Battle Mountain Complex Community meeting scheduled for Saturday evening 

UKIAH, Ore. – Firefighters continue to battle the heat and extreme fire conditions on the Battle Mountain Complex, successfully catching and lining a spot fire south of the North Fork Owens fire. Tonight, crews will continue to construct and try to tie key portions of lines together with existing roads and features.

Firefighters had success keeping both the North Fork Owens Fire and Snake Fire away from structures, but risks remain. Firefighters from a structure task force are building defensible spaces around homes to mitigate risks. 

Fire officials and public partners invite the public to attend an in-person community meeting at the Ukiah community park tomorrow, July 20, at 7:00 p.m. The park is located at West Main Street and South Camas Street. Fire officials will update the current fire status, firefighting efforts and take questions from the public. The meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the incident’s Facebook and YouTube channels. 

The Battle Mountain Complex consists of the 2,000-acre North Fork Owens Fire and the 1,750-acre Snake Fire. Both fires were among the 17 fires in northeast Oregon that started in the late afternoon and evening of July 17, 2024, as a result of the recent lightning event. 

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 fire info, go to http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/
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. 

Lone Rock Fire Community Meeting 

Facebook Live Stream will be on NW 2's Page: https://www.facebook.com/pnwteam2

When: Saturday July 20, 2024 

Time: 6:00 

Where: Fossil Grade School Gym (next to Elementary)

392 Main Street Fossil, OR 97830

All are welcome

Over 800 lighting strikes in Oregon and Washington the night of July 17 led to numerous new fires. National Preparedness Level 5 was declared yesterday, meaning many firefighting resources are committed and the potential for new starts is high. NW Team 12 has taken command of the Easy Fire (20 air miles west of Mazama) and will manage both fires. Fire managers are requesting more firefighting resources, as they become available, to bolster both incidents. NW Team 3 arrives today to inbrief on both fires.

Easy Fire Size: 107 acres | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 0% | Total personnel: 35

Dry lightning storms that moved through the Methow Valley started the Easy Fire. The Pioneer Fire dispatched aviation resources as part of the aggressive initial attack on this new fire, which was experiencing explosive fire growth. Crews remained on the fire overnight but weeks of extreme temperatures, record dry conditions, and dangerous terrain combined with no road access hampered initial response efforts. As of yesterday, the fire had not crossed the Skagit-Okanogan county line ridge. Firefighters are scouting the mountainous terrain to identify strategies using natural barriers and other suppression tactics to contain the fire. 

Pioneer Fire Size: 26, 137 acres | Cause: Human-caused | Containment: 14% | Total personnel: 782

Firefighters worked across the Stehekin Valley to strengthen, improve, and extend firelines while increasing hose lays to support community protection. Just north of Moore Point, firefighters constructed direct fireline to the lake’s edge and executed a successful firing operation to secure firelines. Helicopters dropped 110,000 gallons of water in this area yesterday to support firefighters securing the ground near Hunts Creek. Helicopters will be working water buckets today to cool and slow the fires as they support firefighters on the ground. If necessary, firefighters are prepared to initiate firing operations to protect values at risk, including homes and infrastructure. Resources from this fire remain available to assist with initial attack.

Safety and Closures: The National Park Service-North Cascades has expanded their list of closures: https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/fire-closures.htm. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure order in place: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. There are two Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in place over the fires: https://tinyurl.com/wduxpesz (Pioneer) and https://tinyurl.com/mtxej9zj (Easy). Drone activity is prohibited within the TFRs.

Evacuations: Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information. There are no evacuations in place for the Easy Fire though portions of the Pacific Crest Trail are closed.

Weather and Smoke: A Heat Advisory remains in place. Friday's forecast calls for hot temperatures, sunny skies and light winds with low relative humidity. Smoke should clear up some in the afternoon. Extended, near record-breaking heat, continues to dry fuels and contributes to heightened fire potential. The air quality outlook can be found at: https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about smoke at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/. The fire marshal issued fire danger ratings and restrictions: https://t.ly/WLBds.

Durkee Fire was extremely active today spreading south, southeast driven by wind. Gusts up to 45 mph were detected. We are engaging where safe to do so. The Fire has crossed Huntington Road and is following the ridge. OSFM task forces along with other firefighter will be working overnight. Approximately 15 aircraft aided firefighting, dropped water and retardant throughout the day. Durkee Fire is expected to remain active overnight with dynamic winds coming from the north, northwest.

The Malheur County Sheriff’s Office posted new evacuation orders, including some areas being placed in Level 3 (Go!): https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02wvHdzAo9JXCrjzCBXv74kmMriEgoh7pyfBXry1UCW4DhkeBtzry9w1VARLhh86Rtl&id=100069245917855&__cft__%5b0%5d=AZW-pUu8G2Xs3JVrNGijAIJHcOsrZhg8ZFUk7HaXnTcRYRkbMIAdK2PTnCopA9-VOHint6PT0x6TQcASIHHb1y3a6Y2j-TKpzIBhfRMDw3A2PMEz1RarVHz6UOgc3LHvIYj8IXBIU1AsGG9Vju1rW5Kf9AkueZ2zMjpKRMB9NAi-4w0uy_0rHFSJTr1_VnfEynQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Contact Malheur County Dispatch at (541) 473-5125 for questions.

The Baker County evacuation levels, ranging from Level 1 (Ready), Level 2 (Set), and Level 3 (Go!) also remain in effect: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0325RXDfFX9RyYAVHMY3jR8nu9rdjwqgWSWynfzoirRWR58unkpJrrFeQG5ArMKjtWl&id=100064434892363&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXBTecwImXKq3MDlYEYhm9_hPr7VkjurfAlRV8zuMI83dujdesj68I6YFBJClLD8Rv21NhgU84Qme6faFTQe9DFavvSU_riiM4y6BDJkoamPaJsoGKFyVUVOhApgY0ezwC8IFEkl2fPWIfj6lC1EWN6dfLvk07F3CRSWzMOqCNU9D-41JARJsxeGVZVVDh0tX1k50RRLYfXjC9syr1xhVxH&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Please join us for our latest public meeting to learn more about the Falls Fire's current status. 

Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024 

Time: 3:00 p.m. 

Location: The Grant County Regional Airport – 72000 Airport Road, John Day, OR 97845. In the large conference room. 

Attend to receive a full fire briefing, ask questions and hear from local officials. The event will be live streamed.

The Durkee fire has advanced to the south at an alarming rate toward Brogan. It has jumped Durbin Creek road and is proceeding south along the ridge line North of Hwy 26. Residents on the north side of Hwy 26, just north of Thomaselio road and Hill road are advised to evacuate at once. This is the highest level of preparedness, or the "GO" level.

Fire crews are battling winds and environmental factors that make it incredibly difficult to keep up with.

All areas south of Lockett road and north of Hwy 26 should be at a level 2 or "Get Set" preparedness level. You should have your travel supplies and companion animals ready to go within 10 minutes of notice to evacuate. Plans should be set. Don’t go anywhere yet unless you need extra time to get out and travel.

If you need shelter accommodations, call Malheur County Dispatch at (541) 473-5125. Dispatch is very busy. Do not call for anything other than shelter accommodations or emergencies. We will send a similar alert when you can return to the area.