Crews gain major ground battling Town Gulch Fire in Baker County; Blaze now 79% contained
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, August 15th, 2024 in Northeastern Oregon News
Size: 18,188 acres Cause: Lightning
Containment: 79 percent Start Date: August 5, 2024
Total Personnel: 338 Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 4 .
WEATHER: A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Thursday for scattered dry thunderstorms with outflow wind gusts up to 45 mph. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in the morning and continuing into the early afternoon. The thunderstorms will be a mix of dry and wet, which means that some will produce wetting rain, but others will produce lightning without rainfall.
CURRENT SITUATION: The fire is looking good with infrared mapping showing minimal heat, clustered on the northern end of the fire. That map can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/TownGulchIR. Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor the fire perimeter while also being available for initial attack should any new starts result from this afternoon’s forecasted thunderstorms. Suppression repair and the removal of water handling equipment will continue for the next several days.
As containment increases and the fire threat diminishes, the IMT continues to rightsize the organization. A sufficient number of resources will remain assigned to the fire to continue patrolling the fireline, completing suppression repair and backhauling equipment. Excess resources will be made available to other wildfires in the Western US.
CLOSURES: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites around the Town Gulch Fire are temporarily closed and fire restrictions are in effect. Forest closure orders and maps can be found on the Forest’s “Forest Orders” web page: tinyurl.com/36t4f2t2.
EVACUATIONS: Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations for areas near the fire. Follow the sheriff’s office Facebook page (tinyurl.com/3auvka4j) for the latest evacuation news. Residents may sign up to receive emergency notifications through Baker County ALERT (tinyurl.com/884czdrf).
