Umatilla National Forest

News Release

August 6, 2005 8:15 PM		541-278-3722 Joani Bosworth Public Affairs Umatilla N.F.

The School Fire Jumps the Tucannon River and Makes Run Up Canyon
Emergency Closures Implemented

Pendleton, OR: A wildfire, located 17 miles south and west of Pomeroy, WA, has now burned over 5,000 acres on both Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) and Umatilla National Forest Lands. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This morning, the School Fire was burning in School Canyon, just west of Forest Road 47 near the Tucannon Guard Station. This afternoon, the fire jumped the Tucannon River and made an aggressive run to the northeast, producing a large plume of smoke.

“The rapid movement of the fire was due to extremely dry fuels, high temperatures and strong winds,” said Steve Jennison, Fire Information Officer for the Incident Command Team. “The fire was pushed up drainage on multiple fronts. Spot fires were observed up to a 1/2-mile from the main fire in some areas.”

An emergency closure of Forest Road 47 (Tucannon River Road) and 4625 (Maloney Mountain Road) has been implemented for safety concerns due to the increased fire suppression traffic. Additional closures can be expected.

Both Columbia and Garfield Counties requested structural protection assistance through the State Mobilization Act. Over 50 structures are threatened at this time.

Because of the complexity of this fire, a Type I Incident Management Team has been ordered and will take over management of the School Fire early this next week.

The fire was reported to the Pendleton Interagency Communications Center late Friday afternoon and will be managed jointly by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Umatilla National Forest.

WA DNR/USFS

USDA Forest Service - Umatilla National Forest
Last Modified:  Saturday, 06-Aug-2005 23:23:41 EDT