Fire activity expected to increase Friday on the Town Gulch Fire in Baker County
By Joe Hathaway on Friday, August 9th, 2024 in Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – Update for August 9
Size: 18,500 acres (500-acre increase) Cause: Lightning Containment: 0 percent Start Date: August 5, 2024
Total Personnel: 222 Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 2
CURRENT SITUATION: Thursday evening’s community meeting was well attended by 80 people. The outgoing incident management team—Northeast Oregon Interagency Type 3—introduced members of the Southern Area Blue Complex IMT, which will join Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) in unified command of the fire Thursday evening. During the team transition, an operations-update video will be posted to the incident’s Facebook page in lieu of a written update. Starting Saturday, the daily written update will be released each morning.
Local, state, and federal resources continue to coordinate and work together to protect private property, natural resources, and contain the fire. Light to moderate winds Thursday contributed to reduced fire behavior in many areas around the fire’s perimeter, providing firefighters with an opportunity to make significant progress toward suppression and containment. For example, the southern side of the fire near New Bridge is secure, and firefighters have confidence that the fire will not move further to the south. The west side of the fire along Sparta Road is also quite secure, and barring an unusual easterly wind, crews don’t expect the fire to grow westward. On the fire’s northwest side, crews conducted firing operations and successfully held the fire in Town Gulch. The most active areas of the fire are on the north and northeastern sides. The fire made short runs through the crowns of trees, and burning airborne embers started some spotfires, which firefighters were able to extinguish. To contain the fire in that area, they are using natural barriers, constructing both direct and indirect firelines, and getting assistance from air resources through water and retardant drops.
WEATHER: Hot, dry conditions will persist Friday. Isolated thunderstorms are also expected, bringing
lightning and gusty, outflow winds. Fire behavior could increase, particularly on the northern and northeast sides. As a result, and smoke production could also increase and become visible from nearby communities.
CLOSURES: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites around the Town
Gulch Fire are temporarily closed under Forest Order No. 06-16-01-24-05. Fire restrictions are also in effect under Forest Order No. 06-16-00-24-03. Both 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 around the
Town Gulch Fire. For the most current list of evacuations, follow the sheriff’s office Facebook page
(tinyurl.com/3auvka4j). Residents should sign up to receive emergency notifications through Baker County
ALERT (tinyurl.com/884czdrf).
EVACUATION SHELTER: American Red Cross of Idaho and East Oregon has opened an evacuation shelter
at the Lions Club of Halfway (225 Lions Street, Halfway, Ore.). Companion animals are accepted. For more
evacuation-shelter information, call 800-853-2570. Large animals can be accommodated at Haines Rodeo
grounds.
