| McLean Creek Conflagration Situation Report #3 |
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OREGON STATE FIRE MARSHAL (OSFM) INCIDENT SITUATION REPORT 0915 hours 27 July 2006 Prepared by Donna Disch
OSFM REPORT
TYPE OF INCIDENT:
Conflagration
INCIDENT NAME: McLean Creek Fire
DATE AND TIME FIRE STARTED: 23 July 2006, 1900
For Conflagration: DATE AND TIME CONFLAGRATION DECLARED: 24 July 2006 at 2010 hours Requested by Baker County Commission Chair Fred Warner Jr., County Emergency Manager Mark Bennett and Fire Defense Board Chief Buzz Harper.
LOCATION: Eastern Baker County, 6 miles southeast of Halfway, Oregon. Fire is threatening the communities of Oxbow, Homestead, and Pine Creek.
SIZE: On 26 July 2006 managed as part of the Foster Gulch Complex of 8,900 acres. The complex consists of two fires: Foster Gulch Fire, which contains 5100 acres and the McLean Creek Fire of 3800 acres.
On 25 July 2006 size was estimated to be 5000 acres.
CAUSE: Lightning
STATUS: Extreme: 10 percent contained. Fire originated on US Forest Service land.
Fire is under unified command between the USFS and OSFM. Highway 86 is closed from forest road 39 to Oxbow. The river road is closed north of Oxbow. Voluntary evacuation is in place for Highway 86 from forest road 39 to and including the community of Oxbow.
Structure protection is in place along Highway 86 at the community of Oxbow. The night of 26 July 2006 USFS and structural crews worked together on a burnout designed to remove the structural risk. This would burn the fuels threatening structures before the fire reaches them. Firefighters are careful to gauge temperature, humidity and wind conditions. Typically temperature and wind drop at night and humidity rises. If the humidity rises too much, though, the burnout won’t burn. The Central Oregon task force is experienced in these operations. USFS will provide hand crews and personnel certified to operate the drip torches. Personnel act under joint OSFM and USFS guidance.
On 26 July 2006 the fire burned actively all day developing two large thermal columns in the afternoon and potential for fire to create its own weather dynamics.
Fire burning under a 230KV power line sent an arc to the ground the night of 25 July 2006 disrupting power to Washington State.
Close to midnight 25 July 2006 fire behavior became aggressive jumping Highway 86. Active burning at night is highly unusual fire behavior. The fire has spread toward Homestead. OSFM structural overhead teams protected homes against 20-foot flames through the night. No structures were lost. Structural firefighters went door-to-door assisting residents.
RESIDENCES THREATENED: 90 homes in the community of Pine Creek, Oxbow and Homestead.
STRUCTURES THREATENED: No other structures threatened
RESIDENCES EVACUATED:
RESIDENCES LOST:
OTHER STRUCTURES LOST:
INJURIES/FATALITIES: None known
SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Fire has spread to the north and west. Fuels involved: tall grass (2.5 feet), brushy fuels and timber. Observed fire behavior includes spotting and running. Weather conditions include high temperatures with low humidity and fine flashy fuels on steep ground. Fire threatens major power transmission infrastructure within fire perimeter. Fuels include timber, forage, private property, cultural resources, 230KV power transmission lines, communications site, wilderness, and wilderness study area.
