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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2018)
Wilson Prairie Fire moves to mop up HEPPNER 50¢ 437 acres near OHV park and Bull Prairie burned By David Sykes The 437-acre Wilson Prairie Fire that has burned since Monday, July 23 on land 30 miles south of Hep- pner near Bull Prairie Res- ervoir and the county OHV campground, is 75 percent contained and is now in mop up phase, a team of firefighters and other per- sonal reported at a public information meeting held Monday in Heppner. “It’s looking really good,” said Rob Pentzer Heppner District Ranger Brandon Houck is part of the public of the Oregon Department fire briefing held Monday. -Photo by David Sykes of Forestry, which along VOL. 137 NO. 31 6 Pages Wednesday, August 1, 2018 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon with the Forest Service, timber, grass and brush with small amount of acreage, fought the blaze. The fire, some areas showing worse was because of the quick re- at one point, included a burn damage than others. sponse by federal and state total crew of 422 person- Part of the fire was on fire fighters, which was not nel, one helicopter, nine the county Off Highway lost on one local resident. engines, 10 water tenders Vehicle Park, with a small “We appreciate you hitting and three skidders working number of trails receiving it hard and fast, keeping it to put it out. Forest Ser- damage. The park has re- small and not letting it turn vice spokespersons said mained open to the public into a big fire,” Heppner the fire will be passed to and was in fact used as a resident Tim Dickenson local people Wednesday staging area for firefighters told the firefighters. Mor- and they will continue with (see related story this is- row County Commissioner final containment, clean up sue). Efforts will be made Melissa Lindsay also spoke, and restoration of the area. to restore those trails that saying she appreciated ev- Fire camp at the OHV Park in Morrow County consisted of a city of tents for They expected the fire to were damaged, remove eryone’s efforts on the fire. the personnel, multiple yurts for storage, cooking and equipment. -Photos by be completely contained by any debris left over from Incident Commander Bobbi Gordon. this Friday. fighting the fire and also Doug Johnson gave a re- Although personnel at construct ditches to guard port on the national and the briefing refused to an- against future soil erosion. regional forest fire situ- nounce how the fire started Bull Prairie campground ation, saying at this time saying it was still under was evacuated, but is ex- the Pacific Northwest is investigation, the Forest pected to be back open for in high fire danger having Service incident web site this weekend. 25 fires burning, which is did list the cause as “hu- One of the reasons the making resources, includ- man”. Officials said the fire fire was contained so quick- ing helicopters and dozers, By Bobbi Gordon information they receive The central Oregon burned a combination of ly, and engulfed a relatively “scarce.” The Morrow County about the fire. When they jurisdiction for ODF pro- OHV Park became the base were called for this fire, tects over 2.2 million acres, camp for the fire crews they arrived with equip- according to Wrolson. Ap- fighting the Wilson Prairie ment, yurts and tents and proximately 50 percent of fire last week. Although the quickly set up what looks the funds for the protection park is being used as the fire like a city at the OHV Park. come from core funding camp, Matt Scrivner, Public The crews that orig- from the landowners in the Works Director, said the inally tackle the fire are protected area based on a park, restaurant and camp- usually seasonal workers. per acre rate. The balance ground are all operating as After that, contract crews comes from the general normal. However, he said are called in. After the call fund. some of the OHV trails is made for assistance, dis- When asked how ODF may be impacted by the fire patch determines which handles it if they suspect activity. Scrivner reminds contract crews are available the fire to be human caused, everyone to observe all and sends them in. Most of Wrolson reported that they trail and area closures and the teams and management will call in an investigator to check in with the park for this incident are from to determine the cause. host or park manager for the central Oregon, but some The fire crew does their most up to date closures and are from as far away as best to protect the point of restrictions. Massachusetts and New origin in those cases. He The fire near the OHV Hampshire. On Saturday, said by statute, a person is Park and Bull Prairie, called it was reported there were only liable up to a certain the Wilson Prairie fire, over 400 people at the OHV dollar amount, depending The Pioneer Memorial Clinic in Heppner last Wednesday celebrated its 30 year anniversary started in the afternoon on park working this incident. on the investigation. If a with cake cutting at the clinic. Pictured above left to right are: Jaime Cavan, Health District CEO Bob Houser, Dr. Dan Hambleton, Nichole Maahs, Trish Maben, Angela Jones, Laila July 23. A team arrived and Wrolson reported that landowner is responsible Jones, Emilia Cavan and Journey Cavan at the