Umatilla National Forest

News Release

August 7, 2005 9 p.m.		541-278-3722 Joani Bosworth Public Affairs Umatilla N.F.

Steve Jennison, Incident Information Officer
541-278-3734 Joani Bosworth, Public Affairs – Umatilla National Forest

The School Fire has Grown to 32,000 Acres

August 7, 2005 9:00 p.m.
Pendleton, Oregon: The School Fire, wildfire located 16 miles south and west of Pomeroy, WA, on Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) and Umatilla National Forest lands. The fire has now burned over 32,000 acres and continues to burn actively in steep terrain. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire visited fire camp this afternoon for an update from the Incident Commanders. Following the briefing she ate spaghetti dinner with the firefighters.

“ The fire is burning on steep ground with dry flashy fuels under timber. Rapid movement of the fire is due to extremely dry fuels, high temperatures, and strong winds,” said Steve Jennison, Fire Information Officer for the Incident Command Team. “Steep ground, with flashy light fuels under timber, has caused this fire to exhibit extreme burning conditions today and additional acreage was lost along the north and west edges of the fire. Due to the active nature of the fire, public and employee safety is the number one priority. The public is asked to honor all current road and area closures.

Evacuations were made Saturday in the Stentz Springs, Rose Springs, Rose Springs, Baker’s Pond, and Lynnville Gulch Road areas. Both Columbia and Garfield Counties requested structural protection assistance through the State Mobilization Act. The loss of 35 structures has been confirmed and over 100 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 fire this afternoon. The fire was initially reported to the Pendleton Interagency Communications Center late Friday afternoon and will be managed jointly by the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Umatilla National Forest.

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

Emergency closures include:
Forest Road 47 (Tucannon River Road)
Forest Road 4625 (Maloney Mountain Road)
Mountain Road at Lynville Road
Pataha Creek at Columbia Junction
Forest Road 41 east of 4206
Misery Springs
Wooten Game Range Head Quarters
Forest Road 46 and 4610 Junction
Maloney Mountain Road and Skyline Road
North Patit Road and Hartsock Road
Forest Road 42 at Forest Boundary

- WA DNR/USFS -

For a printable copy (pdf file) of this news release, click here.

USDA Forest Service - Umatilla National Forest
Last Modified:  Monday, 08-Aug-2005 00:48:36 EDT