Progress made on Salmon and Olive Butte wildfires as evacuations remain in place

GRANITE and GREENHORN — Favorable weather has allowed crews to make major strides on a pair of lightning-caused wildfires in northeastern Oregon, prompting the demobilization of state structural task forces as threats to local communities diminish, officials said Saturday.

Structural preparations are nearly complete in the communities of Granite and Greenhorn. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Team demobilized Friday to deploy to other regional blazes, though wildland resources remain on the ground and structural teams can return if conditions worsen.

The Salmon Fire, which spans 1,492 acres and is 15 percent contained, saw significant progress with direct handline construction and hoselays installed around Greenhorn. Hotshot crews have begun “cold trailing”—meticulously checking for heat—and mopping up into nearby wilderness.

Meanwhile, the 2,809-acre Olive Butte Fire remains 15 percent contained and is active in the steep, rugged terrain of the Lost Boy Creek drainage. Dense snags and limited escape routes pose continuing hazards for the 1,382 personnel assigned to the complex. Hotshot crews successfully wrapped a direct fireline around Olive Butte to anchor the southern flank, while crews on the western flank finalized structure protections around the historic Fremont Powerhouse.

A shift to warmer, drier weather is expected Saturday, with temperatures reaching up to 90 degrees and southwest winds gusting to 15 mph.

Evacuation orders issued by the Baker County Sheriff’s Office remain in place for Granite and Greenhorn. A temporary flight restriction is also active over the area; officials warn that unauthorized drone activity will ground vital firefighting aircraft.

Crews performing structure protection on the Fremont Powerhouse near Granite (courtesy Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Team)

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Elkhorn Media Group