Green Ridge Fire Update - Sept. 14, 2021

The Green Ridge Fire is being managed by the Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team with Mitch Ketron as the incident commander. The Gray Team took command of the Green Ridge Fire on September 4, 2021 at 0600.

Green Ridge Fire:
Size: 43,238 acres, Containment: 40%, Total Personnel: 161, Location: 30 miles east of Walla Walla, Reported: July 7, 2021, Cause: Lightning.
 
Please, stay clear of firefighting operations and drive safely! The public should watch out for fire crews and equipment while traveling on forest roads. Some roads remain closed with barriers.

Barriers are in place to protect firefighters and the public, so please respect the closed areas.
Stay clear of fire-blackened areas for the many unseen hazards that exist, including live green, fire-weakened, trees which may fall without warning, and scalding hot stump holes. Please maintain situational awareness of your surroundings when traveling and hiking in fire-damaged  forests.

Know before you go! Before going hunting, hiking or camping, be sure to check the forest, grassland or ranger district for fire restrictions or area closures. For a checklist of fire-safe actions when enjoying the outdoors, visit the USDA Forest Service at Know Before You Go.

Current Situation:
Yesterday: There was an increase in fire behavior in the southwest perimeter in the afternoon as the day became sunny and dry. Heat along the long southern edge poked up, as well as spread in some interior pockets. Burning operations were conducted to clean up natural and constructed containment line with good burn effects.

Today: Firefighters will continue to focus on SW and SE with Direct Attack. Firefighters continue assessments further out and monitor and observe remote areas of southern perimeter. Firefighters continue to hold and improve completed lines to the west. Firefighters continue to hold and improve completed lines to the south. Firefighters will continue to patrol, mop up, and eliminate hot spots throughout fire perimeter. Additionally, rehab of dozer line and mastication of downed vegetation are planned.

Weather & Smoke Information: Sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 7-11 mph becoming west in the morning. Dry conditions will exist Tuesday, with slight increase in RH Wednesday. NW winds possible as system passes the area Thursday and Friday. Overall, the westerly flow will continue through the week with chance of wetting rains by Friday and cooler temperatures. Overall fuels conditions remain very dry and susceptible to fire spread. Will evaluate systems as they move through area but NO Season Ending type weather forecast.
Smoke information is available on 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 September 9, 2021. Additionally, access will be reopened into portions of the Tucannon River drainage. The modified closure prohibits access on the Pomeroy Ranger District to some roads and trails within the Lick Creek Fire burned area, National Forest lands surrounding the Green Ridge Fire, and lands surrounding the Elbow Creek Fire on the Walla Walla Ranger District.
Closure orders can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts- notices/?cid=stelprdb5286768

Evacuations:
Level-1 evacuations (be ready, stay aware) remain in place in Garfield, Columbia and Asotin counties. For more information on evacuations, please visit your local county government web pages for full information.

Temporary Flight Restrictions:
For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting the Green Ridge Fire, a 10-nautical mile Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area through September 15, 2021. This TFR has a 10,000-foot ceiling. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone.” 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.