Lick Creek/ Green Ridge Fire Update Tuesday July 20, 2021 9 a.m.

Lick Creek Fire Current Situation: A red flag warning remains in place with the possibility of scattered thunderstorms and dry lightning. The current fire activity has been slow creeping and smoldering with minimal torching of trees on the interior of the established fireline. 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 south, southwest, and west sides of the fire, crews continue to improve fireline; allowing the fire near the perimeter to naturally back off the containment line. Mop up operations are ongoing to secure the fire line even more. Mop up is the extinguishing or removing of burning material near control lines, felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe to limit potential for escape, and to reduce residual smoke.  Today’s Activities for Lick Creek Fire: Crews will work on securing and strengthening containment lines while patrolling the perimeter. Aerial operations will conduct reconnaissance flights looking for spot fires and hotspots. Due to the recent lower fire activity, crews that had been working night shift will now be utilized as initial attack crews. These initial attack crews will be working in strategic locations around the fire perimeter near areas of concern in case of new starts from lighting. Pre-positioning initial attack crews reduces response time in the event that a lighting strike or other ignitions result in new fires in the area since the current environment has resulted in critically dry fuels.   Green Ridge Fire Current Situation: The Green Ridge fire continues to spread primarily into the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in steep, remote and rugged terrain where creating a direct containment line becomes more complex. For these reasons an indirect fire suppression strategy is being used, with control line being located some considerable distance away from the fire's active edge. This strategy will continually be assessed and adjusted based on changing conditions. Starting at the southern tip of the fire, handline and hose lays have been established heading to the northeast utilizing roads and switchbacks to protect the Little Turkey recreation residents and Godman Guard Station. From the southern tip of the fire starting in the Godman area heading north, northwest along the 46 road, prep work has been done along the road continuing north of the fire perimeter to Midway Campground. From the Midway Campground area, hand line is being constructed northeast towards the Tucannon area. From the Tucannon area heading south along the 4713 road, line preparation is completed and more contingency lines are being added in the Tucannon drainage to the north and northeast of the fire. The east side of the fire is burning in the Wilderness where the plan is to use established trails, natural openings, and previously burned areas to connect fire line from the south to the confluence of the Tucannon and Little Tucannon rivers.   Today’s Activities for Green Ridge Fire: Firefighters will continue to fortify road systems and hand lines. Contingency lines will continue to be constructed to the north and south of the fire. Reconnaissance will be conducted along the east side of the fire in the wilderness area. Pacific Northwest Team 3 took command of the Green Ridge Fire today and will build on the good progress that has been made toward containing the fire.   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 changed. Evacuation zones, and fire perimeter maps are posted on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615 (Lick Creek) and https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7628/  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:  Lick Creek Fire Information: 509-780-6238  Lick Creek Fire InciWeb:  inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/  Lick Creek Facebook: Lick Creek Fire  Green Ridge Fire Information: 509-542-7964  Green Ridge Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7628/  Green Ridge Facebook: Green Ridge Fire    Lick Creek Fire Quick Facts  Green Ridge Fire Quick Facts  Start Date: July 7, 2021  Resources:  Start Date: July 7, 2021  Resources:  Cause: Lightning  9 Crews  Cause: Lightning  8 Crews  Approx. Size: 73,190 ac.  36 Engines  Approx. Size: 2,086 ac.  6 Engines  Containment: 45%  4 Dozers  Containment: 15%  4 Dozer  Total Personnel: 444  21 Water Tenders  Total Personnel: 322  6 Water Tenders  Location: Approximately 20 miles SW of Asotin, WA  1 Masticator  1 Skidder  Location: Green Ridge area, 30 miles east of Walla Walla  4 Masticators