Umatilla National Forest Fire Update

Contact: Darcy Weseman, (541) 278-3722
August 24, 2018 - 10:30 a.m.

Photo courtesy of the Malheur National Forest

PENDLETON, Ore. – Firefighters continue to make progress in containing wildfires caused by the recent thunderstorms. The weather is anticipated to be cooler the next couple of days with increased relative humidity, which will aid firefighting efforts in containing wildfires.

The Harrison Fire remains 30 acres and is now 70% 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.  Last night a helicopter that had been supporting suppression efforts on the Harrison Fire had to make a precautionary landing after a fuel light came on during the helicopter’s return flight to the John Day Airbase. The pilot landed the helicopter in a field located between John Day and Prairie City. The pilot and crew onboard were not injured and the helicopter was undamaged. Additional information on this incident is available on the Malheur National Forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/news-events. Today firefighters will continue to secure control lines and conduct mop up activities on the fire. Mopping up includes searching for pockets of heat, digging out the heat source, and cooling with water. 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 90% contained.  The fire was transitioned back to a type 4 organization at the close of shift yesterday. Today firefighters will continue to mop up to ensure the perimeter of the fire is secured and not at risk of the fire moving outside the perimeter lines. Currently 80 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.

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

www.facebook.com/UmatillaNF

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/.

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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