celebration. -Photo by David Sykes began the initial attack of the fire burned approxi- and does their due diligence “This milestone is one that has not been easily reached over the years,” said Morrow County the fire on the 23 rd and 24 th , mately 437 acres near Bull to prevent, extinguish and Health District CEO Bob Houser about the anniversary. “It has been filled with adversity, but determined additional Prairie and Wilson Prairie report the fire, they may not financial hardships and difficulties in recruitment efforts. The dedicated efforts of staff, pro- assistance would be needed. and is now in the mop-up be charged. “Stuff happens, viders and by the board of directors laying plans to keep PMC and MCHD viable, growing Additional resources ar- stage, being approximate- so it doesn’t always mean entities in the future, will ensure our success. Let us remember the past struggles, be happy rived on the 25 th and began ly 60 percent contained. we will collect dollars from at where we are at now, but look forward to the future with bright optimism on what we are shadowing the operations He also stated that there somebody,” Wrolson said. about to achieve,” he said in a released statement. already in place, and took will be smoke coming out During the early days over the fire the morning for weeks. When asked of the incident and before of the 26 th . The Bull Prairie for some more detail on the team arrived with equip- campground was evacuated how they actually obtain ment to prepare meals for The Fit Park, located on the 24 th when the fire the water to fight the fire, the crew, Barb Harris and next to the Water Park at crossed onto Forest Service Wrolson and Griffith said Kristi O’Brien, along with 433 Riverside Avenue, is ground. the helicopters dipped wa- other employees at Barb’s complete. The park in- Tracy Wrolson, Deputy ter from Bull Prairie and Place at the OHV Park, cludes a pickleball court, Agency Administrator with private ponds in the area. jumped in and helped feed outdoor exercise equip- the Oregon Department They are also able to pump the crews that had arrived. ment, a public restroom, a of Forestry (ODF) from water from creeks and other Harris said, “It started out regulation size basketball Prineville and Brooklynn available water sources to with 15 breakfasts and 15 court with six hoops, new Morrow County donated the Creek Contracting and Coil Griffith, Administrative fill the tenders. Tenders are lunches, then went to din- walking paths, additional property for the park. The Fabricating. Willow Creek Park Specialist II, also with filled and then staged where ner for 100. One night we paved parking and an acre Howard and Beth Bryant Foundation guaranteed the District will be having a ODF, from John Day are they are needed. prepared dinner for 300 and a half of grass. on-site at the OHV Park Depending on the lo- people.” She said they all The park began when funding and project man- ribbon cutting ceremony and shared updates on the cation and the incident, fire worked many hours to make Heppner High School Ath- agement. Several commu- for the new Fit Park Sat- fire and how incidents like management will some- sure they could take care of letic Director Greg Grant nity foundations supported urday, Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. it are handled. times contract with nearby everyone. “The main thing approached The Howard the project with funding: The ceremony will include According to Wrolson, cities to supply potable was to save the park. Now and Beth Bryant Founda- Oregon Parks and Recre- music performed by Corey the fire management is a water, but did not need to do we are just trying to get tion over two years ago ation Department, Oregon Peterson on the new stage. cooperative effort between that this time due to having back into normal restaurant about developing the area Community Foundation, Blas Elguezabal of Elite ODF and the US Forest water available at the OHV mode,” she indicated. around the basketball court The Wildhorse Foundation Performance will be on Service, although the fire Park. and pool. His idea was to and Good Shepherd Com- hand to demonstrate the use officially belongs to ODF. work with a fitness compa- munity Health Foundation. of the exercise equipment This particular fire was ny and develop an outdoor Volunteer efforts and extra and give some brief pick- about 50 percent on ODF fitness park; a park that support came from The leball lessons. Everyone is land and 50 percent on would include sports courts Port of Morrow, Willow welcome to attend. Forest Service land. Both and a multi-use grassy area. Creek Park District, Silver will provide mutual aid even if it is not their fire. He said, “Every incident is different, but this one was pretty standard.” ALL Mens Wranglers ODF and FS have TONY LAMA pre-defined teams that they On Sale $21.95 send to fires when they are Helicopters and other equipment were staged at the 13MWZ BOOTS called. Those teams know OHV Park. -Contributed photo. All other Men’s & Women’s 15% OFF what is needed based on the Wrangler Apparel 15% OFF G T azette imes Fire base camp set up at OHV Park Clinic celebrates 30 years Fitness Park now complete Look Good For Fair & Rodeo Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed 242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)
