Four Small Lightning Fires in Eagle Cap Wilderness

aker City, Ore. – August 26, 2022 – Four small lighting 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.

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.