Green Ridge Fire Statistics: Size: 43,735 acres, Containment: 61%, Total Personnel: 64, Location: 30 miles east of Walla Walla, Reported: July 7, 2021, Cause: Lightning.
Current Situation: Yesterday the fire continued to have minimal fire behavior, with a few interior smokes observed on the southwest corner of the fire near Godman Guard Station. Firefighters continued to patrol and mop up all containment lines. Where containment lines are secured, firefighters also completed suppression repair (such as constructing water bars to help reduce erosion potential and mastication to improve roadways used for containment lines) based on identified rehabilitation needs. Crews also continued backhauling (returning) equipment that is no longer needed for suppression operations.
Today firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor fire behavior, particularly on the southern edge of the fire that has uncontained fireline within the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. Crews will also mop up where needed and implement suppression repairs on the west, north and eastern edges of the fire, where containment lines are secured. Equipment that is no longer needed will continue to be backhauled.
The Northeast Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team will transfer command of the Green Ridge Fire back to the Pomeroy Ranger District on Sunday, Sept. 26.
Weather & Smoke Information: Warm temperatures, dry conditions and light winds are expected today, followed by a potential for increased winds with rain later this week. Overall fuels conditions remain very dry and susceptible to fire spread. Smoke information is available on the Washington Smoke Blog at: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
Forest Closures: Umatilla National Forest officials reopened most National Forest lands within the Lick Creek Fire footprint on Sept. 9, 2021. Additionally, access was reopened into portions of the Tucannon River drainage. The modified closure can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5286768.
Evacuations: Evacuation levels have been lifted in Asotin and Garfield counties. Level-1 evacuations (be ready) remain in place in Columbia county. An interactive fire map that shows evacuations and other important information is available at https://arcg.is/18OyuG.
Temporary Flight Restrictions: The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been lifted. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone.” Whenever a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.
