Dry Gulch Fire Evening Update 9/13/15 9:00 p.m.

Dry Gulch Fire Shows Extreme Fire Behavior

The Dry Gulch fire burning 7 miles Northwest of Richland, Oregon has burned approximately 12,000 acres.  Due to the rapidly changing fire environment, evacuation orders have been issued and can rapidly change according to the situation.

Level 3 Evacuation (GO) orders have been issued for:

*77 road from McBride Campground to Highway 86

*The West Wall of the Halfway Valley

*Pine Town Lane east of Halfway

*New Bridge to Carnahan Lane

*Carnahan Lane to Hewitt Park

*Along the Powder River arm to Sag Road and Sag Road to Highway 86

Level 2 Evacuation (SET) orders have been issued for:

*Dry Gulch

*New Bridge. 

*Between Carnahan Lane and Moody Road

*Cornucopia Highway and the West Wall of the Halfway Valley

Today’s Operations:  Firefighters worked to assess opportunities for fire lines and used aircraft and heavy equipment to establish fire lines where fire behavior allowed.  The fire burned extremely active, being pushed by gusty winds and low relative humidity.  Structure protection and public and firefighter safety took precedence in today’s operations.  Due to the increase in size and complexity, an ODF Type 1 Team (Smith) has been ordered and should take command of the fire Monday.

Weather and Fire Behavior:  The forecast tonight calls for clear conditions with gusty winds up to 18 mph from the Northwest.  Humidity recovery is expected to be poor tonight.  Weather for tomorrow is expected to be mostly clear with lighter winds and lower temperatures.    

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

-Highway 86 from Richland to Halfway

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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