Current Status
• The Speirs Fire is currently at 715 acres and is 97 percent contained.
• The Speirs Fire was caused by lightening.
• There are currently 105 people working on the Speirs Fire.
Closures
• The Firefighter Memorial and Green Dale Group campgrounds are open.
• The following roads and trails are still closed to public access.
o Forest Service Road (FSR) 610, FSR 689, FSR049 (Greens Draw Road), Lowline trail FST103 its junction with the Pipe Creek Trail, FST 003. Forest Service Trail 003 from the beginning at the junction with FST 103 to the junction of Forest Service Trail 004 and Forest Service Trail 004 to Greens Draw Road 049.
o For more information on existing closures, please visit the Ashley National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ashley/alerts-notices

Updates
• The Ashley National Forest thanks Great Basin Team 3 for their hard work over the past two weeks. Command has been transferred to Incident Commanders Riley Bergseng & Ryan Lafontaine with Northern Utah Type 3 Team.
 

Public Information Phone: (435) 310-5450 Email: 2024.silverking@firenet.gov  

Agency: Fishlake National Forest – Beaver Ranger District 

Location: Approximately three miles west of Marysvale, Utah  

Start Date: July 05, 2024   

Cause: Lightning  

Acres: 18,222 

Containment/Completion: 89% 

Personnel: 157 

**RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10:00 P.M. TUESDAY** 

The National Weather Service has extended the Red Flag Warning for the Silver King Fire and surrounding areas until 10:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Temperatures in the mid-80s, humidity as low as 6%, and winds over 25 mph may cause existing fires or new fires to spread rapidly.   

During Red Flag conditions residents should avoid using machinery that can create sparks and ensure that trailer chains do not drag. Do not drop cigarettes or matches on the ground. Avoid recreational target shooting in dry grass. Follow Stage 1 Fire Restrictions that prohibit open fires of any kind except within established public facilities in improved campgrounds and picnic areas. Give firefighters room to work and abide by the Silver King Fire Forest Closure Order (see closure details at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fishlake/alerts-notices).   

On the north side of the fire, crews are patrolling and extinguishing hotspots. On the south side, firefighters continue to hold and improve on their confinement strategy. On the east side, the heavy equipment has completed dozer line repair and will continue that work on the north side of the fire.  

The dozer line repair is part of fire suppression damage repair, one of the first steps in rehabilitating and restoring a burned landscape. Immediately following suppression damage repair is emergency stabilization by a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team, and one began work on the Silver King Fire last week. BAER team efforts typically include seeding, mulching, and managing water runoff. In some cases, Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) may provide a “bridge” to long-term recovery. BAR utilizes non-emergency actions, for up to five years post-fire, to improve fire-damaged lands that are unlikely to recover naturally. Once the land has been stabilized long-term recovery and restoration work, including hazard tree removal, reforestation, and infrastructure repair, can begin.  

Rain showers and milder weather provide brief respite for fighters on the Battle Mountain Complex

UKIAH, Ore. – Rain showers across northeastern Oregon brought cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity to the Battle Mountain Complex, which helped firefighters push forward on progress. While rainfall totals only reached 1/100 of an inch, the cloud cover and moisture created a natural decrease in fire behavior, and resources were able to take advantage of a calmer day on the line.

On Zone I, firefighters with Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1 and Oregon State Fire Marshal taskforces focused on the Cupper Creek area, northwest of Monument. Fire was particularly active in the drainage north of Highway 402 over the past couple of days, which prompted an eight-mile closure of the highway west of Monument last night. Cupper Creek Road also remains closed to the public. Structural firefighters will remain engaged in this area tonight, conducting mop-up and point-protection operations around structures that were threatened by wildfire. Conditions today and tonight have significantly reduced this risk, however more work is necessary before this area will be considered contained. Wildland firefighters and other resources will remain engaged on the fire tonight, building new containment line and taking advantage of the conditions to mop up where possible.

Across the rest of Zone I, containment lines on the majority of the zone are continuing to hold, and firefighters spent the cooler day strengthening lines and mopping up, creating a larger barrier between the interior of the fire and its perimeter. Tonight, that work will continue across Zone I. These efforts contribute to overall containment on the incident, and as progress continues, that number will increase.

In Zone II, crews also took advantage of the increased humidity and reduced fire activity, allowing firefighters to gain direct access to the fire line and build upon mop up progress. This is important as an increase in hot critical weather is expected later this week. 

On the southeast edge of the fire, lines held throughout the day after crews worked to tighten and connect lines. Along Hwy 395, firefighters made progress by locating and mopping up burning material near control lines, up to 100 feet inside the perimeter. 

Structural taskforces continue their focus on creating defensible space around homes and other structures in the Potamus drainage system that will increase the chances of survivability.  

Firefighters continue to patrol and mop up on the North Fork Owens Fire, which remains at 90% containment (the complex stands at 10% containment).

Evacuations: Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect. For updated information, visit:

• For Umatilla County, follow www.facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff or sign up for Umatilla County Emergency Alert System at https://member.everbridge.net/index/2590041373147145.
• For Grant County, visit the RAPTOR arcgis site or sign up for alerts at: https://member.everbridge.net/index/825462649520134.
• For Morrow County, visit https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/de78333b0d2544f7a320142174aa20ae

Public Land Closures:

The Bureau of Land Management has closed public lands along the John Day River from Kimberly to Dale, and from Kimberly to Service Creek. More information here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.

