Black Butte Fire at 40 percent containment
By Paul Hall on Friday, August 20th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER COUNTY – (Information provided by the U.S. Forest Service) Firefighting operations on the Black Butte Fire South of Unity are maintaining a steady pace. Currently, the fire has burned over 21,000 acres and nearly 40 percent contained. Yesterday and last night, fire crews monitored smoldering areas, keeping creeping flames under control. While cooler temperatures and higher humidity assisted the efforts, fuels are still extraordinarily receptive to fire and can readily ignite.
Temperatures are anticipated to warm to the upper 70s today dropping into the upper 40s or and lower 50s at night. Winds will be at more typical levels from the northwest with afternoon gusts up to 15 mph. Fire behavior has moderated with the current cold weather pattern. In the afternoon, there could be some single tree torching in isolated pockets of fuel.
Today, firefighters will work to keep the fire area controlled through mop up operations. This on the-ground tactic is critical to successfully increase containment. Crews will be ensuring hotspots are put out at least 100 feet in from the perimeter. In addition, they will remain vigilant watching for any new fire starts as the weather returns to hotter and drier conditions.
Closures:
Recreation Sites within the closure boundary: North Fork Malheur River Trailheads both north and south, North Fork Malheur Campground, Crane Crossing Trailheads both east and west, Short Creek Guard Station, Elk Creek Campground, Sunshine Flat Trailhead and Trail, Horseshoe Trailhead and Trail, Sheep Creek Trail and Trailhead, Little Crane Campground.
Currently the Trout Farm and Crescent Campgrounds are still open to the public.
For updated Forest closure information, please visit the Forest webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/malheur or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MalheurNationalForest.
