Green Ridge Fire Update - September 12, 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: 42,722 acres, Containment: 40%, Total Personnel: 148, 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: Green Ridge Fire:

Yesterday: Moisture and increased humidity overnight kept fire behavior minimal, however smoldering continues in pockets of vegetation. No lateral spread or widening of the fire perimeter was observed. Overall conditions necessitate maintaining staffing levels and continuous evaluation of potential fire spread in drought stressed fuel type.

Today: Firefighters will continue to focus on SW and SE and continue assessments further out and monitor and observe remote areas of southern perimeter. Firefighters continue to hold and improve completed lines to the west, continue to hold and improve completed lines to the south. Firefighters provide continued point protection of assets and resources. Finalize long term management strategy for southern branch.

Weather & Smoke Information:

Drying will persist through the Sunday. The westerly flow will continue through the first of the week with an occasional slight increase in wind as system pass just to the north of the region. Overall fuels conditions remain very dry and susceptible to fire spread. Fire managers will evaluate systems as they move through area but NO Season Ending type weather is 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.