The Monkey Creek Fire is now 48,348 acres, merges with Snake Fire
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
MORROW, UMATILLA, AND GRANT COUNTIES – UPDATE – 7/23 – (Press Release from the Battle Mountain Complex, IMT3)
Yesterday, the Snake Fire merged into the Monkey Creek fire in the North Fork John Day River corridor, becoming the 48,348-acre Monkey Creek Fire. The river corridor and other drainages are especially gusty on a fire where high temperatures, wind gusts, steep rimrock terrain and limited visibility are complicating fire suppression.
“Our firefighters have been battling these fires day and night for several days amid some of the most challenging terrain and weather in the state,” said Incident Commander Tyler McCarty. “We’re so proud of the work they’ve done. We’re talking a lot about safety, because there’s a lot of work ahead of us to put these fires out.”
Overnight, crews continued to line and mop up spot fires from yesterday on the northeast corner of the Monkey Creek Fire. Along the south end, where crews saw the most active fire behavior, they used defensive firing operations to burn vegetation up to dozer lines to head off the fire. Dozer lines to the east and south of southern head of the fire proved to be effective and will be improved today.
On the southeast portion of the Monkey Creek Fire, firefighters continued to scout for positions to line and begin burn operations to head off where the fire crossed over the Middle Fork John Day River. Crews will continue defending and protecting structures along the river corridor, where fire activity remains active.
On the north portion of the Monkey Creek Fire, crews continue to improve dozer line, looking for areas to tie together lines and place defensive burn operations.
Crews will continue mop-up operations and patrolling on the 4,485-acre North Fork Owens Fire, which stands at 20% containment (the complex stands at 3% containment). Last night, acreage increased due to more accurate GPS mapping, not from fire growth. Resources from this division will also support local initial attack for any potential new starts from expected lightning this afternoon.
Evacuations: Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect. For updated information, visit:
· For Umatilla County, follow facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff or sign up for Umatilla County Emergency Alert System at https://member.everbridge.net/index/2590041373147145.
· For Grant County, visit the RAPTOR arcgis site or sign up for alerts at: https://member.everbridge.net/index/825462649520134.
FIRE AT A GLANCE
Total Estimated Size: 52,833 acres
Monkey Creek: 48,348
North Fork Owens: 4,485 acres
Snake: (Merged with Monkey Creek)
Containment: 3%
Cause: Under Investigation
Estimated Cost: $2,500,000
All Resources
Hand Crews: 17
Engines: 38
Water Tenders: 15
Dozers: 10
Helicopters: 6
Total Personnel: 654
*****
**Photos courtesy of Incident Management Team 3**
UPDATE – 7/22– (Press Release from the Battle Mountain Complex, IMT3)
Building off day-shift progress, night crews made big gains across the southern portions of the very-active Monkey Creek and Snake fires.
The Monkey Creek and Snake fires are both burning towards each other within the canyon rim of the North Fork John Day River within the steep terrain which is difficult for firefighters to access. In the river corridor, firefighters are focused on protecting homes and structures and building defensible space around them.
To the south of those fires, crews were able to connect dozer lines from the Snake River all the way across to the southeast section of the Monkey Creek Fire. Today, they will improve and hold those lines as the fire pushes toward them.
Firefighters successfully burned-out areas along the southeast of the Snake Fire. Vegetation is often lit between the established containment line and the main fire to halt its progress. On the north end of the Snake Fire, crews were able to lay hose and plumb water out across the line.
The 3,887-acre North Fork Owens Fire currently stands at 10% containment (the complex stands at 2% containment). Crews will continue mop-up operations and patrolling the perimeter.
Firefighters still face critical fire weather in the region and heavy smoke is making it difficult for helicopters to access some portions of the fire. In addition to the smoke from this complex, the area is inundated with smoke from fires across the region.
Closures: A road closure remains in effect for Highway 395, between mile posts 50 through 90, beginning 35 miles South of Pilot Rock.
Evacuations: Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect. For updated information, visit www.facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff, or sign up for the Umatilla County Emergency Alert System at https://member.everbridge.net/index/2590041373147145.
For current area fire info, go to http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/ or ODF NEO Facebook: www.facebook.com/oregondeptofforestryNEO/. To report a fire, call Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch at (541) 963-7171 or dial 9-1-1.
FIRE AT A GLANCE
Total Estimated Size: 42,474 acres
Monkey Creek: 25,030
North Fork Owens: 3,887 acres
Snake: 13,557 acres
Containment: 2%
Cause: Under Investigation
Estimated Cost: $1,400,000
All Resources
Hand Crews: 16
Engines: 30
Water Tenders: 5
Dozers: 11
Helicopters: 8
Total Personnel: 586
