Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Lionshead Fire Update
Sunday, Oct. 4

REDMOND, Ore. – Fire officials wish to remind the public that all roads within the Deschutes National Forest’s Lionshead Fire Area Emergency Closure remain closed to protect the public and ensure safe, unobstructed travel for firefighters as they work.

In recent days, firefighters have encountered numerous civilians within the closure area and even within the fire footprint. Unauthorized access puts motorists at risk of accidents or injuries from falling trees or fire burning across a roadway, in addition to accidents involving engines, equipment or other fire-related vehicles.

If a civilian is injured or a motorist is stranded, help may not be readily available, or slower in responding. While all firefighters have some level of first aid training, they may not come across the scene in a timely fashion, or be able to bring in an ambulance. This also takes firefighters away from their work fighting the fire and ensuring it does not escape containment lines.

The majority of encounters have been along Hwy. 46 between Detroit and Breitenbush Hot Springs, where numerous trees have fallen across the roadway and others are at risk of falling, and on Forest Roads 2231, 2233 and 4693, where the fire is also still active.

Outside the fire perimeter, but within the closure area, there are also risks, including the potential for vehicular accidents and the potential for fire to cross containment lines. Two good examples of this are a spot fire discovered outside the fire line near the finger to the north and another to the north of the P-515 Fire footprint. Firefighters must be able to respond to these developments without delay, and, in a worst-case scenario, motorists could find themselves trapped within an active fire.

Violators of a closure order may be ticketed and subject to a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment of not more than 6 months, or both. Complete closure orders and maps of closed areas on federal lands associated with the Lionshead Fire can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7049/

Today, the tribe’s Burned Area Emergency Response team should complete the fieldwork component of the process with a final reconnaissance flight today, and will now being writing up the assessments and recommendations for rehabilitation and recovery. Recommendations can include seeding for soil stabilization, weed treatments, tree planting, water bars to protect streams from being polluted by soil erosion and other. This work usually continues 3 to 5 years after a fire occurs.

Weather: Today’s high is expected to be 70, Winds will be much stronger than in recent days, with gusts up to 23 mph.

Evacuations: Evacuation levels remain unchanged for the communities on the west side of the fire. More information can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7049/

Lionshead Fire
Pacific Northwest IMT #13
Public Information Phone: 971-277-5075
Media Inquiries: 541-904-0542
Incident E-mail: 2020.lionshead@firenet.gov
Incident Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHSR6_yJRQkHyGjvvqX99gw
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LionsheadFire

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