Safety is not automatic; think about it, especially as you drive near firefighters and equipment. 

Yesterday, firefighters increased containment to 86% using infrared data and an unmanned aircraft system (UAS or drone) to identify and extinguish hotspots. Where possible, crews worked in coordination with resource advisors to repair areas disturbed by wildfire suppression operations. Crews also continued to remove unneeded equipment. These supplies will eventually be returned to one of 15 federal incident support caches where they are refurbished and repaired. Materials are sent out multiple times each year reducing the need to buy new supplies. 

New maps have been produced using last night’s infrared flight data to help firefighters identify and extinguish remaining hotspots. Crews will also continue suppression repair and mapping dozer and handlines for future repair. Firefighters and aircraft are available for initial attack if needed.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Today there is a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. A prolonged period of above average temperatures and dry conditions begins, increasing fire danger. Relative humidity in the low teens and possibly single digits expected Wednesday and Thursday.

Evacuations

The Malheur County Sheriff’s Office (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069245917855) and the Baker County Sheriff’s Office (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064434892363) have issued evacuation orders for multiple areas during the Durkee Fire. Please continue to be vigilant and stay tuned to their Facebook pages for the latest information as weather patterns and fire activity may change evacuation levels.

Residents in Level 3 Evacuations “GO NOW” should leave immediately and not return to their property until evacuation levels are lowered. Carry enough supplies to support you and your family for multiple days. A real-time map of fire evacuations is available on the State of Oregon Fire Dashboard (https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/portfolio/index.html?appid=22d04c007866419c91ccf00d097526c8).

Closures:

• The Baker County Sheriff's Office has closed Burnt River Canyon Road to non-local, non-emergency traffic.
• I-84 and other highways: Please go to tripcheck.com for current road closures as the situation is dynamic and subject to change.
• A burn ban is currently in effect for all of Malheur County (https://www.malheurco.org/category/public-notices), and all Bureau of Land Management lands in Malheur and Baker counties.
• The temporary flight restriction has been reduced over the Durkee Fire. More information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_2285.html. Remember, if you fly we can’t! If a drone or other aircraft enters the air space, all firefighting aircraft will be grounded.

Additional Resources:

• For current air quality information, visit fire.airnow.gov.
• Weather and fire behavior could impact transportation, power transmission, cell service and other utilities. Monitor IdahoPower.com for information.
• Post-fire resources for eastern Oregon livestock and agricultural producers are available. For immediate assistance associated with livestock, forage, and crop losses contact your county’s USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Learn more about these and other disaster relief programs at www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/wildfire and contact your FSA Service Center.
• For technical expertise regarding livestock, post-fire rehabilitation and land management, call Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center at (541) 573-8900.
• Questions related to agriculture and natural resources, family and community health, and more may be directed to the OSU Extension Service office in your county (https://extension.oregonstate.edu/find-us).
• If you don’t have access to a computer and/or internet connection, Extension offices house Ag Disaster Relief Resource Computers, which are available to producers to access federal/state relief programs.
• Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery website (wildfire.oregon.gov/recovery) provides guidance on topics including wildfire insurance, filing a homeowners claim after the fire, returning to a home that survived a fire, replacing lost or missing documents and next steps for people whose homes or businesses burned.
• For longer term management needs, contact the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field office in your county to explore current funding/technical support available and inform future program offerings in your county. Go to www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/oregon/whats-available-in-my-county.

Fire Update – Pyramid and Slate Fires 

Monday, August 5, 2024 – 9:00 a.m. 

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander  

Information Phone: (541) 208-1264 (Hours – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) 

Email: 2024.pyramid@firenet.gov 

Current Situation: The Pyramid and Slate Fires are 2 of 10 fires currently being managed by Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1, all of which are on the Willamette National Forest. A full suppression strategy is being implemented for both the Pyramid and Slate Fires. 

Pyramid Fire (1,296 acres, 31% contained) 

Division B/E: Crews were able to conduct strategic firing operations again yesterday to bring the fire to indirect control lines. Crews will use strategic firing operations again today if conditions allow and continue efforts to secure the fire perimeter. 

Division Y: Yesterday, firefighters finished removing standing dead trees and constructing indirect control line around one of last week’s spot fires. Priorities will continue to be to secure the fire’s perimeter. 

