Single Publication

Communities May Continue to See Smoke as Materials within the Fire Burn 

Acres: 20,019 acres | Start Date: July 21st, 2024 | Cause: Lightning | Fuels: Timber, grass, brush

Containment: 83% |Resources: 366

MONUMENT, Ore. – Firefighters are extinguishing and removing burning materials on the upper east side of the Courtrock Fire and making steady progress towards the goal of full containment, meanwhile a Type-1 helicopter will assist with water drops in areas that still show heat within the fire’s interior. Smoke may be visible from the roads near Merrill Springs, however, that is not an indicator of risk to containment. On the southern end of the Courtrock Fire, crews are pulling equipment off the line and wrapping up containment efforts.
 

Weather– A weak system will continue to cross the region today. The high but dense cloud cover will keep temperatures up overnight and marginally improve relative humidity recovery. This system still has the capability of producing lightning. Any rain showers will be slight and may not even reach the ground. Winds will be terrain-driven with light gusts over ridgelines. Early next week a cool, dry system will enter the area. No significant weather events are expected in the near future.

 

Closures: Closure orders are under constant review. Agencies consider many factors with regard to these reviews. Public safety is always the first consideration. Hunting, firewood gathering, and other land uses are also considered. Agencies will open lands to these uses as soon as safety allows.

• For Malheur National Forest closures information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/malheur/news-events 

Evacuations– No level 3 (go now) evacuations are in effect. 

• For Grant County evacuation information, visit Grant County Emergency Management Office’s Facebook page, or sign up for the Grant County Emergency Alert System 
• For Morrow County evacuation information, visit the link below.