Fire Suppression Prompts Modification of Closures on Pomeroy Ranger District

 

PENDLETON, Ore. (August 15, 2024) — Forest officials have lifted portions of the temporary closure of lands, trails and roads on the Pomeroy Ranger District Aug. 15, 2024, due to the successful suppression efforts that are taking place to actively contain Cougar Creek Fire.

The modification of the temporary closure area opens all campgrounds, trailheads and roads north of Forest Service Road 4304, FSR 43 and FSR 44 and areas west of FSR 40 as it runs along the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. The new temporary Forest Order 06-14-04-24-03 will be effective Thursday and supersedes Forest Orders 06-14-04-24-02. The revised closure area will still keep all U.S. Forest Service lands, trails and roads, to include those that define the closure area boundary, in Pomeroy Ranger District south of FSR 4304, 43, 44 and east of FSR 40 temporarily closed due to ongoing fire behavior and fire suppression operations still being conducted on Cougar Creek Fire by the Northwest Team 1 fire crew.

For more information or to find Umatilla National Forest Order closure descriptions and maps go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5286768.

Additional Information on the fires can be found at

• Battle Mountain Complex: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/or97s-battle-mountain-complex

• Lone Rock Fire: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orprd-lone-rock-fire

Umatilla National Forest will announce any further changes to the temporarily closed areas as soon as possible.  The temporary closures are continually assessed and will be lifted once the unprecedented conditions moderate.

With wildfires affecting portions of our forest this summer, please be aware of hazards associated with recently burned areas when temporary closures are lifted. Snags, loose rocks and logs can be present in a burned area and are unpredictable, creating hazards. Additionally, burned vegetation can also contribute to landslides, mudslides and erosion when rain occurs. The ground in a burned area can also be unstable, due to burned-out roots.

Fire officials want to remind everyone that the current fire danger rating remains at EXTREME and public use restrictions involving campfires, chainsaw use, smoking and off-road travel are in effect.

For more information regarding Restrictions, please contact:

Umatilla National Forest:

Information Hotline: Toll-Free (877) 958-9663

www.facebook.com/UmatillaNF  

X: @UmatillaNF

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.  

Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.

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