Dry Gulch Fire Causes Level 3 Evacuations

The Dry Gulch fire was reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday September 12.  The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. 

Level 3 Evacuation (GO) order has been issued for west of the 77 road from McBride Campground to Highway 86 and the West Wall of the Halfway Valley.  Level 2 Evacuation (SET) orders have been issued for Dry Gulch and New Bridge. 

Yesterday’s Operations:  Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 12.  Initial attack utilized air resources and dozers heavily to fight the fire and build containment lines.

Weather and Fire Behavior:  The forecast today calls for mostly sunny conditions with temperatures near 86 degrees.  The potential for active fire behavior still exists with low relative humidity in the region.  Winds will be moderate with gusty winds to 15 mph from the west.

Today’s Operations:  Firefighters will continue to assess opportunities for fire line construction, use air resources to help secure containment lines and provide structure protection where needed.  Fire behavior will continue to be extreme with the current and forecasted weather for the next couple of days.  Firefighters from ODF, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and Baker County Rural Fire resources are on scene today.  A local Type 3 Interagency Team will take control of the fire at 3:00 p.m.       

Road Closures

Road closures have been implemented for public and firefighter safety and include:

-Eagle Creek Road from New Bridge

-77 Road from McBride Campground to Highway 86

The fire danger rating is still at a HIGH level and Public Use Restrictions involving campfires and chainsaw use are in effect. For more information about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s Public Use Restrictions, please contact any forest office or visit our website at

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman/ or on the Blue Mountain Fire Information BlogSpot at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

Regulated closures are in effect on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon. Please check with your local Oregon Department of Forestry office for public use restrictions on lands protected by ODF. Visit the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch webpage at: www.bmidc.org or contact a local Oregon Department of Forestry office for more complete information.

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