Green Ridge and Lick Creek Fires - Update | Aug. 16, 2021 - 10 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black

Troy Hagan, Incident Commander

 

Green Ridge Fire Statistics: Size:  36,328 acres Containment:  19% Total Personnel: 494 Location: 30 miles east of Walla Walla Reported: July 7, 2021 Cause: Lightning

Lick Creek Fire Statistics: Size:  80,421 acres Containment:  97% Total Personnel: 28 Location: 20 miles southwest of Asotin, WA Reported: July 7, 2021 Cause: Lightning

Green Ridge Fire Containment Increases to 19% Despite Increased Winds

Current Situation: Green Ridge Fire: Despite increased wind speeds yesterday, the Green Ridge Fire saw little growth and containment increased to 19%. The fire is currently 36,328 acres, with the additional acreage gained on the southern portion of the fire in Branch II. Yesterday’s gusty winds tested the fire line along the 22 (4022) Road in Division M and fire lines held, keeping the fire in its existing footprint to the north. Divisions G and K were combined into Division K in Branch I. Division K now includes the area along the Kendall Skyline Road and the western portion of the 22 (4022) Road. The area in the southeast corner of the fire near Oregon Butte is now Division W, replacing Division A. The area south of the fire previously known as Division P is now Division S. Division P is currently the area to the south of the Lick Creek Fire. Please see attached map to see the new division breaks on the landscape. Additional containment line was added on the southeast perimeter of the fire on the Kendall Skyline Road and on the eastern portion of the fire along Mountain Road where the Lick Creek Fire and the Green Ridge Fire burned together.

Today, the fire is expected to continue moving to the south burning unburned pockets of fuel between the fingers that have burned south towards Mt. Misery, Diamond Peak and other points along the fire’s southern perimeter. Firefighters will continue to patrol and improve the fire lines in Division K, engaging in areas where the fire still retains heat along the line. Firefighters will also continue to patrol the fire lines in Division M, prepared to engage any possible growth from the fire’s existing boundary. In Branch II, firefighters will continue to scout for possible contingency lines to the southeast of the Green Ridge fire perimeter in Division P. Construction of indirect fire line is expected to begin later this week.

 

Current Situation: Lick Creek Fire: The Lick Creek fire remains 80,421 acres and 97% contained. The remaining uncontained line is on West Mountain Road, east of Misery Springs campground. Fuels are expected to smolder and torch within the interior of the fire perimeter, which might result in increased smoke. Firefighters will continue to monitor containment lines and mop up any interior pockets of heat where it is safe to do so.

 

Weather & Smoke Information: A cooling trend is expected to begin today with gusty west-southwest winds. These gusty winds are expected to reduce the smoke density in the area. West-southwest winds are expected to be 9-13 mph, with gusts to 25 mph. Temperatures will be 75-80 degrees along the ridges and 86-91 degrees in the valley bottoms. Smoke information is available on Washington Smoke Blog at: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

 

Forest Closures: Closures are in place on the Umatilla National Forest. The forest closure for some areas on the Umatilla NF have been amended. The amended order reopened most Umatilla NF lands in Oregon. The order also closed all lands on the Walla Walla Ranger District in Washington; forest lands in the Pomeroy Ranger District will remain closed to entry. the order is available at https://go.usa.gov/xFyhn.

 

Evacuations: Garfield County currently has Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations in place. Level 1 evacuations were added on Thursday for Grouse Flats in southern Garfield County. Columbia County currently has Level 3, Level 2, and Level 1 evacuations in place. The Grouse Flats area is currently under a Level 1 evacuation in Garfield County, Asotin County, and Wallowa County, Oregon. An interactive fire map that shows evacuations and other important information is available at https://tinyurl.com/yv2sypd4.

 

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Green Ridge Fire and Lick Creek Fire. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Whenever a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

 

Green Ridge Fire Information: Information Office: (509) 542-7964 Email: 2021.GreenRidge@firenet.gov InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7628/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreenRidgeFire2021

Lick Creek Fire Information: Information Office: (509) 780-6238 Email: 2021.LickCreek@firenet.gov InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/LickCreekFire