Slate Fire (91 acres, 99% contained) 

Crews continued to patrol and secure the fire perimeter and began removing logs cut during construction of indirect control lines. Firefighters remain focused on mopping up and adding control line depth.  

Weather & Fuel Conditions:  

Conditions will continue to be sunny, warm, and dry, with increasing instability, with these conditions expected to continue through Friday. Today, predicted maximum temperature is 78 to 88 °F and minimum relative humidity is 35 to 45 percent. Conditions today are expected to be suitable for strategic firing operations. Increased fire activity yesterday will result in significantly more smoke in the area today. Smoke and air quality conditions are available on: AirNow.gov  

Evacuations, Closures & Fire Restrictions: 

On July 17th, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Willamette National Forest, issued a Level 3: Go Now Evacuation Alert for the closure area affected. Please refer to the Linn County Fire Map https://tinyurl.com/LinnCoFireMap for full details of the issued evacuation area (which will appear in red). To sign up for evacuation alerts, visit https://www.linnsheriff.org/.  

Area, road, trail, and recreation site closures are in effect in the Willamette National Forest. Specific information is posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=61574.  

Fire restrictions are in effect for Willamette National Forest. Read the complete restrictions at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=81487.  

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org. 

Pyramid Fire Statistics: 

Size: 1,296 acres      Containment: 31%     Total Personnel: 380 

Location: East of Middle Santiam Wilderness 

Reported: July 17, 2024     Cause: Lightning 

Slate Fire Statistics: 

Size: 91 acres      Containment: 99%     Total Personnel: 91 

Location: 5 miles SW of Detroit 

Reported: July 23, 2024     Cause: Undetermined 

For More Information: 

Information: (541) 208-1264 

Email: 2024.pyramid@firenet.gov 

Linktree (includes InciWeb and Facebook): https://linktr.ee/2024_Willamette_Complex 

Cougar Creek Fire Update for August 5, 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: 20,712 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: 488                      

Fire Strategy: Full suppression                       

Resources Assigned: 8 crews, 3 helicopters, 32 engines, 13 water tenders, 29 heavy equipment

The Cougar Creek Fire is burning within a mountainous and remote area on the Umatilla National Forest bordering the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. 

Operations: Precipitation and cooler temperatures moderated fire activity, allowing firefighters to begin constructing an indirect fireline north from Saddle Butte. Heavy equipment cleared vegetation and debris along FSR 40 while firefighters removed hazardous trees on the east side of the road. Fire crews continued to strengthen and deepen firelines north of Saddle Butte and just west of FSR 40 to prevent the fire’s entry into the wilderness. Firefighters are scouting the ridgeline to the east of FSR 40 to assess the viability of stopping the fire on the ridge above the road. Heavy and medium helicopters dropped 20,000 gallons of water yesterday on spot fires on the western fire flank, while firefighters continued working to secure these spot fires below FSR 40. Firefighters will continue securing the spot fires and hope to finish that work today. 

Firefighters on the northern portion of the fire continued to hold and secure the area that was burned out Saturday night, while chippers grind activity fuels along FSR 43 to clear roadside debris. Due to the milder weather, fire activity will decrease over the next two to three days, allowing a window of opportunity for firefighters to make progress with more favorable conditions. Risks to structures in the Grouse Flat area continue to decrease as the south flank holds firm. Due to completing their work on the southern fire flank, some heavy equipment in this area will be transferred to higher-priority assignments.

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: The forecast calls for isolated showers and thunderstorms with dry lightning in the fire vicinity throughout the day. Temperatures this week will rebound to at or below seasonal averages, with relative humidity and overnight recoveries both remaining low. Air quality in the region remains at Moderate quality. Learn more about smoke at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/. 

Retreat Fire 

Información sobre incendios: 509-213-4890 Correo electrónico: 2024.retreat@firenet.gov

inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-retreat

5 de Agosto de 2024

Equipo 1 de Northern Rockies , Comandante del Incidente Brent Olson

Ubicación: 14 millas al suroeste de Naches, WA

Fecha de inicio: 23 de Julio de 2024

Causa: Bajo investigación

Superficie: 41.279 acres

Contención: 49%

Recursos: 563 personas en total; 6 excavadoras; 12 equipos manuales; 39 camiones de bomberos.

