Malheur National Forest issues area closure near Rail Ridge Fire
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
GRANT COUNTY – Follow this page for the latest information on the Rail Ridge Fire.
(Press Release from the Malheur National Forest)
The Malheur National Forest has issued an area closure for the Rail Ridge and PR778 Fires on the Blue Mountain Ranger District. To protect public health and safety, fire managers have closed the area described below due to fire activity and fire suppression operations. This closure will be effective September 3, 2024, through December 31, 2024, unless rescinded sooner.
Closure Area Description:
- Starting at the National Forest boundary on Fields Peak Road/Forest Service Road 21 on the border of T13S, R28E, Sec 35 and T14S, R28E, Sec. 1 south along Forest Service Road 21 to T15, R29E, Sec. 18.
- Along Forest Service Road 21 east and south to the National Forest Boundary in T15S, R30E, Sec. 29.
- Following the National Forest boundary south to Grant County Road 63 on the border of T16S, R29E, Sec. 12 and T16S, R30E, Sec. 7.
- Continues southwest along Grant County Road 63 to the border of T16S, R29E, Sec. 31 and T17S, R29E, Sec. 6.
- Following the National Forest boundary west to T17S, R28E, Sec. 7, north to T13S, R27E, Sec. 33, east to Fields Peak Road/Forest Service Road 21 on the border of T13 S, R28E, Sec 35 and T14S, R28E, Sec. 1.
A detailed map of the closure is included and can also be viewed on the Malheur National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur.
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UPDATE – (9/3 at 12 p.m.)
Evacuation zones update for the Rail Ridge Fire – Grant County
Rail Ridge and Powell Fire in Southwest Grant County.
The Level 3, “Go Now” alert has been extended south and West of South Fork Rd to the Izee Paulina Hwy.
The Level 2, “Be Set” alert has been expanded to include everything north of FS Rd 6370 and FS Rd 24, East to FS
Rd 21 .
A Level 1, “Be Ready” has been added from the Crook County line, North of Swamp Creek Lane and South of the
Izee / Paulina Hwy, Northeast to FS Rd 24.
For regular updates, visit the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/p/Grant-County-Emergency-Management-100068819321423/; call the
information line at 541-575-2885; or email the Emergency Operations Center at GCEOC@grantcounty-
or.gov.
Reference the image below and use the following link to access the active GIS map: https://oregon-
oem-geo.hub.arcgis.com/
In addition, South Fork Rd between Hwy 26 at Dayville is closed to all but local traffic from MP 1 to the Izee/Paulina Hwy.
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Find pictures and video of the Rail Ridge Fire below, provided by Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley:
UPDATE – (9/2 at 6:04 p.m.) –
(From GCEM)
Media Release:
Evacuation zones update for the Rail Ridge Fire – Grant County
Rail Ridge Fire in Southwest Grant County.
A Level 3, “Go Now” alert has been extended south of Murders Creek to Cougar Creek Gulch and East
to Shake Table.
A Level 2, “Be Set” alert has been issued for the area south of Wickiup Creek in the North, to Fields
Creek in the East, to Murders Creek in the South, west to Shake Table.
A Level 1, “Be Ready” has been extended North to Hwy 26 and East to Fields Creek and South to
Wickiup Creek.
For regular updates, visit the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/p/Grant-County-Emergency-Management-100068819321423/; call the
information line at 541-575-2885; or email the Emergency Operations Center at GCEOC@grantcounty-
or.gov.
Reference the image below and use the following link to access the active GIS map: https://oregon-
oem-geo.hub.arcgis.com/
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PREVIOUS – Emergency Management
323 South Humbolt St., Canyon City, Oregon 97820 Telephone: 541-620-1074
September 2nd, 2024 Sheriff Todd McKinley
Media Release:
Evacuation zones established for the Rail Ridge Fire – Grant County
Rail Ridge Fire in Southwest Grant County:
A Level 3, “Go Now” alert has been issued for the Murders Creek Ranch, extending East to Aldrich ridge.
A Leve 2, “Be Set” alert has been issued for the Black Canyon Ranch.
A Level 1, “Be Ready” has been Issued for all other areas vicinity the South Fork river, West to the Crook County Line and North, to, and including, Dayville and South to the FS 58 Rd.
A level three threat indicates an immediate threat to life safety.
A level two threat indicates that there is substantial danger nearby. You and your family should be ready to leave at any moment. Keep monitoring for news updates and emergency services announcements. Under level two threat conditions, the emergency is less predictable.
For regular updates, visit the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/…/Grant-County-Emergency…/; call the information line at 541-575-2885; or email the Emergency Operations Center at GCEOC@grantcounty-or.gov.
Reference the image below and use the following link to access the active GIS map: https://oregon-oem-geo.hub.arcgis.com/
