Town Gulch Fire Daily Update

 Fire Information: ‭541-519-3835‬, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ‬

Email: 2024.TownGulch@firenet.gov

Size: 18,000 acres Cause: Lightning

Containment: 0 percent Start Date: August 6, 2024

Total Personnel: 193 Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 2

CURRENT SITUATION: Wednesday morning, Northeast Oregon Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) went into unified command with Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Blue IMT. With more than 380 homes under Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations, OFSM’s Blue team is providing much-needed structure-protection resources that will lift some of the burden off the Type 3 team, allowing them to focus on fire suppression and containment. OFSM task forces are providing structure protection to the communities of Halfway, Pine Grove, New Bridge, Sparta, and to other areas in Baker County. The Southern Area Blue Complex IMT is enroute to the incident and will receive a briefing Thursday afternoon. All IMT members are communicating and sharing incident information to ensure transitions are seamless and successful.

Crews working the nightshift Tuesday reported that fire behavior was moderate, and they made good progress constructing containment lines on the eastern and southern sides of the fire. Night-shift crews will continue to take advantage of reduced fire activity to secure firelines and protect structures.

Wednesday, firefighters held their own on the West Wall, but that area is not yet secure. Aircraft assisted ground crews with water drops around the fire perimeter. The north side of the fire from Forest Road 77 (Summit Road) west to Eagle Creek is the most challenging. It is rugged, has more large timber and vegetation, and crews are having to use an indirect suppression strategy. They are preparing for potential firing operations, which would involve using low-intensity burning near the fire’s edge to halt its forward progression.

WEATHER: Warm, dry conditions persist Thursday. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon into Friday morning.

CLOSURES: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites around the Town Gulch Fire are temporarily closed under Forest Order No. 06-16-01-24-05. Fire restrictions are also in effect under Forest Order No. 06-16-00-24-03. Both orders and maps can be found on the Forest’s “Forest Orders” web page: tinyurl.com/36t4f2t2. 

EVACUATIONS: Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations for areas around the Town Gulch Fire. For the most current list of evacuations, follow the sheriff’s office Facebook page (tinyurl.com/3auvka4j). Residents should sign up to receive emergency notifications through Baker County ALERT (tinyurl.com/884czdrf).

EVACUATION SHELTER: American Red Cross of Idaho and East Oregon has opened an evacuation shelter at the Lions Club of Halfway (225 Lions Street, Halfway, Ore.). Companion animals are accepted. For more evacuation-shelter information, call 800-853-2570. Large animals can be accommodated at Haines Rodeo grounds.