Focus is on repair as Battle Mountain Complex reaches 87% containment
By Logan Bagett on Wednesday, August 14th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
MONUMENT/UKIAH – (From Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team)
Daily Update: August 14, 2024
Total Complex Estimated Acres: 182,870
Location: Ukiah, Oregon
Cause: Under Investigation
Personnel: 1017
Containment: 87%
Estimated Cost: $66 million
Resources: 22 crews | 36 engines | 3 helicopters | 25 water tenders | 18 dozers
Highlights: Crews removed nearly 35,000 feet of hose from the southwest side of the Battle Mountain Complex.
Operations: While containment has steadily increased, over 1,000 personnel work each day to mop up the remaining hotspots, remove unneeded equipment and repair any damage caused during the height of the suppression effort. 434 miles of fire line was constructed to contain the Battle Mountain Complex. Repairing this fireline is expected to take a while, but crews are focusing on the highest priority repairs.
Firefighters and equipment operators are repairing fences, firelines, stream crossings, and landings according to the standards provided by local government agencies. As the work is completed, it is inspected by local resource advisors for approval. Once it is approved, they move on to the next priority repair.
County officials continue to reassess evacuations and public lands are reopening in many areas. The Bureau of Land Management rescinded their closure order in the John Day River corridor from Service Creek to Kimberly and Kimberly to Monument. However, vegetation is still extremely dry and there are still fire restrictions. The potential for new fire starts is high and anyone recreating on public lands should stay informed about local fire restrictions.
The public can expect to see more firefighters and equipment parked along roadways. With heavy equipment coming off the fire there may be increased traffic. Please pass with caution and be alert for large trucks on blind corners.
Weather: Today will be mostly sunny and hazy with highs in the 80s and 90s. Partly to mostly cloudy skies arrive on Thursday with a 60 percent chance of rain and a 40 percent chance of lightning. However, not much measurable precipitation is expected. Cooler temperatures are expected tomorrow night as a cold front moves into the region.
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: Both the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service have either rescinded or reduced closure orders for public lands. Visit https://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024 for more information.
Road closures and fire restrictions: https://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024
Grant, Morrow and Umatilla County Evacuations: Evacuation levels have been reduced. For more information visithttps://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024
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Daily Update: August 12, 2024
Total Complex Estimated Acres: 182,858
Location: Ukiah, Oregon Cause: Under Investigation
Personnel: 1151 Containment: 77%
Estimated Cost: $64 million
Resources: 28 crews | 49 engines | 6 helicopters | 29 water tenders | 19 dozers
Highlights: Some public lands to reopen today as containment increases on the Battle Mountain Complex.
Operations: Fire managers added additional containment to the north side of the fire after crews worked extensively to find and extinguish hot spots. Swale, Ditch, Ellis and Potamus creeks continue to hold heat, aided by southwest winds that push through the drainages. Crews continue to mop up in these areas. Yesterday, they used a helicopter with a water bucket to cool down areas around Notell.
Today the work of preparing contingency lines around Penland Lake continues. Crews and machinery are nearing completion of the tree and brush cutting work that will make these lines defensible in the event they are needed. Cutting along the 21 and 2104 road should be completed today.
Firefighters on the east, south and west sides of the fire will focus efforts on suppression repair work. Miles of dozer line constructed to contain the fire will be repaired with erosion control features. Crews in these areas are also removing unneeded equipment like hoses, pumps and water tanks. This equipment will be cleaned, inspected and made available for other fires in the area. Crews already removed 15,000 feet of hose from the fire.
As containment increases and fire activity diminishes, some firefighting resources are reaching the end of their assignment. They will demobilize from the incident to rest and get ready to be sent to other fires.
Weather: An isolated late afternoon or evening shower or thunderstorm will be possible Tuesday through Thursday. Temperatures ranging from upper 70s to around 90 Tuesday and Wednesday will cool off late in the week following a dry cold front. Winds will be from the west to southwest the first half of the day Tuesday and Wednesday before shifting out of the northwest later in the afternoon. More typical northwest winds return Thursday and Friday.
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. The National Forest closure has been reduced, opening everything east of 395 and north of 53. Visit https://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024 for more information.
Road closures and fire restrictions: https://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024
Grant, Morrow and Umatilla County Evacuations: Evacuation levels have been reduced. For more information visithttps://linktr.ee/battlemntcomplex2024
