Crockets Knob Fire update: 4,326 acres and 35% contained
By Logan Bagett on Thursday, September 8th, 2022 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
GREENHORN, OR – (Press Release from NW Incident Management Team 12)
Crockets Knob Fire Update
NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12
Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar
September 08, 2022
Weather: Temperatures are expected to be cooler today, and winds will be calmer. Temperatures will be in the low-80s this afternoon with wind gusts up to 20 mph. Conditions will still be dry with relative humidity in the teens.
Operations: Yesterday the fire perimeter was tested by high winds, and firefighters kept the fire within established containment lines. The fire received some rainfall yesterday afternoon, which helped with mop up efforts. Spots west of the FSR 45 were completely mopped up and will continue to be monitored to ensure they remain secure. Mop up along the FSR 45 and FSR 537 continued, and improvements along the contingency line north of FSR 45 and FSR 537 were nearly completed. Today, heavy equipment should complete the contingency line up to the Sharp Ridge / Indian Rock Trailhead. On the northeastern and eastern flanks, containment lines are in place around the burned pockets of subalpine fir, and today crews will continue mopping up any remnant heat they find. Yesterday crews monitored and patrolled the southern edge of the fire, which will continue today. Crews will be removing excess hoses and equipment from secured containment lines on the western, southern and eastern edges of the fire. All containment lines will continue to be monitored and patrolled. Crews received minimal support from helicopters yesterday due to high winds and thunderstorms. With favorable weather, helicopters are expected to resume support of firefighting efforts along the northeastern flank.
Closures and Evacuations: Grant County has issued a Level One evacuation advisory in the area of the fire. Level One means be ready and aware of fire conditions. You can view a map of the evacuation zone on the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page. A closure is in effect on the Malheur and Umatilla National Forests today. For complete closure information, please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/notices/?cid=STELPRD3845529
Smoke may be visible to nearby communities and Forest visitors. Smoke and air quality impacts within the state can be monitored by visiting: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Quick Facts:
SIZE: 4,326 Acres
CONTAINMENT: 35%
CAUSE: Lightning
PERSONNEL: 640
LOCATION: 19 miles north of Prairie City
FIRE INFORMATION:
541-625-0892
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrocketsKnobFire
INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8355/
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION
There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Crockets Knob Fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone – if you fly, we can’t.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PREVIOUSLY POSTED: September 07, 2022
A community meeting will take place tonight at 6 PM at the Prairie City Park and will also be live streamed on the fire’s Facebook page.
Weather: A red flag warning has been issued for the fire area today due to hot, dry and windy conditions. High winds will start early in the day with gust up to 30 mph, and there is a chance of thunderstorms, which could cause erratic winds up to 40 mph. Temperatures will be in the mid-90s this afternoon, and relative humidity is expected to drop down to around 15%.
Operations: Yesterday firefighters made good progress mopping up containment lines on the southern edge of the fire. Crews also continued to mop up along the FSR 45 and FSR 537. Heavy equipment continued improving potential contingency line along FSR 45, north of FSR 537. Spot fires west of FSR 45 continued to be mopped up and secured. Crews worked on the northeastern and eastern flanks of the fire to secure pockets of subalpine spruce and other vegetation. Rocky conditions and patchy fuels have limited fire growth in the Greenhorn Mountains area. Helicopters supported firefighters on the northeastern and eastern edges with water bucket drops to cool areas of heat and add moisture to the fuels to slow fire growth. Due to today’s red flag warning, firefighters will be extra vigilant to hold and defend containment lines and ensure firefighter and public safety. Containment lines along the southern edge of the fire and FSR 45 will continue to be monitored, mopped up and secured. Crews will focus on northeast flanks directly constructing lines around clumps of burned subalpine fir, brush and grass to prevent the fire from spreading beyond these pockets of vegetation. Helicopters will continue to support firefighters in this area.
Closures and Evacuations: Grant County has issued a Level One evacuation advisory in the area of the fire. Level One means be ready and aware of fire conditions. You can view a map of the evacuation zone on the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page. A closure is in effect on the Malheur and Umatilla National Forests today. For complete closure information, please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/notices/…
Smoke may be visible to nearby communities and Forest visitors. Smoke and air quality impacts within the state can be monitored by visiting: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Quick Facts:
SIZE: 4,305 Acres
CONTAINMENT: 25%
CAUSE: Lightning
PERSONNEL: 655
LOCATION: 19 miles north of Prairie City
FIRE INFORMATION: 541-625-0892
2022.crocketsknob@firenet.gov
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrocketsKnobFire
INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8355/
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION
There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Crockets Knob Fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone – if you fly, we can’t.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PREVIOUSLY RELEASED: Crockets Knob Fire Update
NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12
Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar
A community meeting will take place Wednesday night at 6 PM at the Prairie City Park and will also be live streamed on the fire’s Facebook page.
Weather: Today is forecasted to have increased winds along with hotter and drier conditions. Temperatures will be in the upper 80’s this afternoon with wind gusts up to 25 mph, and relative humidity is expected to drop down to nearly 10% this afternoon. A red flag warning has been issued for tomorrow, September 7th, for the fire area.
