RESTRICTIONS
FOREST SERVICE SYSTEM ROADS AND TRAILS

OCHOCO NATIONAL FOREST

Pursuant to 16 USC, Title 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), the following special restrictions and prohibitions are established on all Forest Roads, trails within the specific area on the Ochoco National Forest, Paulina Ranger District, in the State of Oregon where signed on the ground and contained within the boundary lines described as follows and depicted on the attached map, hereby incorporated in this Order as ‘ATTACHMENT A.’   

·         Beginning at the intersection of the southwest boundary of the Ochoco National Forest and Forest Road 5870, thence north in a clockwise direction along the west boundary of the Ochoco National Forest to its intersection with Forest Road 58, thence east of Forest Road 58 until its intersection with Forest Road 5850 continuing east on the 5850-400 road to the east boundary of the Ochoco National Forest and continuing southward along the Boundary of the Ochoco National Forest until the southeastern most corner, thence continuing west along the Boundary of the Ochoco National Forest to the beginning.

PROHIBITIONS

It is prohibited to go into or be upon any of the above described lands which are closed for the protection of public health and safety, including all National Forest System roads and trails therein.  36 CFR § 261.53(e)

Being on a forest system road.  36 CFR § 261.54(e)

Being on a forest system trail.  36 CFR § 261.55(a)

This restriction is in addition to those prohibitions enumerated in Subpart A of 36 CFR§261 and any other special restrictions pertaining to the described lands.

                          

EXEMPTIONS  

Pursuant to 36 CFR§261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

1.      Personnel with written authorization by a Forest Officer, which specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.  The issuing Officer may include such conditions as are considered necessary for the protection of the area, or for the promotion of the health, safety, or welfare of its users.

2.      Any Federal, State, or local Officer or volunteer in the performance of an official duty.

3.      Persons under a special use authorization that allows the otherwise prohibited action, and approved contractors and their agents directly engaged in approved work outlined in an operating plan or permit.

4.      Persons or their invitees who live or own property within the closure area, and permitees who have a legitimate need to access their permitted allotment, escorted or approved by IMT.

5.      Persons travelling along Forest Roads 58, 5840, and 5850, providing those persons do not depart from the open roads into the closure area. 

‘Person’ means natural person, corporation, company, partnership, trust, firm, or association of persons.  ‘Permit’ means authorization in writing by a Forest Officer.  ‘Forest Officer’ means an employee of the Forest Service.

This closure is enacted due to firefighting activities taking place within the closure area, and for the protection of public and employee safety.

This Order becomes effective at 08:00 AM, August 8^th, 2014, and will remain in force until rescinded. 

Done at Prineville, Oregon, this 8^th day of August, 2014.

                                                                            _____________________________

KATHLEEN KLEIN

Forest Supervisor

Ochoco National Forest

VIOLATION OF THESE PROHIBITIONS IS PUNISHABLE AS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR, BY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $5,000 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR $10,000 FOR A LEGAL ENTITY OTHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL, OR IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS, OR BOTH.  TITLE 16 USC, SECTION 551; TITLE 18 USC, SECTION 3551.