Coyote Fire in Baker County now 100% contained as crews make progress on rest of Badlands Complex
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, August 1st, 2024 in Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – Current Situation:
The Badland Complex remains at 54,563 acres with 73% contained and 270 personnel assigned.
The Coyote Fire is now 100% contained with the completion of containment line to the Snake River to the east along the southern perimeter. The fire will now move into patrol status, supported by an engine and personnel. Expect to see dust devils on this fire which can be mistaken for smoke.
Today, smoke from the Park Fire in California and the Telephone Fire near Burns, Oregon will move into the area. It will block some of the sun’s radiant heat on the Thompson fire, slowing the drying process for vegetation.
The Thompson Fire is now 31,556 acres and 51% contained. Yesterday, crews gained more containment on the northern perimeter near Durkee Creek. Today, a crew from Alaska join the Gila hotshots, hand crews and skidgines. These crews will focus their efforts on completing work to secure handline between Manning Creek Road and Lookout Mountain Road. Expect to see smoke from interior pockets of unburned fuel, which may be visible from I-84.
The Powder, Chalk, Sheep Mountain, Daly, and Crandall Fires are all 100% contained and are in patrol status.
Weather: Yesterday was the first in a series of warmer, drier conditions. Today will begin warmer and drier with more smoke drifting from fires burning in the southwest. The warming trend will continue throughout the day with temperatures in the 100s in the valleys and 90s in the lower elevations. Today will also bring very little wind and an occasional gust of up to 15 mph.
Smoke Information: Air quality is expected to be worse tomorrow as smoke from local and regional fires increase and as the wind patterns become favorable for impacts from the Park Fire in California. For current Oregon air quality conditions, please visit https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map.
Evacuations: Multiple areas have been reduced to a Level 2 (BE SET) or are no longer under any evacuations. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064434892363. Sign up for Baker County emergency alerts at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx…
Closures: Check for highway closures at https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicRe…/Report/RoadConditions. All BLM Vale District Recreation Sites along the Snake River between Oxbow and Huntington and on Lookout Mountain are closed. This includes Spring Recreation Site, Swedes Landing, and Bassar Diggins Campground.
Fire Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in effect. Get details at https://www.blm.gov/…/docs/2024-07/orwa-fpo-val-071024.pdf.
Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect over the fire area to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations. View a map of the TFR and details at
https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_7614.html. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems or drones. If you fly, we can’t! Learn more about how to use drones safely and responsibly at Home – Know Before You Fly.
Fire Info Phone: 541-362-1507 Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Email: 2024.badlandcomplex@firenet.gov .
