[Condon, Oregon] Friday afternoon, August 17, 2018, Governor Kate Brown declared a Conflagration for the Stubblefield Fire (formerly known as the Lamberson Fire) in Gilliam County.
This brings fire resources from around the state to assist the local jurisdiction. The Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal’s Blue Team, as well as structural protection resources from several Oregon counties responded to the activation. By 11:00 pm, resources had begun to arrive. A command post was set up at the Gilliam County Fairgrounds in Condon to support South Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District and Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, who have been working hard in this community causing severe resource drawdown.
There are currently 47 homes threatened. Overnight, strike teams from Multnomah County and Clackamas County began assessing homes, structures, access roads, water sources and local terrain. Weather cooperated with the firefighters last night with cooler temperatures and increased humidity, which decreased fire activity and intensity. Three more task forces from Yamhill, Marion, and Washington counties have arrived this morning, and have gone right to work on the fires.
Weather today will have temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s as a result of a high pressure system over the area, which will bring light winds and lower humidity. The Stubblefield Fire has burned approximately 9,000 acres in mostly prairie fuels – or what firefighters call “light, flashy fuels”. This fuel type includes dried grasses and small shrubs such as sagebrush and other low-growing plants.
This has been an historic hot dry spell, which has left this fuel tinder dry, contributing to fast, hot fire burning behavior. The Seale Fire has also burned approximately 1,500 acres in similar terrain and fuel types. Oregon State Fire Marshal’s resources are actively fighting fire and protecting structures side-by-side with the local community. We are working west of Condon, primarily on the Stubblefield and Seale Fires.
Follow Fire Information on local Facebook Pages:
Gilliam County Sheriff https://www.facebook.com/GilliamCountySheriff/
South Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District https://www.facebook.com/South-Gilliam-County-Rural-Fire-Protection-District-783137915065669/?ref=br_rs