Oregon Interagency Incident

Management Team #1

Ross Williams, Incident Commander

Shaniko Butte Fire Daily Update

July 16, 2014

The Shaniko Butte Fire has grown to more than 12,000 acres as the afternoon winds pushed fire through the cured grass. Oregon Incident Management Team 1 took over management of the fire today at 6 AM, making  Warm Springs fire resources available for initial attack and other fire suppression activities.

Red Flag Warnings have been posted for a change in wind directions later today associated with very low humidity. Dry, breezy winds from the west and northwest are expected.

The western edge of the fire is about 2 miles from the community of Simnasho. Firefighters working through the night were able to keep the fire from spreading toward Simnasho.

The predicted westerly winds are likely to increase fire activity while pushing the fire further east. Fire has entered the Eagle Creek drainage, which drains into the Deschutes River at the community of Dant. An engine will be stationed at Dant to monitor the situation. Fire growth to the south has been checked for now by a successful burnout operation that began Tuesday and is continuing today.

Aircraft have been ordered to assist with the firefighting effort, and when they arrive the Deschutes River may be used as a water source. River users are warned to be alert to the possibility of helicopters dipping water from the Deschutes River. For everyone’s safety, please do not approach a working helicopter.

Fire at a Glance

Size: 12,198 acres

Contained: 0%

Personnel: 280

Hill Trail #714

Area Closure:The Mt. Hood National Forest portion of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, and Section 11 of T10S, R8E.

Road Closures:

·   S-300/Hwy 3 Jct

·   Red Lake Cemetery Road/Hwy 3 Jct

Location: 12 miles north of the town of Warm Springs

Fire Information E-Mail:

Shaniko.Butte@gmail.com