Mensajes Clave: 

Ayer se registraron condiciones meteorológicas más secas en el incendio, con temperaturas cálidas y bajos niveles de humedad relativa. Una zona interior del incendio, cerca de la autopista 12, se activó a última hora de la tarde de ayer, lo que obligó a las cuadrillas de Protección de Estructuras y a los camiones de bomberos a responder con el apoyo de helicópteros que lanzaban agua desde un cubo.

El corredor de la autopista 12 permanece cerrado a la circulación pública tanto para los bomberos como para la seguridad pública. Arboles de gran tamaño afectados por el incendio siguen cayendo sobre la autopista en momentos inesperados y el fuego permanece activo a lo largo de la autopista. Se espera que la autopista permanezca cerrada varios días mas.

Situación Actual:

El Retreat Fire está siendo completamente administrado con una estrategia de supresión total que da prioridad a la seguridad pública y de los bomberos.

Las cuadrillas de Protección de Estructuras siguieron trabajando en la limpieza de árboles y el astillado de maleza y ramas a lo largo del corredor de la autopista 12. También vigilaron la actividad de los incendios en el corredor y respondieron en casos necesario. En la esquina suroeste del incendio, las cuadrillas de bomberos continuaron limpiando y manteniendo la línea de control buscando y extinguiendo los puntos calientes. Además, la maquinaria pesada empezará a trabajar en un cortafuegos a lo largo de las carreteras forestales 1200 y 1201. Esta se está desarrollando como línea alternativa y forma parte de la estrategia global de extinción de incendios. La construcción de un cortafuegos de sombra implica eliminar los combustibles del suelo, despejar la madera muerta y derribada, y ralear algunos árboles para hacer una línea de control más defendible si un incendio se desplaza a la zona.

Los bomberos continuaron limpiando y manteniendo los lados sur y este del incendio. Los equipos de bomberos han progresado grandemente y seguirán patrullando y limpiando para asegurar aún más estas líneas. Se espera que sean necesarios algunos días más de trabajo en estas líneas y las cuadrillas de bomberos seguirán garantizando su seguridad.

Ayer, los equipos de bomberos reanudaron las operaciones de fuego a lo largo del lado norte del incendio y avanzaron a buen ritmo a lo largo del día. Mientras los equipos de tierra trabajaban hacia el oeste, se volvió a utilizar la ignición aérea para rellenar las zonas interiores. Las condiciones meteorológicas fueron mejores que el día anterior logrando los resultados previstos. 

Las zonas no quemadas situadas entre el borde activo del incendio y la línea indirecta del lado norte siguieron ardiendo durante todo el día, lo que contribuyó a parte del humo visible desde la zona del incendio.

Meteorología y Comportamiento del Fuego:

Habian nubes esta mañana temprano con algunos chubascos cerca de la zona del incendio. La pauta cambiará un poco, con más viento del sur y sureste durante el día. Las velocidades del viento serán de 5-11 mph con rachas de 24 mph. Se esperan temperaturas máximas de 78 a 84 grados en las crestas y niveles mínimos de humedad del 20-26%.

Los combustibles de salvia/hierba a una altitud aproximada de 4200 pies y por debajo se han curado en su mayor parte con la propagación del fuego a zonas más dispersas que anteriormente no se consumían. A mayor altitud, la salvia y la hierba están parcialmente curadas y arderán con humedad relativa baja y viento. La hojarasca por encima de los 1.500 metros de altitud está seca y arde por completo. Los incendios intensos de pastos bajo los robles podrían producir grandes brasas capaces de manchar a corta distancia.

Cierres y Evacuaciones:

Para obtener la información más actualizada sobre evacuaciones, visite la Administración de Emergencias del Condado de Yakima en este enlace: Sitio web de la Administración de Emergencias de Yakima.

- La autopista 12 permanece cerrada entre la Y de la autopista 410 y la cima del puerto en el punto kilométrico 151.

- Cierre de incendios en el Bosque Nacional  Okanogan-Wenatchee : www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices/?aid=89192.

- La Región Sureste del Departamento de Recursos Naturales del Estado de Washington (DNR) ha cerrado temporalmente el Bosque Estatal de Ahtanum debido al aumento de la actividad del incendio adyacente Retreat Fire que arde cerca de Rimrock Lake. El público puede acceder a la información más actualizada sobre cierres en www.dnr.wa.gov/ahtanum.

