Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1 sent to Boneyard Fire – Elkhorn Media Group

MONUMENT – (Press Release from ODF IMT 1)

Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1, Incident Commander Joe Hessel, received a briefing this afternoon from local resources as transfer of the fire begins.

Incident Management Team 1 was recently deployed to the Salt Creek Fire, had mandatory rest, and is now assuming command of the Boneyard fire within 24 hours’ notice of the need.

The Boneyard fire faces critical weather and fire behavior as hot temperatures and low relative humidity is forecast throughout the week.

Crews and resources have been ordered to increase personnel and equipment to fight the Boneyard Fire.

The Boneyard Fire is currently 8,285 acres and was started by lightning.

Closure: The Bureau of Land Management has closed public lands along the John Day River from Kimberly to Dale, and from Kimberly to Service Creek. This is to allow firefighters to work without interference.

Road Closures: A closure remains in effect for Highway 395, between mile posts 50 through 90, beginning 35 miles South of Pilot Rock.

Evacuations: Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect. For updated evacuation information, visit the Grant County Emergency Management Office’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068819321423, or sign up for the Grant County  Emergency Alert System at https://member.everbridge.net/825462649520134/login.

For current fire restrictions, go to https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html. For current fire info, go to www.odfcentraloregon.com.