Contact: Tara Martinak (541) 573-4400
Release No. OR-020-11-21
August 25, 2011
WILDFIRE UPDATE: AUGUST 25, 2011 – 6:00 P.M.
HINES, Ore. – As expected, numerous new wildfires were discovered Thursday as a result of
Wednesday evening’s thunderstorm. In addition to the 25 fires originally reported this morning, another
21 incidents flared up throughout the day.
Two fires were reported in the Steens Mountain Wilderness. The first is located about 2 miles northeast of
Riddle Brothers Ranch (Ranch). A wind shift briefly brought the Ranch structures under threat of fire.
Engine crews, a rappel crew from John Day, and an air tanker worked to protect the structures and evaluate
the fire late Thursday afternoon. As a precaution, South Steens Campground was evacuated and closed to
public access at 6:00 p.m. Thursday. The campground will reopen as soon as conditions improve. At last
report this fire was estimated around 600 acres with no structures lost. The second fire in the Steens
Mountain Wilderness is located approximately 9 miles west and north of Alvord Hot Springs near Newton
Springs and showed slight to no activity.
Four fires located near Folly Farm, between Highway 78 and Lambing Canyon, showed considerable
activity Thursday afternoon, growing to a several hundred complex. Multiple suppression resources are
working these fires and a burnout to establish a control line is expected this evening.
Another new larger fire popped up approximately 7 miles southeast of Diamond near Smyth Creek in the
Bureau of Land Management’s Five Creeks Rangeland Restoration Project area. This fire was last
estimated over 300 acres.
The other remaining fires discovered Thursday throughout Harney County have remained mostly contained
and under 10 acres. The Burns Interagency Fire Zone is working to get additional help from regional
resources and contract engines to respond to and manage all the new incidents.
Lightning is predicted again on Friday.
Fire danger remains VERY HIGH within the Burns Interagency Fire Zone and the Industrial Fire
Precaution Level is a level three, partial shutdown. A regulated fire closure is in effect for the east side of
Steens Mountain. Visitors should use extreme caution when traveling through and recreating in the
outdoors this time of year.
To report a wildfire, call 573-1000.
For more information on current wildfire activity, call 573-4545.