Green Ridge Fire Update - September 22, 2021

 Green Ridge Fire Statistics: Size: 43,735 acres, Containment: 40%, Total Personnel: 93, 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 only a few smokes observed near the Diamond Peak Road and Mt. Misery areas on the eastern areas of the fire. Firefighters continued to patrol and mop up throughout the fire perimeter. 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 worked on removing hazard trees along the roads.

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 continue to implement suppression repairs today on the west, north and eastern edges of the fire, where containment lines are secured. Equipment is also being backhauled (returned) where it’s no longer needed for suppression operations.

Weather & Smoke Information: Warm temperatures, dry conditions and light winds are expected today, followed by a potential for increased west winds later this week as a dry cool front moves across the area. 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 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: Level-1 evacuations (be ready) remain in place in Garfield, Columbia and Asotin counties. An interactive fire map that shows evacuations and other important information is available at https://tinyurl.com/yv2sypd4

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 we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org