Crews Work all Night Protecting Structures From the McLean Creek Conflagration

McLean Creek Fire Photo Courtesy: State of Oregon

(SALEM) - Fighting fire with fire, crews on the McLean Creek Conflagration worked through the night on a burnout designed to remove the structural fire risk. Qualified firefighters under the joint guidance of the Office of State Fire Marshal and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) removed the threat of fire before it could reach buildings by burning fuels leading to structures.

“Firefighters must be careful to gauge temperature, humidity and wind conditions for a safe but effective burnout operation,” explains State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr. “Temperature and wind typically drop at night and humidity rises. If the humidity rises too much, though, the burnout won’t burn.”

A Central Oregon task force on scene is experienced in these operations. USFS provided hand crews and personnel certified to operate the drip torches.

“The structural firefighters are ready to control the fire with water,” continues Orr. “And they are very good at that.”

Fire managers are focused on protecting structures and establishing control lines. Depending on weather conditions and fire behavior additional defensive burnouts are planned for today.

The Baker County fire in its fourth day threatens 90 homes in the communities of Oxbow, Pine Creek and Homestead. The McLean Creek Fire is managed as part of the Foster Gulch Complex. The combined acreage of the Foster Gulch and McLean Creek fires is 26,240.

The complex has been declared a FEMA fire emergency making it eligible for federal reimbursement for part of the state’s firefighting costs. More information is available at the OSFM website: egov.oregon.gov/OOHS/SFM/Conflag_McLean_Creek.shtml

The request to invoke the Oregon Conflagration Act was made by Baker County Fire Defense Chief Buzz Harper and Baker County Commission Chair Fred Warner Jr. At 8:10 PM Monday, Governor Kulongoski invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act clearing the way for the State Fire Marshal to mobilize resources to protect structures and dwellings in Baker County.