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Community Gets Update from Battle Mountain Complex

UKIAH, Ore. – ODF Incident Management Team 3 along with federal and local officials held a community meeting at the Ukiah Community Park. About 100 people attended and heard updates about both fires and evacuation levels.

Tyler McCarty, ODF IMT 3 Incident Commander, said “the number of fires on the landscape stretch from the southwest corner of the state clear up here in northeast Oregon, and, as a result, left the region with little to no firefighting resources.” He did say, though, that “crews and equipment continue to arrive for this complex and that should make a positive impact moving forward.”

The Battle Mountain Complex consists of the 3,642-acre North Fork Owens Fire and the 2,766-acre Snake Fire.  Crews made good progress getting line around the North Fork Owens fire. The Snake fire had aggressive growth on the south side where it crossed the North Fork John Day River.  Ground crews, dozers and helicopters worked to stop forward progress and establish line, but winds were pushing the line.  Overnight, crews will strengthen line where they can and monitor both fires for any spot fires. 

Closures: A road closure remains in effect for Highway 395, between mile posts 50 through 90, beginning 35 miles South of Pilot Rock. 

Evacuations: Level 1 (Be Ready) , Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect. For updated evacuation information, visit the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, www.facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff, or sign up for the Umatilla County  Emergency Alert System at https://member.everbridge.net/index/2590041373147145.

ODF’s Northeast Oregon District is currently in Extreme (red) fire danger and there are additional restrictions for industrial forest operations on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Current fire restrictions can be found at www.bmidc.org or by calling the Northeast Oregon Fire Prevention line: (541) 975-3027. 

For current area fire info, go to http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/ or ODF NEO Facebook: www.facebook.com/oregondeptofforestryNEO/. To report a fire, call Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch at (541) 963-7171 or dial 9-1-1.