Battle Mountain Complex fires reach 70% containment
By Garrett Christensen on Sunday, August 11th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
MONUMENT/UKIAHÂ — (Release from Southwest Area Incident Management Team 3) Total Complex Estimated Acres: 182,855
Location: Ukiah, Oregon Cause: Under Investigation Personnel: 1463 Containment: 70% Estimated Cost: $59 million
Resources: 41 crews | 71 engines | 6 helicopters | 34 water tenders | 21 dozers
Highlights: Resources that worked the south side of the fire are being reprioritized to aid the northern half.
Operations: Fire continues to burn on the north side, mostly in Swale, Ditch, Gilbert and Potamus drainages. The constructed containment lines are holding, but these drainages are challenging. Crews are continuing to extinguish hotspots near the containment line to reduce the chance of spread to the north. At the same time, they are working on back-up lines should they be needed.
Several National Forest system roads including the 2105 and 040 are being prepared in the event they may be needed. This effort is to further protect wildlife habitat and an important seed bank that is vital to reforestation efforts in the area. The work of preparing these contingency lines includes removing small trees, thinning dense vegetation and piling brush mostly with heavy equipment. Removing these fuels along the roads will make them more defensible in the event they are needed.
Across the rest of the fire crews received instructions from Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Oregon Department of Forestry for what suppression repair work needs to be completed. Crews and equipment will implement the plans by removing dozer berms, scattering or piling brush, and fixing stream crossings. Some areas have been identified for re-seeding to prevent invasive species from spreading. Resources Advisors and Archaeologists are also instructing crews on how to implement the repair plans.
After tonight, all night shift resources will be moved to day shift.
Weather: Scattered clouds will move across the area during the afternoon with skies clearing overnight. Temperatures ranging from upper 70s to lower 90s through Wednesday will cool off late in the week following the passage of a dry cold front. An isolated late afternoon shower or thunderstorm will be possible on Monday and Tuesday, but unlikely. No rainfall is expected.
Smoke: Smoke has moderated but is expected to persist from regional fires in the area. Residents can expect to continue to see smoke from interior pockets of unburned fuel. To see a detailed smoke outlook visit: https://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024
Public Land Closures: The Bureau of Land Management and the Umatilla National Forest have closed public lands in the fire area. Visit https://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024 for more information.
Road closures and fire restrictions: https://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024
Grant, Morrow and Umatilla County Evacuations: https://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024
Phone Number: 541-612-0744 (staffed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/or97s-battle-mountain-complex
Email: 2024.battlemountaincomplex@firenet.gov (note email change)