Operations: Yesterdayfirefighters continued to secure containment lines along FSR 4550 and 45 Roads, and heavy equipment improved a potential contingency line along FSR 45 north toward the FSR 10. Spot fires west of FSR 45 from previous days were mopped up, which included finding and putting out remnant heat in areas already burned. Crews continued constructing direct handlines along the northeastern and eastern flanks of the fire. Helicopters supported firefighters with water bucket drops along the north and northeastern edges.
Today fire activity is expected to increase due to hot, dry and windy conditions. Firefighters will work to secure existing containment lines for the anticipated red flag conditions. Crews will engage directly with handlines along the north and northeastern flanks of the fire. Heavy equipment will continue improving the potential contingency line along FSR 45. Containment lines along the southern edge of the fire will continue to be monitored, mopped up, and secured.
Helicopters will continue to support firefighters on the northern and eastern edge, cooling areas of heat and adding moisture to the fuels to slow fire growth.
Closures and Evacuations: Grant County has issued a Level One evacuation advisory in the area of the fire. Level One means be ready and aware of fire conditions. You can view a map of the evacuation zone on the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page. A closure is in effect on the Malheur and Umatilla National Forests today. For complete closure information, please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/notices/?cid=STELPRD3845529
Smoke may be visible to nearby communities and Forest visitors. Smoke and air quality impacts within the state can be monitored by visiting: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Quick Facts:
SIZE: 4,305 Acres
CONTAINMENT: 25%
CAUSE: Lightning
PERSONNEL: 623
LOCATION: 19 miles north of Prairie City
FIRE INFORMATION:
541-625-0892
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrocketsKnobFire
INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8355/
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION
There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Crockets Knob Fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone – if you fly, we can’t.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PREVIOUSLY POSTED: September 05, 2022
Weather: Dry conditions will continue today but temperatures will be cooler, with highs rising only into the 70s and lower 80s across the fire area. West to northwest winds will be light along ridgetops at less than 10 mph with gusts less than 15 mph.
Operations: Yesterday firefighters made good progress along the western edge of the fire to hold and strengthen containment lines. Slightly lower temperatures and lower wind speeds gave crews an opportunity to create depth in the containment line and cool areas of more intense heat.
Work along FSR 45 continues today with heavy equipment and crews moving north to improve the roadway for possible containment line.
Several crews will be engaging along the northeastern corner and eastern flank today to construct direct line along the fire edge. Firefighters remain engaged along the northern edge where the fire continues to creep along in the available fuels. Many natural rocky areas on the north end are helping to reduce the rate of spread.
Helicopters will continue to support firefighters on the eastern edge, cooling areas of heat and adding moisture to the fuels to slow fire growth.
Containment continues to increase along the southern edge of the fire.
Closures and Evacuations: Grant County has issued a Level One evacuation advisory in the area of the fire. Level One means be ready and aware of fire conditions. You can view a map of the evacuation zone on the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page. An expanded closure is in effect on the Malheur and Umatilla National Forests today. For complete closure information, please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/notices/?cid=STELPRD3845529
Smoke may be visible to nearby communities and Forest visitors. Smoke and air quality impacts within the state can be monitored by visiting: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
*A reduction in acreage is due to more accurate mapping.
Quick Facts:
SIZE: 4,265 Acres*
CONTAINMENT: 20%
CAUSE: Lightning
PERSONNEL: 612
LOCATION: 19 miles north of Prairie City
FIRE INFORMATION:
541-625-0892
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrocketsKnobFire
INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8355/
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION
There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Crockets Knob Fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone – if you fly, we can’t.
______________________
PREVIOUSLY RELEASED: September 02, 2022
There will be a Virtual Community Meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. Watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/CrocketsKnobFire (no Facebook account required.)
Weather: Red Flag conditions are in effect from 11 a.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Saturday as near record setting heat, very low humidity and unstable conditions develop. Temperatures could reach the upper 90s along the Middle Fork John Day River with 80s along ridgetops near the fire under mostly clear skies. Relative humidity will be critically low with single digit readings in the afternoon. Winds will also increase Friday afternoon and evening from the southeast as a weather disturbance moves through the area. Wind gusts along ridge tops could approach 30 mph.
Operations: Hotshot crews were engaged along the west and north edges of the fire yesterday, working with aircraft to create depth in containment lines and slow fire spread. A predicted wind shift out of the southeast may challenge lines in the northwest corner today. Crews and aircraft will continue working to hold the fire along FSR 537 and FSR 45. Smokejumpers will be utilized north of the fire during today’s shift to wrap the Indian Rock Lookout for protection if fire reaches that area.
On the southern edge of the fire, hand crews and engines continue to increase containment as they mop up and eliminate any heat sources that could be a threat to the line. Masticators and other heavy equipment continue to make progress along FSR 45 to use as containment line.