- El Departamento de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de Washington ha cerrado al acceso público la mayor parte de la zona silvestre de Oak Creek debido al incendio de Retreat Fire. Está previsto que la zona natural de Oak Creek permanezca cerrada hasta el 23 de Agosto para garantizar la seguridad pública y facilitar las labores de extinción. Encontrará más información en Áreas silvestres | Departamento de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de Washington.

CALIDAD DEL AIRE Y HUMO

Las condiciones y previsiones sobre la calidad del aire y el humo pueden consultarse en https://www.airnow.gov/.

Recursos para los residentes antes, durante y después del incendio:

Hay muchos recursos en línea disponibles para los residentes de Washington afectados por incendios forestales.

Apoyo a los residentes afectados por los incendios forestales: https://afterthefirewa.dreamhosters.com/ 

Programas para propietarios de viviendas del DNR de Washington:https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/

https://www.dnr.wa.gov/cost-share

Acres: 20,018 acres

Start Date: July 21st, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Fuels: Timber, grass, brush

Containment: 57%

Resources: 415

Resources are Available to Assist in Case of New Fire Starts

MONUMENT, Ore. –In the aftermath of the lightning storm that moved through eastern Oregon on Sunday near the Courtrock Fire, resources that are assigned to the main Courtrock Fire are now aiding local agencies in initial attacks as reports of smoke or new fires start coming in.
 

Overview:  Firefighters were busy on Sunday extinguishing and removing burning material near control lines. Additional operational resources and overhead are arriving to the Long Creek Incident Command Post today to aid in the mop-up and containment efforts. The area of the fire that did experience some activity over the weekend was in the upper eastern area and well within the interior. This activity poses no threat to the fire’s edge, and the growth will continue to consume the available fuels that are still within the Courtrock Fire perimeter. 
 

On the eastern edge of the fire, headway is being made improving the depth of the control line. An infrared flight, which detects a fire’s intensity and activity, was conducted Saturday night. The data revealed significantly fewer heat signatures compared to the previous night. This reduction in heat was a result of the hard work of the firefighters, both during the night and day shifts. Work continues today to further extinguish hotspots within the perimeter.

Weather: Temperatures will be similar to Sunday, mid-80s up to around 100 degrees across the fire area. Calm winds out of the north/northeast are expected, with ridgeline gusts from 15-20 mph. No significant weather concerns are forecasted, though there is a slight chance for thunderstorms to the east of the fire area this afternoon.

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 at https://member.everbridge.net/825462649520134/login. 
• For Morrow County evacuation information, visit the link below. 
  
   

Shelters: 

• Evacuation center is set up at Grant Union High School, 911 S Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.
   

Closures:

• The U.S. Forest Service has issued closures for the Malheur National Forest. For Malheur National Forest closures information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/malheur/news-events• 
   

Retreat Fire 

Washington State Department of National Resources 

Fire Information: 509-213-4890    Email: 2024.retreat@firenet.gov 

inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-retreat 

August 5, 2024 

Northern Rockies Team 1, Incident Commander Brent Olson 

Location:  14 miles southwest of Naches, WA 

Start Date: July 23, 2024 

Cause: Under Investigation 

Size: 41,279 acres 

Containment: 49% 

Resources: 563 Total Personnel; 6 Dozers; 12 Hand Crews; 39 Engines 

Key Messages:   

Dryer weather conditions were experienced on the fire yesterday with hot temperatures and low relative humidity levels. An interior area of the fire near Highway 12 became active late yesterday afternoon requiring Structure Protection crews and engines to respond with support from helicopter bucket water drops. 

The Highway 12 corridor remains closed to public travel for both firefighter and public safety. Fire affected large trees continue to fall across the highway at unexpected times and the fire remains active along the highway. The highway is expected to remain closed for several days. 

Current Status: 

The Retreat Fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy prioritizing public and firefighter safety. 

