Lick Creek Fire Update - July 18, 2021 (9 a.m.)

 

Current Situation: The fire perimeter to the north and east, along the South Fork of the Asotin Creek and Peola road is contained and remains in patrol status. To the southeast, firefighters are continuing to find and secure small areas that are still smoking.  More containment is anticipated in that area in the next couple days.  On the south side, firefighters continue to establish more depth on containment lines. Local terrain driven winds continue to funnel embers up to half mile across the line.  Embers from interior torching trees did cause some spot fires on the southwest edge of the fire yesterday.  Most of the recent burnouts, by hand and by helicopter, have been along the road northwest of Misery warming shed.  Securing these edges, lessens the potential for the fire to move to the south and west.  Around the Clearwater Lookout crews, assisted by heavy machinery, are working to secure fireline. 

An alternate, or contingency fireline is being constructed to the southeast, east of Big Butte Lookout. Contingency lines are secondary containment lines constructed as back up in case the fire escapes primary containment lines.  

Today’s Activities: Crews will work on securing and strengthening containment lines.  Aerial operations will resume this afternoon if smoke clears sufficiently to allow for safe visibility. Firefighters on the ground will be igniting unburned areas along the fireline with handheld drip torches. Crews on the Rose Springs area will continue chipping operations and start pulling out hose and other equipment. The fire has slowed down to creeping and smoldering with localized hot areas. The potential for fire spread or growth is minimal. 

Oregon Department of Forestry Team 3, took command of Elbow Creek fire near Troy, Oregon today at 8 am. Firefighters that had assisted from Lick Creek Fire to help with initial response to Elbow Creek Fire will return to the Lick Creek Fire by the end of the day today.  

Weather and Smoke Information: Temperatures will warm back into the 80s in the mountains and upper 90s for the lower valleys.  Dry conditions are expected to persist. Smoke Information is available on the Washington Smoke Blog at: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ 

Evacuations: Evacuation levels have changed. Evacuation zones, and fire perimeter maps are posted on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615. 

Closures: All Forest Service lands, roads, and trails within the Umatilla National Forest are closed. For more information visit the Umatilla National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd931174.pdf. 

ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION: 

Fire Information: 509-780-6238 

InciWeb:  inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/ 

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