AGENCIES INVOLVED IN SUPPRESSION:
INCIDENT COMMANDER: --WILDLAND OR OTHER (STATE WHICH TYPE): Type 1 Federal National Team: Bob Anderson
STRUCTURAL INCIDENT COMMANDER: Scott Magers
COOPERATING AND ASSISTING AGENCIES: Baker County Sheriff, Spokane County Washington, Red Cross and New York Fire Department
OSFM RESOURCES –
Task Force/Strike Team
| # of Personnel | # of Equipment | Fire Departments
| Umatilla/Morrow Co. Task Force #1
| 2 | Command | Pendleton
| Umatilla/Morrow Co. Task Force #1
| 4 | Type I Engine | Pendleton
| Umatilla/Morrow Co. Task Force #1
| 3 | Type I Engine | East Umatilla County
| Umatilla/Morrow Co. Task Force #1
| 3 | Type III Engine | Heppner
| Umatilla/Morrow Co. Task Force #1
| 2 | Tender | Umatilla
| Umatilla/Morrow Co. Task Force #1
| 4 | Type I Engine | Hermiston
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| 18 | |
| Malheur Co. Task Force #1
| 1 | Command | Ontario FD
| Malheur Co. Task Force #1
| 3 | Type I Engine | Ontario FD
| Malheur Co. Task Force #1
| 3 | Type II Engine | Payette FD
| Malheur Co. Task Force #1
| 3 | Type II Engine | Fruitland Fire Department
| Malheur Co. Task Force #1
| 2 | Type I Tender | Weiser Rural FD
| Malheur Co. Task Force #1
| 3 | Type II Engine | Weiser Rural FD
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| 15 | |
| | Hood River Task Force #1 | 4 | Type I Engine | Hood River
| Hood River Task Force #1
| 3 | Type I Engine | Mid Columbia Fire & Rescue
| Hood River Task Force #1
| 2 | Type II Tender | Pine Grove Fire Department
| Hood River Task Force #1
| 4 | Type I Engine | Westside Fire
| Hood River Task Force #1
| 2 | Command | Hood River
| Hood River Task Force #1
| 1 | Support | Mid Columbia Fire & Rescue
| Hood River Task Force #1
| 3 | Type I Engine | Parkdale Fire
| | 19 | |
| Washington Co. Task Force #1
| 4 | Type I Engine | Hillsboro Fire
| Washington Co. Task Force #1
| 4 | Type I Engine | Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
| Washington Co. Task Force #1
| 4 | Type I Engine | Cornelius
| Washington Co. Task Force #1
| 3 | Type III Engine | Banks Fire
| Washington Co. Task Force #1
| 2 | Type II Tender | Forest Grove
| Washington Co. Task Force #1
| 2 | Command | Cornelius/Banks
| Washington Co. Task Force #1
| 1 | Support | Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
| | 20 | |
| Union Co. Task Force #1
| 1 | Command | La Grande RFPD
| Union Co. Task Force #1
| 2 | Type II Tender | Imbler RFPD
| Union Co. Task Force #1
| 3 | Type I Engine | La Grande RFPD
| Union Co. Task Force #1
| 2 | Type II Engine | Imbler RFPD
| Union Co. Task Force #1
| 2 | Type III Engine | Cove RFPD
| Union Co. Task Force #1
| 4 | Type I Engine | La Grande RFPD
| | 14 | |
| Central Oregon Task Force #1
| 2 | Command | Bend Fire
| Central Oregon Task Force #1
| 2 | Type I Tender | Bend Fire
| Central Oregon Task Force #1
| 3 | Type II Engine | La Pine
| Central Oregon Task Force #1
| 3 | Type II Engine | Crook County Fire & Rescue
| Central Oregon Task Force #1
| 3 | Type I Engine | Jefferson County
| Central Oregon Task Force #1
| 4 | Type I Engine | Redmond
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| 17 | |
| Total task force participants for McLean Creek Conflagration | 102 | |
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Task force: one task force leader with command vehicle, capability to refill own water tanks, three type I or II engines with off-pavement capability, one type III engine and one tender.
OSFM INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM: NAME Team
Position | Name | Fire Service | Administrator
| State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr
| OSFM
| Agency Representative
| Chief Deputy Randy Simpson
| OSFM
| IC
| Scott Magers
| McMinnville Fire Department
| Deputy IC
| Bill Anderson
| Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
| IIO
| Lou Gugliotta
| Jackson County FD #3
| Safety Officer
| Ron Youngberg
| Columbia River Fire & Rescue
| Planning
| John Fowler
| Pendleton Fire & Ambulance
| Deputy Planning
| Eric Schult
| Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
| Resource Unit Leader
| Richard Smith
| OSFM
| Logistics
| Kristina Deschaine/Sarah Colvin
| OSFM
| Finance
| Dave Jones
| OSFM
| Ops Chief
| Andy Louden
| Corvallis Fire Department
| Deputy Ops
| Bob Madden
| Bend Fire & Rescue
| Div/Grp Supervisors
| Doug Cox/Richard LaBelle/Dewaine Holster
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| Communications Unit
| David Neys**
| ODOT Bend – Bend Fire Dept.
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** Communications Unit is made up of representatives from ARESMAT: Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) Mutual Assistance Teams (MAT)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
PRESS RELEASES:
27 July 2006: Crews work all night protecting structures from the McLean Creek Conflagration
26 July 2006: Structural firefighters protect homes threatened by McLean Creek Conflagration
25 July 2006: McLean Creek fire in eastern Oregon declared a Conflagration
OTHER RESOURCES:
Oregon Department of Forestry
http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/OPS/daily.shtml
Pacific Northwest Fire Situation Report (NW Interagency Coordination Center):
http://www.nwccweb.us/information/fire_info.asp
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