Contact: Tara Martinak (541) 573-4400
Release No. OR-020-11-22
August 26, 2011
WILDFIRE UPDATE: AUGUST 26, 2011 – 7:00 A.M.
HINES, Ore. – With over 40 new wildfires in the past two days and lightning predicted for today,
firefighters from the Burns Interagency Fire Zone (BIFZ) can expect to be busy through the weekend.
On Thursday, the fire in the Steens Mountain Wilderness – named “Desert Meadows” – showed extreme
fire behavior when winds were present in the afternoon. One heavy air tanker was brought in around 5:30
p.m. to drop fire retardant to protect the buildings at the historic Riddle Brothers Ranch which was
threatened briefly. 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 the
Desert Meadows fire was estimated around 1,000 acres with no structures lost. Today crews working the
fire will use existing features and barriers to develop control lines around the perimeter.
The Smyth Creek fire, located south of Diamond near Smyth Creek and the Kiger Wild Horse Viewing
Area, also showed erratic fire behavior with gusty winds late yesterday. Crews will continue establishing
containment and strengthening control lines, burning out along roads where necessary. The Smyth Creek
fire is in the Bureau of Land Management’s Five Creeks Rangeland Restoration Project area and was last
estimated at 1,500 acres.
The DSL complex, a group four fires located near Folly Farm, between Highway 78 and Lambing Canyon,
showed considerable activity Thursday with extensive fire spread into the evening hours. Highway 78 was
closed for a period due to smoke and congestion and may be closed with pilot car escorts throughout the
day. Firefighters plan to complete burnout operations along Highway 78 and construct containment lines
along the western and northern flanks. The DLS complex was last estimated over 3,000 acres.
The Desert Meadows, Smyth Creek and DSL Complex fires will likely increase in size today as
temperatures continue to be above 90 degrees. Additional holdover fires from Wednesday’s thunderstorm
can also be expected. A thermal trough is moving through the area today and could bring winds from the
southwest up to 20mph.
The other remaining fires discovered Thursday throughout Harney County have remained mostly contained
and under 10 acres. The BIFZ is working to get additional help from regional resources and contract
engines to respond to and manage all the new incidents.
Fire danger remains VERY HIGH within the BIFZ 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.