OSFM Sends task force to Lone Rock Fire through Immediate response
By Garrett Christensen on Sunday, July 14th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
GILLIAM COUNTY — (Release from the Oregon State Fire Marshal) The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing resources to assist locals battling the Lone Rock Fire in Gilliam County. A task force from Linn County and a division supervisor were mobilized early this morning. The fire sparked Saturday afternoon and burned about 4,200 acres by evening. The Gilliam County Sheriff has Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation notices in place for the community of Lone Rock.
For evacuation information, follow the Gilliam County Sheriff.
This task force is an added resource for the local fire agencies that responded to protect the community of Lone Rock and the region. Firefighters from Gilliam County, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Prineville Bureau of Land Management have been fighting the fire since it sparked.
“We are seeing critical fire danger across the state. It’s urgent, now more than ever, to take this threat seriously. I am calling on all Oregonians and visitors to be aware of the dry conditions and help us by preventing any new fire starts,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “The weather predicted through the next week is extremely concerning, not only with these new starts but with lightning in the forecast. Our resources will continue to be challenged. These fires and the forecast add strain to the system.”
The OSFM is constantly assessing needs across the state and will proactively respond as needed.
In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page.
About Immediate Response
Immediate Response is made possible through the OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon program created through Oregon’s wildfire omnibus bill, Senate Bill 762, signed into law in 2021.