Structure Protection crews continued to work on clearing trees and chipping brush and branches along the Highway 12 corridor. They also monitored fire activity in the corridor and responded as necessary. On the southwest corner of the fire, crews continued to mop up and hold the control line by seeking out and extinguishing hot spots. Additionally, heavy equipment will start working on a shaded fuels break along Forest Roads 1200 and 1201. This is being developed as an alternate line and is part of the overall fire suppression strategy. Constructing a shaded fuels break involves removing brush and ground fuels, clearing out dead and downed wood, and thinning out some trees to make a control line more defensible if a fire moves into the area. 

Firefighters continued to mop up and hold the south and east sides of the fire. Crews have been making good progress and will continue to patrol and mop up to further secure these lines. A few more days of work is expected to be needed along these lines and crews will continue to ensure that they remain secure. 

Yesterday, crews resumed firing operations along the northern side of the fire and made good progress throughout the day. As ground crews worked their way to the west, aerial ignition was again utilized to fill in the interior areas. Weather conditions were better than the previous day to achieve the intended outcomes.  

Unburnt areas located between the active fire edge and the north side indirect line continued to burn throughout the day which contributed to some of the smoke visible from the fire area. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: 

Clouds moved in early this morning with some showers near the fire area. The pattern will shift some, with more south and southeast wind during the day. Wind speeds will be 5-11 mph with gusts to 24 mph. High temperatures of 78 to 84 degrees are expected on the ridges and minimum humidity levels will be 20-26%. 

Sage/grass fuels at approximately 4200 foot elevation and below are mostly cured with fire spread into more sparse areas that previously did not consume. At higher elevations sage and grass are partially cured and will burn with low end relative humidity and wind. Timber litter above 5000 foot elevation is dry and burning fully. Intense grass fires below the oak trees could produce large embers capable of short-range spotting. 

Closures and Evacuations: 

For the most up-to-date information on evacuations, please visit Yakima County Emergency Management located at this link: Yakima Emergency Management website. 

- US Hwy 12 remains closed between the Y at Hwy 410 and the summit of the Pass at milepost 151. 

- Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Retreat Fire Closure: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices/?aid=89192. 

- The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Southeast Region has temporarily closed the Ahtanum State Forest due to increased activity from the adjacent Retreat Fire burning near Rimrock Lake. The public can access the most up-to-date closure information at www.dnr.wa.gov/ahtanum. 

- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed the majority of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area to public access due to the Retreat Fire. The Oak Creek Wildlife Area is scheduled to remain closed until Aug. 23 to ensure public safety and facilitate firefighting efforts. More information can be found at Wildlife Areas | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. 

AIR QUALITY AND SMOKE 

Air quality and smoke conditions and forecasts can be found at https://www.airnow.gov/ 

Resident Resources Before, During, and After the Fire: 

There are many online resources available for Washington residents who are affected by wildfire. 

Support for residents being affected by wildfires: https://afterthefirewa.dreamhosters.com/  

Washington DNR Homeowner programs:  https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/ 

https://www.dnr.wa.gov/cost-share 

Daily Operational Video for the Sand Stone and Deer Fires

Facebook link: https://fb.watch/tMHKfWhe_t/

Multiple new fire starts near the Sand Stone and Deer Fire areas

Daily Update – Monday, August 5, 2024

Highlights: Due to record-breaking temperatures, outflow winds, and over 800 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, several new fires started near the Sand Stone and Deer Fire areas yesterday. The Southwest Incident Management Team 4 is responding to two new fire starts within their designated planning area. The Y Bar Fire is located approximately 5 miles east of the Deer Fire and initially estimated at 150 acres. The Round 3 Fire is located near Bushnell, east of State Route 87 and mapped at 33 acres. Firefighting resources have been dispatched to fully suppress these two new lightning-caused fires. Overnight, crews were able to successfully stop the forward progress of the Round 3 Fire. Today, firefighters are continuing to respond to the Y Bar Fire. Crews will conduct an aerial reconnaissance flight early this morning to assess the progress of all fires and look for any additional new starts. Firefighting resources are also assisting with multiple other new fire starts across the Tonto National Forest, as needed.