The Umatilla National Forest has implemented a closure for public lands within the Heppner Ranger District and the North Fork John Day Ranger District. More information at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1194462 and https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5286768.

FIRE AT A GLANCE

Total Estimated Complex Size: 178,171 acres
Monkey Creek Fire: 173,687
North Fork Owens:  4,484 acres
Total Containment 10%
Cause:   Under Investigation              
Estimated Cost:   $30,544,160

All Resources 

Hand Crews:  65          
Engines:  88    
Water Tenders:  37
Dozers:  29
Helicopters:  4
Total Personnel: 1,990

This will be the final evening release unless conditions significantly change 

Containment increases on Courtrock Fire, progress made in cooler, damp conditions 

MONUMENT, Ore. – Firefighters on the Courtrock Fire took advantage of the cool temperatures and scattered showers today, pushing forward on strengthening existing line around the majority of the incident and constructing new line on the southeast portion. Due to this work, containment has increased to 31%, up from 24% this morning. The rain also helped to clear out smoke, which allowed aircraft to fly once again today.

Oregon State Fire Marshal task forces remain engaged in the Fox Valley area, where engines have been positioned to protect homes that have been impacted by the fire or are located near it, particularly along the 3950 road. Task forces will remain in the area overnight, continuing this work. 

On the north, east and west lines, firefighters have been mopping up, which is further securing the line and creating a greater distance between the perimeter and the interior of the fire. Conditions overnight are expected to remain cool with high relative humidity, allowing for this work to continue. 

More showers are in the forecast tonight, with a very slight potential for thunderstorms. Temperatures are expected to slowly heat up the remainder of the week. Firefighters will be taking advantage of the cooler conditions in the next day to continue to make progress on connecting and strengthening line before Thursday, when temperatures will be the high 90s once again, drying out vegetation and naturally increasing fire activity. 

Due to fire activity in the area, the U.S. Forest Service has issued closures for the Malheur. Up to date information on Malheur National Forest closures can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/malheur/news-events

Information for Zone I of the Battle Mountain Complex, including the western portion of the Monkey Creek Fire (formerly Boneyard Fire) can now be found at: www.facebook.com/battlemountaincomplex2024 

Evacuations: Level 1 (Get Ready), Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect. For updated evacuation information:

• 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. Morrow County Evacuation information can be found at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/de78333b0d2544f7a320142174aa20ae

Shelters: An evacuation center has been set up at Grant Union High School (911 S Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845).

Clean air and cooling centers are located in the following locations in Grant County:

• Grant County Library- cooling & clean air, Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• John Day Senior Center- cooling & clean air, Monday & Thursday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday 12 – 4 p.m.
• Prairie City Public Works - clean air center, Monday -  Friday 12 – 7 p.m. 
• Dayville Community Hall- cooling & clean air, 24/7

Limepoint Fire - Due to fire activity, the Bear area evacuation level has been elevated to Level 3 – GO. Cuprum remains in a Level 3 – GO evacuation status. *The Oxbow Fire has merged with the Limepoint fire at mid-slope in Indian Creek.

The Limepoint fire was last reported at 4,500 acres – updated acreage will be provided from an IR flight over the fire area tonight. No structures have been lost, but many remain threatened throughout the Cuprum area and to the southeast in the Bear area.

Active fire behavior took place today and pushed the fire across the ridge in two places.

The fire crossed the ridge on the south side of Indian Creek and established itself in Bull Gulch, then produced spot fires across Forest Service Road 071 (Flat Creek/Barbour Flat Road). Firefighters are on site of the spot fires and addressing the situation.

To the north of Lynes Saddle the fire came over the ridge and established itself north of Cuprum. This fire activity triggered a management action point to conduct a burnout operation around the community of Cuprum. The burnout was successfully completed, and no structures have been lost in the area. The most active part of the fire north Cuprum is in the Dean, Salt and Elk creek drainages.

As the Oxbow Fire has merged with the Limepoint Fire, the Oxbow Fire will no longer be reported on separately, rather information will be shared here. Fire activity around the Oxbow dam continues to push to the south in the area of the dam. Fire managers are working closely with Idaho Power officials regarding the values at risk in the area and taking measures to project these values.

The focus of efforts remains on providing structure protection to Cuprum and to structure north of Cuprum and south towards Bear, and to protect values at risk in the Oxbow Dam area. With heavy smoke over the fire area today. Aerial resources were limited due to visibility.

The Southern Area Red Team will assume command of the Hells Canyon's Fire in the morning to include the Cliff Mountain Fire burning along the Snake River in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

Inciweb Link: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/inciden.../idpaf-limepoint-fire

Currant Creek Fire - Road Closure

Cedaredge area residents, please note that Currant Creek Road remains closed to the public at the intersection with Cactus Park Road due to the Currant Creek Fire.

Only residents on the lower portions of Currant Creek Road, south of the fire, will be permitted past the road closure. Fire crews have a list of addresses and homeowners and will verify home ownership before you are allowed into the area. We ask that non-residents who are just wanting to look at the fire please avoid the area. We need to maintain a clear access road for firefighter safety.

Thank you.