Wildfire — Ochoco-john Day Highlands, Oregon

2015-07-01 to 2015-07-20 · Ochoco-john Day Highlands, Oregon

Event narrative

Inciweb.

Wider weather episode

Lightning caused Corner Creek Fire is burning on the west side of the South Fork John Day River, about 11 miles south of Dayville. The Corner Creek Fire has burned 12,750 acres on the Ochoco National Forest, Bureau of Land Management Prineville District, and private lands. Part of the fire is also in the Black Canyon Wilderness.

Corner Creek Fire is growing rapidly, spreading to the south and southwest. A strong and very visible pyro-cumulus clouds formed over the fire in the afternoon, towering to more than 20,000 feet. Firefighters are protecting structures in the vicinity. Fire crews are attempting to control the fire spread, including clearing fuels near forest roads to the south and west of the fire. These may be used as fire lines for burnout operations.

The South Fork Road/Hwy 42 has been closed to the general public from Dayville to the US Forest Service 58 Road junction due to fire activity. Local traffic should drive with caution due to heavy fire-related traffic.

Update as of 7/20/15

The management of the Corner Creek Fire was transferred to Albuquerque Zone Type 3 Incident Management team (Incident Commander Ryan Romero) on July 14, 2014.

The South Fork Road/County Road 42 has been reopened for public use. An area closure remains in effect around the fire on National Forest land.

The Corner Creek Fire was ignited by lightning on June 29. It continues to burn on the west side of the South Fork John Day River, about 11 miles south of Dayville.

The northern part of the Corner Creek Fire is burning in the Black Canyon Wilderness. Crews and other resources continued to mop-up along containment lines extinguishing any burning and smoldering materials.

Total Acres burned: as of 7/31/15 29,660.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 575590. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.