Total personnel on all incidents: 353   

Sand Stone Fire:          Acres: 27,390     Containment: 78%     Start Date: 7/25/2024      Fuels: Grass, brush                                            

Operations: Despite weather conditions, the Sand Stone Fire showed little activity yesterday. Ground crews previously engaged with mastication, suppression repair, and other preparatory efforts are being redirected to immediate suppression actions on the new fires identified yesterday. Available helicopters assisted with water bucket drops as weather conditions allowed. Ground crews continued their work into the night to take advantage of every opportunity to contain these new starts. Additional resources, including aviation support, have been ordered to aid in the fire suppression efforts. An additional initial attack crew remains positioned near the community of Sunflower to manage any potential threats to structures. Drivers should use caution and be aware of firefighters working along State Route 87.

Deer Fire:                    Acres: 355     Containment: 18%      Start Date: 7/17/2024      Fuels: Grass, brush, timber 

Operations: Minimal fire activity was present on the Deer Fire yesterday. Preparation activities were redirected due to lightning in the area and new fire starts requiring support from ground resources. Firefighters worked overnight to protect structures near Y Bar Ranch. Crews will remain staged around Deer Creek and Rye to protect these values from the nearby Deer and Y Bar Fires.

Weather: An Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect for the Sand Stone Fire area into this evening with above normal temperatures occurring at the higher-elevation Deer Fire. Afternoon thunderstorms are also expected to develop near the fire area today with gusty outflows. A disturbance may bring an increase in moisture and slightly cooler temperatures with more widespread showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday. A return to monsoon conditions with hot temperatures and scattered afternoon thunderstorms is likely for the second half of the week.

Smoke: Smoke may be visible from Fountain Hills, Sunflower, Rio Verde, Goldfield, and unincorporated communities in the Rio Verde Foothills. An interactive smoke map is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/. 

Closures: The Tonto National Forest has issued a closure order for the Sand Stone Fire. More information can be found on the Tonto National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices/. Trail users should avoid using the Arizona National Scenic Trail near the fire area.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes uncrewed aircraft or drones. Flying drones near wildfires is dangerous for pilots and firefighters and can bring wildfire suppression efforts to a halt. Know before you fly. If you fly, we can’t. More information can be found at: https://uas.nifc.gov/. 

More Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aztnf-sand-stone /

480-409-9683 / https://www.facebook.com/TontoNationalForest / 2024.sandstone@firenet.gov 

Current Situation: The Ore Fire is one of 10 fires being managed by the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1, all of which are on the Willamette National Forest. Fire suppression efforts continue on the Ore Fire, which is burning 7 miles northeast of Blue River, Oregon. Currently the fire is 1874 acres and 29% contained.  Firefighters continue to strengthen and build primary and contingency lines around the northwestern and northeastern sides of the fire.  Heavy equipment operators will continue to remove woody debris and other fuels, and chipping operations will continue. Firefighters will be working closely with Resource Advisors to minimize the impact of fire suppression activities.

Division A:  Containment line is complete, and crews will continue securing and patrolling firelines. 

Division D: The secondary contingency line is near completion and hose lays and sprinklers have been strategically placed near areas of increased fire activity.  Crews are utilizing strategic firing operations to reinforce containment lines and are continuing to patrol and secure firelines. 

Division J/W: Work continues on completing contingency lines with heavy equipment clearing trees and fuels, chipping operations have continued as part of this work.

Division Z: Crews built on to previous days’ progress, further securing and patrolling firelines.  Contingency lines were strengthened and monitoring and patrolling continues across the division.     

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Fire activity may pick up and be more visible due to drier fuels being more susceptible to ignition and spread.  Today, warmer and drier conditions are predicted with temperatures in the high 80s and humidity around 30%.  Winds will remain light and variable throughout the day.

Evacuations, Closures, and Fire Restrictions: Area, road, trail, and recreation site closures are in place on the Willamette National Forest in the vicinity of many active fires. Temporary road barricades are in place to restrict traffic across the fire areas. For specific closure information follow this link:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd552029 

Fire restrictions on the Willamette National Forest may be found at this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=81487 

Daily Smoke Outlook reports can be found at this link: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/ed63b240 

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t.  For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Ore Fire Statistics:

Size: 1874 acres 

Containment: 29%

Total Personnel: 188

Location: 7 Miles NE of Blue River, OR

Reported: 07/17/2024

Cause: Undetermined

For More Information:

  Information Phone: (541) 208-1262

  Email: 2024.ore@firenet.gov 

  InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-ore-fire 

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OreFireInformation2024 

Linktree:  https://linktr.ee/2024_Willamette_Complex