Umatilla National Forest to further reduce area closure

 PENDLETON, Ore. (August 27, 2021) — With continued reduced large fire activity across the Forest, Umatilla National Forest officials will further reduce the area closure on Saturday, Aug. 28, reopening access to more lands on the Pomeroy and Walla Walla Ranger Districts.

The modified closure prohibits access to Umatilla National Forest lands surrounding the Lick Creek and Green Ridge fires on the Pomeroy Ranger District and lands surrounding the Elbow Creek Fire on the Walla Walla Ranger District. Public entry is prohibited within the areas identified in the closure, which includes lands, roads, trails and recreational facilities, as described below.

• Green Ridge and Lick Creek Fires closure area boundaries include all lands east of: Forest Service Trail (FST) 3103, Forest Service Road (FSR) 46-300, FSR 46 to the junction of FSR 4610 and then from FSR 4610 to Panjab campground;  lands south of FST 3139, FSR 4022 to the junction of FSR 42; lands east of FSR 42 to the Forest boundary; and south to the Oregon/Washington state border. In addition, multiple roads are closed within proximity to ongoing suppression operations, including FSR 47 and FSR 46 from the junction with FSR 4610 south to the junction of FSR 46-300, and portions of FSR 4620, FSR 4022, FSR 40-150 and FSR 40-180 remain closed. Rose Springs Sno-Park is also closed, which includes a portion of FST 3283. Midway Campground is also closed.
• Elbow Creek Fire closure area boundaries include all National Forest lands east of Bear Creek; south of FSR 6222; west of FSR 6212 and to the Forest boundary on the south. In addition, portions of FSR 6212 and FSR 6222 are also closed.

Visitors planning a trip to areas within the closure should cancel any plans for the next several weeks. These areas remain closed to protect public and firefighter safety as the Forest continues to actively suppress wildfires. Hazards within the closure areas include uncontained fireline and ongoing suppression operations (such as the presence of firefighting resources, large equipment, and aircraft).

A detailed map describing the updated closure area is available at the end of this news release, on the Forest website and at any Forest office. Closure barriers and signs will be posted on the ground.

Fire danger on the Umatilla National Forest is HIGH. For areas that will re-open to the public, Phase B Public Use Restrictions will be in effect beginning Saturday, Aug. 28. Under these restrictions:

• Campfires are ONLY be allowed in designated campgrounds and recreation sites. Liquefied or bottled gas stoves and heaters are allowed for cooking and heating.A list of designated recreation sites is available on the forest’s website.
• No internal combustion engine operation (including chainsaws), except for motorized vehicles.
• Electrical generators operated under the following conditions are allowed:
• in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material, or;
• when fully contained within a pickup truck bed that is empty of all flammable material, or;
• when factory installed in a recreational vehicle and the generator exhaust discharge is in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material.
• No off-road/off-trail vehicle travel or travel on roads not cleared of standing grass or other flammable material. Vehicle travel is never permitted on currently closed forest service roads where access has been impeded or blocked by earthen berms, logs, boulders, barriers, barricades or gates, or as otherwise identified in a closure order.
• Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles and buildings, developed recreation sites, or in cleared areas.

Violating closures and fire restrictions is a violation that carries a mandatory appearance in federal court, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor with a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months in prison, or both.

Additional information on the Lick Creek, Green Ridge, and Elbow Creek Fires is available at:

Lick Creek Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/

Green Ridge Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7628/

Elbow Creek Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7672/

For more information regarding Restrictions, please contact the 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/.  

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