Battle Mountain Complex community meeting scheduled for Sat. night
By Dan Thesman on Saturday, July 20th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UKIAH – [News release from Oregon Department of Forestry] Firefighters continue to battle the heat and extreme fire conditions on the Battle Mountain Complex, successfully catching and lining a spot fire west of the North Fork Owens fire. Crews last night continued 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 and Snake Fires 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 Sat., July 20, at 7:00 p.m. The park is located at West Main Street and South Camas Street. Fire officials will share the current fire status 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.
Closure: U.S. Forest Service officials are temporarily closing some of the lands, trails and roads in North Fork John Day Ranger District to ensure safety for the public and firefighters engaged in operations to suppress the Battle Mountain Complex, Upper Winom, Double Snag, Big Creek, and Monkey Creek Fires.
Road Closures: A 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.
For current fire restrictions, go to www.bmidc.org or call the Northeast Oregon Fire Prevention line at (541) 975-3027. For current fire info, go to http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/
ODF NEO Facebook: www.facebook.com/oregondeptofforestryNEO/.
FIRE AT A GLANCE
Estimated Size: 3,750 acres
Containment: 0%
Cause: Under Investigation
Estimated Cost: $250,000
All Resources:
Total Personnel: 195
Hand Crews: 2
Engines: 13
Water Tenders: 3
Dozers: 6
Helicopters: 7
