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Public information map for the Courtrock Fire, Monday, August 12, 2024
Size: 20,019
Containment: 97%
Thank you to everyone over at Long Creek Schools for this lovely handmade sign.
All areas within the Courtrock Fire perimeter and surrounding areas have been downgraded to a Level 1 (Be Ready) level as of this publication on Monday, August 12, 2024.
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 1 (Be Ready). For more information, visit Grant County 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 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. 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 | Wed, 08/14/2024 - 20:04 |
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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 | High Desert Type 3 Team, Chris Cook IC & Chad Lauer, IC Trainee |
| 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: | 133 |
|---|---|
| Size | 20,019 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 99% |
| 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 intermittently creep through ground and surface fuels (litter and duff) in a mosaic pattern beneath the closed canopies.
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| Planned Actions |
Fire crews will continue to mop-up and patrol. The only uncontained portions of the fire perimeter are in Division Yankee between drop point 55 and drop point 60. Heavy equipment continues to repair dozer lines. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
3-DAY Fire Behavior Forecast (Issued August 12, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.) General Information: The storm system which passed through the fire area overnight is likely to bring a bit more cloud cover, decreased maximum temperature, and slightly increased humidity levels, but not much of a chance of measurable precipitation. The previous disturbance which passed by a week ago looked insignificant until it crossed the John Day River valley where it strengthened substantially bringing a lot of lightning and igniting 5 new initial attach fires.
Fuels: A fuels advisory remains in effect for eastern Oregon (including this area). Specifically, all fuels below 7000' are available, lightning has exhibited very high efficiency, grass fuel loading is 2-3 times the norm and it is cured. Minimal alignment (slope/wind) is needed for extreme fire behavior. On nights with poor humidity recovery, the burn period is essentially 24 hours and fires have high resistance to control.
Daily Fire Behavior: Smoldering stump holes and creeping surface/ground fire in interior drainages. Random isolated single tree torching in interior pine stringers with associated very short-range spotting (generally less than 50'). Areas of dominant closed-canopy mixed conifer tended to experience a dirty burn with consistent consumption. These areas will continue to see isolated smokes pop up well interior.
Initial Attack: All size classes of fuels are cured, available and the grasses are continuous. Ignition sources will be effective in initiating fires easily and fires will spread readily. Retardant, without rapid follow-up by ground resources will not be significantly effective.
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| Remarks |
The High Desert Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team, Incident Commander Chris Cook, assumed control of the fire as of 6 p.m. on Monday, August 12th. |
| Weather Concerns | A fire weather watch is in effect from this evening through Thursday morning for abundant lightning. Dry weather expected today, before a weather system brings a chance of showers and thunderstorms late tonight starting in central Oregon. Relatively cool temperatures as of late may impact storm development, however weather models do suggest a threat for nocturnal storms through the overnight hours heading into Thursday. Outside of central Oregon, showers and thunderstorms are expected to be wet enough during the day Thursday to preclude any fire weather headlines for now. Friday looks to be quieter with light shower chances over the eastern mountains, before another chance of showers and storms rolls through the forecast area on Saturday. |
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