Single Publication

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires
September 17, 2022
Daily Update – 8:00 AM

Highlights: The Southern Area Blue Team assumed command of the Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, and Goat Mountain 2 Fires at 6:00 a.m. today. The team worked alongside the outgoing Pacific Northwest team yesterday to assess the current situation of the fires and gain knowledge of the area that will help develop their plan moving forward. The Southern Area Blue Team plans to use the favorable current weather to make operational decisions that will set firefighters and the community up well when the forecasted warmer and drier weather arrives. Suppression and protection strategies will continue to be used but the team will also look to establish suppression repair branches in the coming days.

Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires
There are three lightning caused fires within the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The Nebo, Sturgill, and Goat Mountain 2 Fires are being managed to protect public and private infrastructure while playing a natural role within designated Wilderness.

Sturgill Fire: 20,075 acres | 51 personnel assigned
The north end of Sturgill Fire is showing heat and moderate fire behavior. The fire will continue to be monitored by air, and personnel remain at structure protection sites in the area. Work will continue on the shaded fuel break from Lostine to Bear Creek Road. The fuel break is approximately 50 percent completed with the remainder expected to be completed within a week.

Goat Mountain 2 Fire: 536 acres | 0 personnel assigned Fire activity on the Goat Mountain 2 Fire is minimal. Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire by air as smoke and weather permit.

Weather: This weekend will be cool and recent high humidity will remain. There are chances of rain this weekend, but the rain will not fall across a wide area. The system will likely come from the south and the Sturgill Fire currently has the best chance of receiving rain. The Nebo Fire and Double Creek Fire may receive little to no precipitation. This afternoon shows chances for thunderstorms that could last into the evening. One week remains in this period of cooler, wetter conditions before the area trends back to a warmer, drier period. 

Evacuations: The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office rescinded all evacuation levels at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 14.

Wallowa Whitman National Forest Temporary Area Closures: The Wallowa Whitman National Forest issued Temporary Area Closures for the Double Creek Fire, Nebo Fire, and Sturgill Fire (includes Goat Mountain 2 Fire). Closure Orders and Maps are available on the Wallowa Whitman National Forest Fire Incident Updates page.

Road Closures: Lostine River Road at the Forest Service boundary is closed. Highway 350 going to the town of Imnaha is open. Lower Imnaha Road and Dug Bar Road are closed, Upper Imnaha Road is closed, Hat Point Road is closed, and FS 39 Road is closed from Target Springs Junction to Ollokot Campground [including the Canal Rd (3920) and Lick Creek Road (3925)].

Airspace: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for the Double Creek Fire (TFR 2/5592) to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations over the fire. The Sturgill Fire TFR (TFR 2/3189) was released on September 15 after the fire was placed in patrol status. Flight restrictions also apply to drones. Drones flying in areas of wildfire activity will cause firefighting aircraft to be grounded.  

Restrictions: Forest Order #06-16-00-22-04 covers Phase B Fire Restrictions for all National Forest System Lands within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, except for the area within a ¼ mile of the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam, River Mile 247.5, downstream to the Oregon-Washington border at Snake River Mile 176.0, which is regulated by Forest Order #06-16-04-22-01. 

Fire Information 

Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM  

Phone: 541-216-4579 

Email: 2022.doublecreek@firenet.gov  

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8366/  

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/doublecreekfire2022  

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