Single Publication

Rail Ridge QuickFacts

Acres: 162,278                  

Crews: 23

Containment: 38%

Detection Date: Sept 2, 2024     

Cause: Lightning

Engines: 90

Dozers: 25

Helicopters: 2 Type 1, 1 Type 2, 1 Type 3

Total resources: 1,168

Phone: 541-208-7111   Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov             Facebook: Rail Ridge Fire - Oregon 2024

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orocf-rail-ridge

LinkTree:  https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire

Closures and Evacuations

Closures: The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have implemented partial closures because of the Rail Ridge and Crazy Creek fires, for all uses. For more details and closure maps, visit the Ochoco National Forest, Malheur National Forest, and BLM web pages.

Evacuations: Evacuations north of U.S. 26 in Grant County were lifted and the shelter in John Day has been closed. For up-to-date evacuation information, please visit:

• Grant County: Emergency Management Facebook page.
• Crook County: Emergency Management website; Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
• Wheeler County: Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

Operational Update

Favorable conditions, including as much as 0.25 inches of rain fell on some parts of the fire, further reduced fire activity in the area last night. This trend is expected to continue today as the crews continue to work on line construction, improving existing lines and conducting mopup operations.

Along the north and west lines of the fire, crews will look for safe opportunities to construct direct line, as well as improve all established control lines. Crews will focus on improving the shaded fuel break around the Black Canyon Wilderness.

On the east edge of the fire, crews are taking a direct-attack approach west of Fields Peak south to Thorn Creek Butte.

Crews will continue to monitor and patrol the southern portion of the fire and begin suppression repair. 

Weather

Cool weather and forecasted precipitation and higher humidity will provide favorable conditions for crews today and through the rest of the week. Some smoky conditions are anticipated in warmer and dryer areas, and fire will continue to smolder and creep in some areas of pine/timber litter.

Cool and cloudy conditions are expected throughout the region, with isolated showers possible in the morning and afternoon. Breezy northwesterly winds are expected through the evening with gusts up to 25 mph.