Slick Ear Fire Update [Oct. 14, 2022 - 1:30 p.m.]

 Umatilla National Forest officials advise visitors that smoke will be visible in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness from the 556-acre Slick Ear Fire, which is located east of the Slick Ear Trail #3104 and north of the Wenaha River.

Fire behavior has increased the past few days due to persistent warm and dry weather. The fire is burning toward the south and southeast in a mixture of heavy timber, brush, and snags (dead or burned trees). Over the past few weeks, the fire has primarily been backing downhill toward the Wenaha River. However, yesterday afternoon the fire behavior increased and some torching and very short range spotting was observed. Firefighters are monitoring the fire from the ground and have ordered a helicopter to slow fire spread as needed. Additional on-the-ground resources will be monitoring fire behavior over the weekend. Despite the high daytime temperatures, cool nighttime temperatures and overnight humidity recoveries are expected to limit the fire’s spread.

The Slick Ear Fire was discovered on Sept. 14 following a lightning storm approximately 28 miles northeast of Elgin, Oregon. Firefighters attempted to staff the fire during initial attack, but they were unable to safely engage the fire from the ground because of the difficult terrain.

Additional information on the Slick Ear Fire is posted at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

Pictured: The Slick Ear fire on October 13, 2022.