Single Publication

Cougar Creek Fire Update for August 7, 2024

Incident Commander Jeff Dimke

Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 12

509-210-2928, staffed 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

2024.cougarcreek@firenet.gov 

Quick Facts:

Size: 20,699 Acres               

Start Date: July 15, 2024        

Cause: Under investigation

Location: SW of Clarkston, 1 mile west of Hwy 129 and Grand Ronde River intersection

Containment: 35%             

Personnel: 500                       

Fire Strategy: Full suppression                       

Resources Assigned: 10 crews, 3 helicopters, 37 engines, 12 water tenders, 16 heavy equipment

There will be a virtual community meeting for the Cougar Creek Fire on Thursday, August 8 at 7:30 PM on the Cougar Creek Fire Facebook Page; the meeting will also be recorded and posted on that page. Please send any questions in advance to 2024.cougarcreek@firenet.gov

Operations: Fire managers conducted a thorough aerial reconnaissance of the fire perimeter, and it appears yesterday’s Red Flag Warning did not result in any new fire ignitions within the Cougar Creek TFR. The flight confirmed that heat indicated by previous UAS drone flights remains inside the fire perimeter and is not currently threatening containment lines. 

Firefighters have been building direct and indirect line on the western fire edge to keep the fire east of FSR 40 and prevent fire from becoming established within the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. Firefighters have prepared the remaining two miles of FSR 40 to the north from Little Saddle to the FSR 40/43 intersection and are awaiting favorable conditions for a firing operation. Yesterday firefighters tied in the handline on the ridgeline above FSR 40 south of Little Saddle down to Saddle Butte and conducted a firing operation near Saddle Butte to secure a section of indirect line. Firefighters are planning for additional firing operations today on the western and northwestern portions of the fire as conditions allow to continue to secure lines.

Two helicopters from the Cougar Creek Fire assisted with bucket drops on initial attack fires in the area while also working on this incident, dropping a total of 32,000 gallons of water. Helicopters will also be supporting today’s planned firing operations with water bucket drops as needed. Fire crews to continue work on securing the existing spot fires and mopping up, as well as retrieval of fire hose and equipment from portions of the fire that are now fully contained. 

Evacuations and Closures: Forest closure descriptions and maps are available online on the Umatilla National Forest closure website. In Washington, evacuation notices are posted on the Asotin County Sheriff website and Asotin County Emergency Management Facebook website. Grande Ronde Road is closed from Troy, Oregon, to the Highway 129 junction in Washington. A level 2 evacuation remains in effect for all of Grouse Flat from Bear Creek Road north to the State boundary and the Garfield County line to Grande Ronde River. The TFR remains in effect: https://bit.ly/4duptei. Drone activity is prohibited under the TFR as firefighting aircraft cannot fly with unauthorized drones present. Please respect road and area closure orders and use extra caution while driving for your safety as well as our firefighters.

Weather and Smoke: A low-pressure front arrives today, bringing a dry westerly flow through tomorrow. Temperatures will be a little cooler than recently but still slightly above normal. Air quality in the region remains at Moderate quality. Learn more about smoke at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.