An aggressive aerial assault utilizing helicopters and other fixed wing aircraft took place yesterday and will continue today. Water and retardant drops in areas of increased fire activity help to slow fire spread and give firefighters on the ground more time to engage along containment lines.
Closures: An expanded closure will be going into effect on the Malheur National Forest today. For complete closure information, please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur
Smoke may be visible to nearby communities and Forest visitors. Smoke and air quality impacts within the state can be monitored by visiting: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Quick Facts:
SIZE: 3,170 Acres
CONTAINMENT: 10%
CAUSE: Lightning
PERSONNEL: 583
LOCATION: 19 miles north of Prairie City
FIRE INFORMATION:
541-625-0892
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrocketsKnobFire
INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8355/
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION
There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Crockets Knob Fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone – if you fly, we can’t.
(Photo courtesy of Sheriff Todd McKinley)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
PREVIOUSLY RELEASED: Crockets Knob Fire Update
NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12
Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar
September 01, 2022
Weather: While lower temperatures overnight contributed to fuel humidity recoveries, conditions will dry out quickly later today with critically low relative humidity at most elevations developing in the afternoon. East southeast winds will develop along the Middle Fork John Day River valley during the evening.
Operations: Fire activity increased on the northern edge of the fire yesterday, crossing the constructed dozer line in several places and moving toward Indian Rock Lookout. In some areas the fire burned into rocky areas with less fuel loading and burning slowed considerably. In areas with Subalpine Fir, some spotting occurred when the winds increased during the afternoon. On the northwest corner, Large Air Tanker planes (LATs) dropped nearly two dozen loads of retardant along FSR 537 which has been improved for containment line. These retardant drops allow firefighters on the ground more time to engage in reinforcing lines and containing spot fires. Helicopters were also working throughout the day to cool areas of heat around the perimeter and aid crews on the ground. There was some additional growth in the northeast corner on the Umatilla National Forest.
Hotshot Crews will be engaged along the west, north and east edges of the fire today. Work will be done to strengthen containment lines and secure areas where the line may be challenged by an increase of fire behavior with an expected rising temperatures and higher wind speeds in the next two days. Heavy equipment, hand crews and engines continue to hold and mop up line on the southern fire edge, watching for heat near the perimeter and creating depth in containment lines.
Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft will be working across the fire area throughout the day today. If you see firefighting aircraft near a water source, please keep back to allow pilots to maneuver safely and continue firefighting operations. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction in place, which also applies to private unmanned aircraft (drones).
Closures: Current area closure information and map for both Malheur and Umatilla Forests can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur
Smoke may be visible to nearby communities and Forest visitors. Smoke and air quality impacts within the state can be monitored by visiting: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Quick Facts:
SIZE: 2,840 Acres
CONTAINMENT: 5%
CAUSE: Lightning
PERSONNEL: 576
LOCATION: 19 miles north of Prairie City
FIRE INFORMATION:
541-625-0892
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrocketsKnobFire
INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8355/
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION
There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Crockets Knob Fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone – if you fly, we can’t.
(Photo by Jeromy Wilson, Operations Section Chief (trainee), via Crckets Knob Fire Facebook page)
PREVIOUSLY POSTED: August 31, 2022
Weather: Another weather disturbance will move through the area today, bringing increased winds and very dry and hot conditions. Winds will be gusty, mainly along ridgetops, approaching 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds will shift to the northwest and diminish through the late evening hours as a dry cool front moves through the area.
Operations: Gusty winds and higher temperatures across the fire area contributed to increased fire activity yesterday afternoon, producing a smoke column that was visible from many surrounding communities. The fire made short runs in available fuels on the north and northwest edges of the fire, and has moved close to west Princess Trailhead, directly south of Indian Rock Lookout. The fire has also pushed toward the northeast and is burning on a small portion of the Umatilla National Forest.
Work along FSR 45 continues with heavy equipment and crews to remove fuels to strengthen containment lines. Good progress has been made along the southern edge where crews have established some containment in the Big Boulder Creek area. Hotshot crews are still engaged along the eastern fire edge as well as the roadless areas in the north and west, to identify and construct containment lines in areas with a high probability of success to slow fire spread.
Air resources, including multiple helicopters, are actively engaged on the fire, utilizing water sources in the area, including Olive Lake. If you see firefighting aircraft, please keep back to allow pilots to maneuver safely and continue firefighting operations. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction in place, which also applies to private unmanned aircraft (drones). Closures: Current area closure information and map for both Malheur and Umatilla Forests can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur
Smoke may be visible to nearby communities and Forest visitors. Smoke and air quality impacts within the state can be monitored by visiting: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
Quick Facts:
SIZE: 2,295 Acres
CONTAINMENT: 5%
CAUSE: Lightning
PERSONNEL: 582
LOCATION: 19 miles north of Prairie City
FIRE INFORMATION: 541-625-08922022.crocketsknob@firenet.gov
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrocketsKnobFire
INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8355/
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION
There is a Temporary Flight Restriction over the Crockets Knob Fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone – if you fly, we can’t.
