Black Butte Fire: 16,609 acres and 25% contained
By Logan Bagett on Friday, August 13th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
PRAIRIE CITY – (Update provided by the Malheur National Forest)
Black Butte Fire Statistics
Total Acres: 16,609 Acres
Containment: 25%
Personnel: 688
Date of Ignition: 08/03/2021
Cause of Fires: Lightning/Natural
Structures Threatened: 12
Injuries: 0
Aircraft: 4 Dozers: 8 Engines: 26
Fire Update: Friday, August 13, 2021
Black Butte Fire information: Firefighters were able to secure black line from the north and along the eastern edge of the fire. On the northeast edge, crews will secure and hold alternate lines and continue to prep the 416 road. Along the eastern edge of the fire, crews will again utilize air support to limit fire spread east of the North Fork of the Malheur River. Crews are putting in direct line from Vale Dip south to the River. Protecting private lands and structures at Flag Prairie is a priority. Mop-up will begin on primary lines and crews will patrol and secure spots across containment lines.
Along the southern edge of the fire, crews will hold and secure lines and put in hose lay to the North Fork of the Malheur River to control fire spread to the south. Crews will continue to construct primary and alternative lines, and will begin mop-up along secure lines along the fire edge. To the west, crews will construct hand line from Crane Creek Trailhead to the 832 road and continue prep of primary lines, burning vegetation along the 1420 road as needed to strengthen containment line. On the western edge of the fire, crews will continue prep along the 16 road, holding hand line to the river and burning vegetation to secure that line.
Glacier Fire: The Glacier fire is currently 75 acres and burning in the footprint of the 2019 Cow Fire. Firefighters continue to monitor the fire for activity, and reported minimal activity. Steep terrain and hazard trees are safety concerns for suppression activities.
Aviation: Air assets include four Type 1 heavy helicopters, one medium Type 2 helicopters and two Type 3 helicopters, along with an assigned Air Attack for aerial reconnaissance of both the Black Butte and Glacier fires.
Weather and Air Quality: Critical fire weather. Sunny, hot and dry with temperatures will be in the high 90’s throughout the weekend, with northeast winds at 4-8 miles per hour, gusting to 15 in afternoon. Slight chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms this evening. There are potential smoke impacts from the Black Butte Fire and others in the region. For more information regarding air quality and smoke forecast, please visit Oregon Smoke Blog Spot at www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com and Fire Air Now at www.fire.airnow.gov.
Closures: The Big Creek Campground is closed on the Malheur National Forest as of August 8, 2021. For updated Forest closure information, please go to the Forest webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/malheur or follow the Forest Facebook.
