Single Publication

Rail Ridge QuickFacts

Detection Date: Sept 2, 2024     

Cause: Lightning

Acres: 162,345                  

Containment: 38%

Crews: 35

Engines: 74

Dozers: 19

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

Total resources: 1,269

Phone: 541-208-7111   

Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov             

Facebook: Rail Ridge Fire - Oregon 2024

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

Cooler evening temperatures and higher humidities have continued to slow wildfire activity in the area. Favorable conditions will allow for continued aggressive attack, as well as the strengthening of containment lines around the perimeter. 

Hotshot crews will work the northern edge of the Rail Ridge Fire cold trailing for any heat sources and building containment line directly along the fire’s edge where safe to do so. Firefighters will focus efforts around the Battle Creek Mountain area and McNulty Basin as well as around Aldrich Lookout and Chrome Ridge to the east.

The rest of the fire perimeter will be patrolled and crews will mop up any heat sources that could pose a threat to containment while also working on suppression repair.

The fire is expected to exhibit minimal activity today but heavy fuels – dead and downed logs and large stumps – are still holding significant heat.

Tonight will be the last overnight shift for the Rail Ridge Fire.

Weather

Seasonably warm and dry weather is expected for the rest of the week; however, it is not expected to significantly increase any fire activity. Overnight humidity will near 100% with daytime values dropping into the 30% range. Winds will be light and terrain driven with gusts up to 15 mph at elevation.