Single Publication

Town Gulch Fire Daily Update

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Fire Information: 541-208-7092, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.           

Town Gulch Fire Facebook: tinyurl.com/ycypw2bt 

Email: 2024.TownGulch@firenet.gov                            

Linktree: linktr.ee/TownGulchFire

Size: 18,188 acres                                                         Cause: Lightning

Containment: 62 percent                                              Start Date: August 5, 2024

Total Personnel: 363                                                    Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 4

CURRENT SITUATION: Firefighters will patrol and monitor the fire perimeter to ensure any unburned pockets of fuel do not reignite and threaten containment lines. Crews are also working on suppression repair. This involves repairing damage attributable to suppressing the fire. Activities include installing water bars and placing cut vegetation on dozer lines to prevent erosion, maintaining roads and repairing fences. Fire resources are also removing fire hose, pumps and water holding tanks from firelines so they can be refurbished and utilized on other fires. 

As containment increases and the fire threat diminishes, the IMT is focused on rightsizing the organization. This is a delicate balance of maintaining the people and equipment needed to patrol the fire perimeter, complete all suppression repair activities and remove the infrastructure used to suppress the fire – while also releasing excess resources so they can be available for reassignment to other fires and initial attack throughout the western US.  

WEATHER, FIRE BEHAVIOR & SMOKE: The fire received around a tenth of an inch of rain yesterday. The Incident Meteorogist has identified no weather threats to the fire today. Smoke impacts will be minimal today. Current air quality information is available on the Oregon smoke blog (https://www.oregonsmoke.org/).

CLOSURES: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites around the Town Gulch Fire are temporarily closed and fire restrictions are in effect. Forest closure orders and maps can be found on the Forest’s “Forest Orders” web page: tinyurl.com/36t4f2t2. 

EVACUATIONS: Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations for areas near the fire. Follow the sheriff’s office Facebook page (tinyurl.com/3auvka4j) for the latest evacuation news. Residents may sign up to receive emergency notifications through Baker County ALERT (tinyurl.com/884czdrf).