Bone Point Prescribed Fire Review 2015

The 814-acre Bone Point prescribed fire units located on the Umatilla National Forest, North Fork John Day Ranger District, in Grant County, Oregon were ignited on October 5, 2015. Grass and ponderosa pine timber litter were the primary fuels within the two planned burn units. Objectives were to enhance wildlife habitat for big game and reduce hazardous fuels to reduce the probability of uncharacteristic wildfire in the area. To achieve objectives the burn was scheduled to be “in season” when conditions were warm and dry. Prep work was completed to reduce fuels in problem areas along the unit boundaries. Ignitions were initiated on Monday, Oct 5 in the first unit and were expected to be concluded by Wednesday, October 7 on both units. During ignition on Monday, a nearby wildfire was detected and required staffing from the burn. The first unit was completed for 225 acres. On Tuesday, the wildfire increased in size and delayed the start of ignition on the second, 589 acre, unit by a half day until the wildfire situation was stabilized. 

Ignition continued on Wednesday but was curtailed due to higher fuel moistures from rainfall that continued into Thursday. On Thursday, it became apparent that windy conditions were forecasted for Saturday. With drying conditions later on Thursday, the open line of fire within the burn unit began to move in the interior of the burn unit. Proactive steps were planned to stay ahead of the fire movement via perimeter blacklining and hose lay installation. These holding actions continued into Friday and Saturday as it became more clear that a cold front passage with gusty winds was predicted for Saturday afternoon. As winds increased on Saturday afternoon, a group of trees interior to the burn torched and several spot fires occurred, one of which grew rapidly in the wind on Forest Service land. In attempt to contain this spot fire, additional resources were ordered, including single engine air tankers. The prescribed fire was declared an escaped fire and the spot fire was contained at 80 acres at the end of the Sunday operational shift.

Prescribed Fire, Escaped RX, Fire Behavior, Escaped Prescribed Fire