Eagle Cap Wilderness/Wallowa County Fire Updates (Nebo and Sturgill Fires)
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, September 1st, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY –
Update from Sept 1, 2022
As of this afternoon, the Nebo Fire is reported at 3085 acres in size, the Sturgill Fire is reported at 4815 acres in size.
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Updates for Sept 1, 2022
Updates on the Double Creek Fire, burning 10 miles SW of Imnaha can be found at https://elkhornmediagroup.com/multiple-small-lightning-fires-in-eagle-cap-wilderness/
The Nebo Fire burning in the Imnaha Divide Area, 13 Miles SE of Joseph, OR is reported at 2000 acres in size today.
The Sturgill Fire, burning in the North Minam River Area, 17 Miles SW of Joseph, OR is reported at 2000 acres in size today
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The Sturgill Fire, burning 17 miles SW of Joseph, is reported at 1000 acres today (Aug 31) This fire was reported on 8/22 and is noted as lightning-caused.
The Nebo Fire, burning 13 miles SE of Joseph, is reported at 800 acres today (Aug 31), This fire was reported on 8/26 and is noted as lightning-caused.
The Double Creek Fire, burning 10 miles SW of Imnaha, is reported at 50 acres today (Aug 31). This fire was reported yesterday, Aug 30 and is noted as lightning caused.
Additional information from the Wallowa Whitman National Forest regarding the Double Creek Fire is “The Double Creek Fire is a new fire in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area detected yesterday 8/30. It is located along the Hat Point Road near Grizzly Ridge. The Fire is 50 acres. Firefighters are engaged in active fire suppression with helicopter and air tanker support. There is an emergency closure of the Hat Point Road (NFS Road 4240) at the town of Imnaha.”
Size and location information is from the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center.
(Release from the Wallowa Whitman National Forest) Eagle Cap Wildfires Update, August 30: The Sturgill Fire has grown to approximately 552 acres and the Nebo Fire is approximately 389 acres.
Due to the increase of smoke, residents of the surrounding area are advised to contact their health care provider if they are experiencing smoke-related health symptoms, including eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or headaches. For more information, visit the smoke information blogs for Oregon or Washington at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ and http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/For updates on the Nebo and Sturgill Wildfires, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
| Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires, August 29 |
| Baker City, Ore. – August 29, 2022 – The Sturgill/324, Nebo, and Goat Mountain fires continue to progress in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. To the extent possible, the fires are being managed for resource benefits, including reducing fuel loads and enhancing forest health, and to play a natural role on the landscape while protecting values such as infrastructure and private inholdings. Increased fire behavior associated with warmer and drier weather is expected throughout the week and this activity continues to be within the expected and desired fire effects. Smoke will continue to be visible from surrounding communities, particularly in the afternoons. Smoke is also expected to settle in valleys and drainage bottoms overnight. Fire spread and behavior will continue to be monitored by firefighters from the air and on the ground. The Sturgill/324 Fires are approximately 40 acres in total, burning mostly in ground fuels with occasional isolated single tree and small group torching. The Nebo Fire is a little over 70 acres and is slowly moving towards the southeast. The Goat Fires remain fairly inactive. |
| Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires Map |
| Please call 911 if you spot a wildfire. Keep in mind that fire danger is “high” across the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Public Use Restrictions (Phase B) and Industrial Fire Precautions (Level II) are in effect. For more information, visit the websites of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. |
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UPDATE August 28, 2022 – Five lightning caused fires are burning in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. These fires are in remote areas and pose minimal threats private property and other values. Firefighters are closely monitoring fire activity and using strategies to protect values adjacent to the fire. All fires are being managed for multiple resource benefits including reducing fuel loading and enhancement of forest health. There are no closures, however the public is advised to use caution in these areas and can expect to see smoke and fire activity. Signs are posted at affected trailheads and the public is encouraged to check back frequently for updates.
The 15-acre Sturgill fire and the adjacent 324 fire are in in the North Minam Drainage burning in mixed conifer. The 20-acre Nebo fire is in the upper Lick Creek drainage burning is sub-alpine fire and grass. The 1/10-acre Goat 1 and adjacent Goat 2 fires are in the Upper Goat Creek drainage and have shown very little fire activity in the last two days.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26 — (Release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture) Four small lightning caused fires are burning in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. These fires were sparked by the recent thunderstorms on Monday, August 22, and Tuesday, August 23. Firefighters flew over the fires to take a closer look, and they have been closely monitoring the situation.
As of August 26, there are two (2) fires approximately 1/10 of an acre in size, in the Goat Creek drainage approximately ¼ miles apart being managed as the Goat Mountain Fire. There are two (2) small fires in the North Minam drainage approximately 1 mile apart being managed as the Sturgill Fire. Two other fires in the area were initially detected but went out with rain from the thunderstorms.
Due to the remote location of these fires, limited threats to values in the area such as structures and private inholdings, minimal fire behavior, and prioritizing resources to other fires with more imminent threats to values; these fires are being managed to allow the lightning caused fires to play a natural role in the Wilderness and to provide for resource benefits.
“When the fires are active, smoke may be visible from the surrounding areas,” said Anthony Botello, Deputy Forest Supervisor with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. “We will be watching these closely and have a good plan in place when/if they become more active. The fires are in the middle of the Wilderness and playing a natural role in reducing fuels.”
Fire resources have been assigned to these fires including an Incident Commander and a scaleable number of firefighters, as well as a helicopter to monitor the fire progression and take appropriate suppression actions to keep the fire from impacting values such as Red’s Horse Ranch, the Minam River Lodge, and all private inholdings.
These fires are currently not adjacent to any high use trails and there are no closures in effect, but the public is encouraged to be cautious when heading into the backcountry and stay up to date on fire activity by checking back for updates. “These remote Wilderness fires that pose no threat to private lands should be monitored closely. They also serve as a benefit by reducing heavy fuel loads caused by long interruptions in the natural fire regime,” said Wallowa County Commissioner Todd Nash. “I fully support the Forest Service current response.”
This is an area of the Wilderness where the National Forest has a track record of successful fire management. Officials expect to manage the fires for multiple objectives that include keeping the fire in the Wilderness and allowing it to play a natural role in the ecosystem. Firefighters will take appropriate suppression actions, as necessary, to meet these objectives.
Please call 911 if you spot a wildfire. Keep in mind that fire danger is “high” across the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Public Use Restrictions (Phase B) and Industrial Fire Precautions (Level II) are in effect.
For more information, visit the websites of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
