August 23, 2018 - 12:45 p.m.
PENDLETON, Ore. – Firefighters
continue to make progress in containing wildfires caused by the recent
thunderstorms. Starting today, fire updates will be released once a day unless
conditions change.
The Harrison Fire remains 30 acres and
is 50% contained. The fire is located 16 miles west of Sumpter, Oregon, within
the Greenhorn unit of the North Fork John Day Wilderness on the North Fork John
Day Ranger District. This section of the wilderness is remote and in steep
terrain, making access difficult. Firefighters
are beginning hose lay around the fire today to support mop up activities.
Mopping up includes searching for pockets of heat, digging out the heat source,
and cooling with water. One new spot fire was discovered this morning,
estimated at a tenth of an acre in size. Firefighters engaged and contained the
spot fire. Resources on scene include 65 firefighters. An area, trail and road
closure within the vicinity of the Harrison Fire is in effect. A map and detailed description of the area
closure is available at any Umatilla National Forest office and at the bottom
of this news release.
Firefighters’ suppression efforts continue to
hold on the Gilman Fire, located near Gilman Flats on the Heppner Ranger
District and Prineville Bureau of Land Management lands that are protected by
the Oregon Department of Forestry. The fire is 954 acres in size and 70%
contained. Fire behavior was miniminal yesterday,
with the fire smoldering, creeping and spots of isolated heat within the
interior. This allowed firefighters to focus efforts on securing the perimeter
of the fire to reduce the risk of fire moving outside of the containment lines
and building fire line in the Ditch Creek area to keep the fire out of the
bottom of the drainage. Today
firefighters will continue to secure the perimeter of the fire to reduce the
risk of the fire moving outside the perimeter lines. Currently 160 people are
assigned to the fire, including several resources from the Oregon Department of
Forestry. Grant County has issued a Level 1 Pre-Evacuation Fire Advisory for
the area of Monument, Ritter, Dale and Middle and North Fork communities. The advisory
area extends from Hwy 402, north to the Grant County line, and Hwy 395 west to
the Grant County line. Residents in the area should make advance preparations
and stay tuned for further updates. For additional information on this
pre-evacuation fire advisory please visit http://gcoregonlive2.com/ and click
on the emergency alert system link.
Firefighters continue mop up activities on the
Low Ridge Fire, located within the Mill Creek Watershed near Indian Ridge
approximately 17 miles SE of Walla Walla, Washington on the Walla Walla Ranger
District. Fire managers anticipate that mop up activities will take several
days to secure, due to the steep, rocky terrain in the area and heavy brush and
snags. Resources on scene include five smokejumpers and a 10-person hand crew
from Alaska.
Weather conditions continue to be warm and dry
over the next few days. Fire
officials want to remind everyone that the current fire danger rating remains
at EXTREME and Public Use Restrictions involving campfires and chainsaw
use are in effect.
Similar restrictions may be in
effect on State and private lands protected by the Washington Department of
Natural Resources (WA-DNR). More
information can be found on the WA-DNR website at: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/.
For more information
regarding Restrictions, please contact:
Umatilla National Forest:
Information Hotline: Toll-Free (877)
958-9663
Twitter: @UmatillaNF
The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue
Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue
Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.
###
Harrison Fire Closure Description
The area closure includes:
The area within the following
boundary: starting at the Ben Harrison Trail Head, heading generally north
along the North Fork John Day (NFJD) Wilderness boundary towards the junction
of where the NFJD Wilderness boundary intersects the Lost Creek Trail (National
Forest System Trail (NFST) 3002), then south along NFST 3002 to the junction of
the Ben Harrison Trial (NFST 3173), then east along the NFST 3173 back to the
Ben Harrison Trail Head. The area is approximately 6,575 areas in size.
Prohibited access does not apply to use of Forest Road No. 10.
The trail closures include:
· National Forest System Trail
(NFST) 3173 - East of the Ben Harrison Trailhead on the Ben Harrison Trial to
the Junction of NFST 3002 of Lost Creek Trail
· National Forest System Trail
(NFST) 3002 - Lost Creek Trail south of the Lost Creek Saddle Camp Trailhead
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