Crews curb Rosenbaum Fire growth west of Highway 19 as lightning threat persists

KIMBERLY — Firefighters backed by air support mounted an aggressive initial attack to slow the Rosenbaum Fire, successfully halting its spread west of Highway 19 and preventing structure loss, officials said Saturday.

Aviation crews established retardant lines ahead of the flames while helicopters made continuous water drops, allowing ground personnel to build control lines around the majority of the blaze. Crews shifted focus Saturday to improving those lines and mopping up around homes and structures.

Overnight, firefighters used handheld infrared technology to detect and eliminate lingering hot spots around the nearby Bologna, Cottonwood, and Little Bear fires. Crews also cut hazard trees and conducted grid-pattern patrols to secure perimeters across all incidents.

Despite the initial progress, emergency managers warned that dry vegetation and weather conditions leave the area highly vulnerable to rapid fire spread. A Red Flag Warning for abundant lightning remains active across the region through the weekend, putting incident personnel on alert to respond to potential new starts.

The surge in regional wildfire activity has prompted several area closures. The Umatilla National Forest issued a temporary closure order affecting portions of Forest Service Road 24, Tamarack Cabin, and Tamarack Lookout. To the south of the Bologna Fire, the Bureau of Land Management closed the Lone Pine and Big Bend campgrounds along the John Day River.

Fire officials urged the public to adhere to local fire restrictions on equipment use and burning, warning that human-caused blazes could strain resources as crews brace for more lightning strikes.

Photo courtesy Oregon Department of Forestry

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Elkhorn Media Group