| 2005 Monthly Update - Fire Conditions |
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| August, 2005 |
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General Update as of August 9, 2005:
 The 2005 wildfire season made up for a slow start as Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters battled two large blazes recently, the 2,225-acre Wasson Fire north of Medford and the 1,490-acre Simpson Fire north of Klamath Falls. Aggressive ground and aerial firefighting eventually stopped these challenging wildfires. Over the past week, heavy air tankers contracted by the department with legislatively approved fire severity funds played a key role in helping stop several high-potential fires from growing large. In concert with water bucket-toting helicopters, the tankers slowed the spread of the fires, enabling ground crews to attack them head-on.
 Several major fires continue to burn across the state on other jurisdictions. The department has formed a unified command with the U.S. Forest Service on the Blossom Fire northeast of Gold Beach. Burning in difficult terrain, it poses a threat of escaping the Wild Rogue Wilderness onto Bureau of Land Management lands protected by the department.
The weather forecast holds the possibility of more thunderstorms, keeping fire managers on alert for possible lightning-started wildfires.
Fire Statistics From This Year
 FIRE STATISTICS (Dept. of Forestry protected lands):
Jan. 1 to July 28, 2005
Lightning-caused fires - 43 fires burned 8 acres
Human-caused fires - 240 fires burned 537 acres
Total fires - 283 fires burned 544 acres.
Jan. 1 to July 28, 2004
Lightning-caused fires - 133 fires burned 88 acres
Human-caused fires - 399 fires burned 493 acres
Total fires - 532 fires burned 581 acres.
Links and Information
SAFETY TIPS
For firefighter safety tips, go to http://www.nifc.gov/sixminutes/dsp_sixminutes.php
WEATHER
For current fire weather information, go to
http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/weather_and_fire.asp
WILDFIRE SMOKE FORECASTS
For current smoke information, go to
http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/daily/wfsmoke.asp
FIRE INFORMATION
News media may contact the Oregon Dept. of Forestry headquarters office for fire information, (503) 945-7200, weekdays during business hours. After business hours and on weekends, media may obtain fire info by calling pager (503) 370-0403. The duty officer will return media pages promptly. In addition, the department maintains a recorded fire update at (503) 945-7428. The FireFone is updated daily by 10 a.m., twice daily during peak fire periods. The daily fire updates are also posted on the Department of Forestry website, http://www.oregon.gov/odf. For information on all wildfires in Oregon and Washington, go to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center website, http://www.nwccweb.us/
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