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Your Hometown News Source
PENDLETON–Fire officials reported that Tuesday, September 26 will be hot and dry with conditions similar to mid-August as opposed to late September. High fuel moisture and lack of wind will prevent any large fire growth. Instead, any active fire will “skunking around.” This low intensity fire acts similar to a prescribed burn, cleaning up unburned pockets of fuel resulting in a more fire-resistant landscape and a healthier forest.
Double Creek Fire: 157,766 acres | 81% contained | 513 personnel assigned
The fire grew forty-nine acres in the last twenty-four hours. The northern and southern edges of the fire remain the most active. With temperatures expected to reach the mid-90s near Cow Creek, the fire will be more active, and smoke will be more evident. Crews and aircraft will continue to monitor the fire and are prepared to engage should the need arise.
Eagle Cap Wilderness Fires
The Nebo, Sturgill, and Goat Mountain 2 Fires were lightning-caused and are being managed to protect public and private infrastructure while playing a natural role within designated Wilderness. Progress on managed fires is expressed through the accomplishment of ecological and fuel reduction objectives as opposed to progress on full suppression fires, which is expressed through containment.
Nebo Fire: 12,600 acres | 50% of management objectives achieved | 5 personnel assigned
The Nebo fire will not be staffed with firefighters or suppression repair resources today as no fire activity has been detected and fire suppression repair crews are focused on the Double Creek and Sturgill fires. Aircraft will continue to fly over the fire looking for smoke.
Sturgill Fire: 20,192 acres | 53% of management objectives achieved | 40 personnel assigned
The fire has not grown in several days. Pockets of interior fuel have been consuming with warmer and dryer weather. Yesterday this was confined to the northwest and southwest corners of the fire. Fire observers have noted that this low intensity fire is removing excess fuel and improving habitat for wildlife.
Goat Mountain 2 Fire: 536 acres | 0 personnel assigned
The Goat Mountain 2 Fire exhibited zero growth in the last twenty-four hours. Aircraft will continue to monitor the fire as smoke and weather permit.
Weather: Temperatures will top out in the mid-80s in the valleys and low to mid 90s on the north end of the Double Creek fire. Relative humidity will drop to around 15%, only recovering to the mid to high 30s overnight. Along the ridges, temperatures will be in the mid-70s with relative humidity dropping to around 25%.
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Temporary Area Closures: The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest issued Temporary Area Closures for the Double Creek Fire, Nebo Fire, and Sturgill and Goat Mountain 2
Fires. Closure Orders and Maps are available on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Fire Incident Updates page.
Road Closures: Forest Service Road (FSR) 8250 east to the junction with FSR 8250-040, FSR 3900-100, and FSR 3900-200 remain closed. All forest service roads within the new area closure boundaries are closed. Wallowa County Road 727 remains open.
Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in place for all National Forest System Lands within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Campfires should be in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not conducive to rapid fire spread. All flammable material shall be cleared within a 3-foot radius from the edge of the pit and free of overhanging material. Use existing pits wherever possible. All fires need to be attended at all times and fully extinguished when not attended.
Airspace: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place for the Double Creek Fire to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations over the fire.
