Incidents All News

Good Progress on the Boneyard Fire Near Monument, Courtrock Fire Nearly Lined Overnight Ahead of Predicted Wednesday Thunderstorms MONUMENT, Ore. – Firefighters were able to make good progress overnight, completing bulldozer and handline on the southern portion of the Boneyard Fire closest to the town of Monument, as well as bulldozer line around the majority of the Courtrock Fire. This work is extremely important ahead of Wednesday’s day shift, with conditions once again expected to work against firefighters. 

High potential for aggressive fire behavior will challenge Boneyard Fire today, focus on minimizing fire growthMONUMENT, Ore. – Today’s hot, dry weather forecast with low relative humidity and high ignition potential will challenge day operations on the Boneyard fire. With assistance from three task forces from the Oregon State Fire Marshal, structural protection will continue. 

Boneyard Fire grows while some flanks hold, spot fires outside of Monument start but are caughtMONUMENT, Ore. – The Boneyard Fire was active throughout the day on Monday July 22, growing along southwest flanks in Cupper Canyon and starting spot fires outside of Monument. Firefighters were able to suppress and stop the majority of the spot fires and are likely to stop the remaining spot fires this evening.

Wind and thunderstorms increase fire behavior, challenge firefightersMONUMENT, Ore. – Erratic winds and thunderstorms increased fire behavior late Monday afternoon and overnight on the fire. The fire spotted across the line in the southeast area of the fire. Firefighters were able to complete line around approximately 50% of the spot which is estimated at 200 acres. Today firefighters will focus on securing the line constructed overnight and work to complete the remaining fireline.

Firefighters work to secure southern perimeter of Boneyard FireMONUMENT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1 and resources from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are continuing 24-hour structure protection and suppression efforts to expand control lines along fire flanks while securing the south and southeast ends.

Firefighters work to secure southern perimeter of Boneyard FireMONUMENT, Ore. – Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1, Incident Commander Joe Hessel, took command of the Boneyard Fire at 6 p.m. Saturday.  At briefing Sunday morning he told firefighters, “Today we are going to hold what we’ve got and gain what we can, we are going to build off the work local resources have completed and look for opportunities to build lines that will hold”.

Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1 sent to Boneyard FireMONUMENT, Ore. – Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1, Incident Commander Joe Hessel, received a briefing this afternoon from local resources as transfer of the fire begins. Incident Management Team 1 was recently deployed to the Salt Creek Fire, had mandatory rest, and is now assuming command of the Boneyard fire within 24 hours’ notice of the need.