Rattlesnake Fire Evening Update - Aug. 22, 2020

Contact: Darcy Weseman (541) 278-3722

August 22, 2020 – 7 p.m.

PENDLETON, Ore. – The Pomeroy Ranger District engaged the Rattlesnake Fire today with aerial resources while contractors and forest engineers worked to gain access into Forest Service Road (FSR) 47. The fire grew to 220 acres with today’s hot and dry weather, producing a visible smoke column. Initially reported on Aug. 19, the Rattlesnake Fire is located in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness approximately 20 miles south of Pomeroy, Washington and a quarter mile south of Panjab campground. 

The Rattlesnake Fire is burning upslope toward the south in between two steep ridges within the 2006 Columbia Complex fire scar. The fire is burning in grass, brush, snags and timber with dead and down trees. Two helicopters worked the fire today, dropping water on the fire to slow spread.

Contractors with heavy equipment and local forest engineers began repairing the approach to the Little Tucannon Bridge on FSR 47 (which was damaged in the February flood event). The objective of this work is to gain firefighter access into the fire. A wildland firefighting module that specializes in remote wilderness fire response also arrived today and will hike into the fire once access on FSR 47 has been restored. 

The Forest will also implement a temporary road, trail and area closure surrounding the Rattlesnake Fire for public safety.

Hot and dry conditions are expected to persist throughout the week. Increased winds are anticipated again today. Fire officials want to remind everyone that the current fire danger rating remains at HIGH and Public Use Restrictions involving chainsaw use are in effect. 

Regulated closures have also been implemented on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon. Similar restrictions may be in effect on State and private lands protected by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WA-DNR).  

For more information regarding Restrictions, please contact the Umatilla National Forest information hotline at (877) 958-9663.  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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Rattlesnake Fire from Table Rock Lookout, taken Aug. 22