Firefighters hold lines and build containment in Battle Mountain Complex, community meeting scheduled for Heppner

By on Sunday, August 4th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News

UKIAH – Overnight, firefighters pushed containment to 32% as they continued to extinguish lingering hot spots and increasing mop-up depth. During mop up, crews cool hot spots around the perimeter and build depth as they push into the burned area to create a buffer so that any reheated or ignited materials can’t escape the fire perimeter. Crews patrol the fire perimeter throughout the summer to check fire behavior and ensure the fire doesn’t escape.

“Mop-up is 80% of wildland firefighting,” said Operations Section Chief Eric Perkins. “It’s an arduous task. It takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of people hours to get it done and to get it done right, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Crews are conducting mop-up operations around the entire perimeter of the fire, including portions of the fire that were considered more active late last week, including the southeast corner, just west of Monument and Ditch Creek to the north. Firefighters have even begun suppression repair work along lines considered fully contained.

Firefighters continue to make progress within the Potamus drainage as they bring the fire to control features to stop its advance and begin mop up.

Residents should continue to expect to see smoke in the interior and the unburnt island within the fire perimeter as unburnt vegetation burns well within the fire’s footprint. Helicopter resources will patrol the fire and provide bucket-drop support where visibility allows.

Heppner Community Meeting: Fire officials invite the public to join them in Heppner, location to be determined, for a community meeting tomorrow, Monday, August 5. Fire officials, public leaders and community partners will share information about current operations and have time for breakout question and answer sessions.

Evacuations: Learn more about current evacuation levels for each county at:

Public Land Closures:

The Bureau of Land Management has closed public lands along the John Day River from Kimberly to Dale, and from Kimberly to Service Creek. More information here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.

The Umatilla National Forest has implemented a closure for public lands within the Heppner Ranger District and the North Fork John Day Ranger District. More information at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1194462 and https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5286768.

FIRE AT A GLANCE

Total Estimated Complex Size: 181,659 acres

Monkey Creek Fire: 177,175 acres

North Fork Owens:  4,484 acres

Total Containment 32%

Cause:   Under Investigation   

Estimated Cost:   $43,890,784

All Resources

Hand Crews:  61            

Engines:  78      

Water Tenders:  37

Dozers:  26

Helicopters:  9
Total Personnel: 1,929

Elkhorn Media Group