Green Ridge Fire Update

 

Expanded area and road closure implemented 

PENDLETON, Ore. (July 11, 2021 – 11 a.m.) — Hot and dry weather continues to challenge firefighters on the Green Ridge Fire, which has now burned approximately 175 acres on the Pomeroy Ranger District. Continued fire activity has prompted forest officials to expand the area and road closure surrounding the fires for public and firefighter safety.

The closure is effective immediately and includes all or portions of Forest Service Roads 46, 4608, 4610, 47, 4712, 4713, the Teepee trail, the Meadow Creek trail, the Panjab trail, Mt. Misery trail, Rattlesnake trail, Turkey Creek trail and the Tucannon trail. Additionally, Midway, Godman, and Panjab campgrounds are closed. The Godman Guard Station is closed. Access to the Turkey Tail Recreation Residences is closed. A detailed map and description of the closure area is available on the Forest website and at any Forest office. Closure barriers and signs will be posted on the ground.

The Green Ridge Fire, which is located approximately 30 miles east of Walla Walla, Washington, is comprised of two wildfires burning in steep, rugged terrain, consisting of mostly timber, grass and shrubs.  Values at risk include structures in the area. Yesterday’s fire behavior consisted of active upslope runs, spotting and torching. Steep ground with rolling rocks and burning material is adding to fire growth and containment difficulties.  Helicopters and airtankers aided firefighters in slowing the spread of the fires yesterday. Firefighters secured the southern edges of both the Green Ridge and Turkey Tail Fires and worked the flanks down into the draw bottoms. The Turkey Tail Fire was the most active yesterday and helicopter water drops were utilized to slow the northern progress of the fire, while crews worked on identifying access routes on that side. The two-acre spot fire near Turkey Creek was secured yesterday.

Today firefighters are continuing to build containment lines on the southern flanks of the fires, where terrain and fuels allow crews to safely engage, utilizing aircraft to slow fire spread and cool hotspots within the fire perimeter. Firefighters are also beginning to secure line on the eastern side of Turkey Tail. In areas where containment line has been established, firefighters will strengthen these containment lines by using hose lay to mop up and cool hot spots adjacent to the line construction. Some crews will be working on structure protection around Godman Guard Station and the Turkey Tail Recreation Residents tract. Current resources on scene include eight hand crews, four engines, three water tenders and one dozer. Additional resources are on order. 

Additional information about the Green Ridge Fire is available at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7628/.

Fire officials want to remind everyone that the current fire danger rating is EXTREME and public use restrictions involving chainsaw use, smoking and off-road travel are in effect.

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/.  

Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.

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