Prescribed fire in Tiger Creek moves into future planned treatment area
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – (News release from Umatilla National Forest) In an effort to reduce hazardous fuels surrounding the Mill Creek Municipal Watershed, Walla Walla Ranger District initiated the planned 335-acre Tiger Creek prescribed fire on Sept. 30, 2024. During the operations a local weather shift caused winds which enabled the fire to go beyond the planned perimeter and has moved into other areas that were planned for future treatment projects. The size of the fire is currently being estimated and additional firefighting resources are enroute to support those already on the scene for this full suppression effort.
The burn plan included contingencies in case of such activity. Firefighters from the national forest and partner agencies are providing all needed resources to minimize the impacts of the fire. The fire was declared a wildfire, enabling the deployment of additional personnel and resources to contain the spread.
Access through the prescribed fire area will be temporarily restricted on Forest Service Road 65 and Indian Ridge Trail for the safety of the public and fire personnel.
Area residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke in the evenings and overnight while the fire continues to burn.
Reducing fuels through various treatments including thinning and prescribed burning is an essential part of reducing wildfire risk to nearby communities. These efforts also build resiliency into forest stands for future lightning and other disturbances.
The Tiger Creek Prescribed Fire Project (Tiger Creek Project) aims to protect the Mill Creek Municipal Watershed by using prescribed fire to reduce excessive fuel buildup along the southwest portion of the watershed boundary, approximately 13 miles east of Walla Walla, WA. The District Ranger and fire managers are working closely with our partners in the City of Walla Walla, rural fire departments, Washington Department of Natural Resources and Oregon Department of Forestry to implement the Tiger Creek Prescribed fire through an “all hands, all lands” management approach.
Approximately 160 acres of prescribed burning was successfully accomplished in the Tiger Creek Project area in 2022. Each prescribed burn goes through meticulous planning and preparation to ensure each burn operations meet prescriptive conditions that provide multiple benefits to resources. The Umatilla National Forest also works closely with the Oregon Department of Forestry and Washington State Department of Natural Resources in accordance with each State’s Smoke Management Plans. All burns are monitored until a season-ending rain or snow occurs.
Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.
