The Courtrock Fire started Sunday, July 21, 2024, from a lightning strike during an afternoon thunderstorm event that moved through the area. The fire is located south of Monument and directly west of Long Creek.
Evacuation Information:
Evacuations for the Courtrock Fire have been downgraded to Level 2 (Set) and Level 1 (Be Ready). For more information, visit the Morrow or Grant County Facebook pages:
- For information on evacuations in Morrow County, visit Morrow County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
- For information on evacuations in Grant County, visit Grant County Grant County Emergency Management | Facebook
Stay informed with the Real-Time Assessment and Planning Tool for Oregon (RAPTOR) Interactive Evacuation Map
Closures:
The Malheur National Forest has issued an area closure for the Courtrock Fire on the Blue Mountain Ranger District. To protect public health and safety, fire managers have closed the area around the fire due to fire activity and fire suppression operations.
Closure area includes the two portions of the Malheur National Forest that run west of 395 B, north of Mt. Vernon and south of Long Creek, in the Fox Valley area, including all roads, trails, and camping locations within the fire closure area. A detailed map of the closure is included and available on the Malheur National Forest website and offices.
Air Quality
The Courtrock Fire continues to emit smoke and impact air quality. Airnow.gov provides air quality information and an interactive map.
Please be responsible and help prevent wildfires firefighters by adhering to Oregon Department of Forestry Public Fire Restrictions. Additional fire prevention tips are available at keeporegongreen.org
Current as of | Sun, 08/11/2024 - 12:10 |
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Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
Incident Type | Wildfire |
Cause | Lightning |
Date of Origin | |
Location | 7.1 Miles south of Monument, OR |
Incident Commander | Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2, John Truett IC & Todd Abel Deputy IC |
Incident Description | Lightning caused wildfire. Full suppression tactics are being utilized. |
Coordinates |
44° 43' 37'' Latitude
-119° 22' 52
'' Longitude
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Total Personnel: | 262 |
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Size | 20,019 Acres |
Percent of Perimeter Contained | 97% |
Estimated Containment Date | 08/09/2024 |
Fuels Involved | Mixed conifer fuels exist at the northeastern and southwestern perimeters of the fire area along with ponderosa pine and Western larch. The conifer fuels provide a ready source of embers under moderate to elevated winds when torching due to copious ladder fuels and dead/downed fuels in the understory. The continuous grass crop east of the fire area is cured and readily available for rapid ignition and will exhibit elevated rates of spread with an ignition source and even moderate wind. Brush fuels are primarily juniper savannas which transition to pure juniper stands with minimal herbaceous understory on the western flank
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Significant Events | Isolated and scattered heat continued consuming available fuel within interior conifer drainages and unburned islands continue to close up. The 48-acre unburned island approximately 1 mile northwest of drop poin 55 continued to shrink as the perimeter fire continues to creep through continuous pine litter and cured grass. As mop up continues, remaining heat sources are further distant from control lines.
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Planned Actions |
All divisions will continue to mop-up in the areas of mixed conifer where fuels in a small number of unburned green islands continue to burn, this is occurring in the areas south of drop point 51 and northeast of drop point 31. The remainder of the fire will be patrolled and if smoke is visible and the heat source will threaten the lines it will be mopped up. |
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Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Clear skies and rather poor overnight humidity recovery will allow for continued smoldering, creeping, and consumption of heavier fuels within the fire perimeter. Very slow spread through the short-needle mixed conifer litter in the southern drainages as well as interior unburned islands continuing to close up in the central third of the perimeter. Continued burning out of stumps and root wads within the isolated heat sources throughout the fire area. 24 hours: A slight cooling trend is expected to move over the fire area with minimally decreased high temperatures, better humidity recovery, and a slight chance of precipitation. The threat of dry lightning will be moderately elevated and the risk of new fires will be the primary fire concern due to continued dry available fuels throughout the area. Within the fire perimeter, continued burning out of residual stumps and root wads within the juniper and pine areas well inside of lines. 48 hours: Temperatures are predicted to stabilize or even decrease a bit while humidity levels are expected to continue increasing over the next few days. This will result in continued creeping in the mixed conifer litter and smoldering in pine/juniper. No additional acreage beyond interior unburned islands continuing to fill in slowly although the risk of new fires due to lightning is increasing somewhat. 72 hours: Continued slow filling in of interior unburned islands. No detectable heat sources within 150 feet of control lines is expected based on the progress, production, and efficiency of the firefighters. Anticipated after 72 hours: The approximately 48-acre central unburned island is expected to continue to shrink as fire slowly creeps around, closing the interior perimeter. Fire will continue skunking around in the mixed conifer dominant interior drainages in the southern third of the perimeter and no activity is anticipated in the northern third. |
Weather Concerns | The predicted series of weak disturbances has arrived over the fire area bringing slightly cooler temperatures, better humidity recovery, and a slight chance of moisture. The primary threat of the current weather pattern is the potential for dry lightning and the continued dry available fuels matrix throughout the general area. |
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