Fire closure area on the Pomeroy Ranger District lifted Sept. 7

PENDLETON-The last large fire closure area on the Umatilla National Forest was lifted September 7.

After a very active 2024 fire season suppressing the fires, the Pomeroy Ranger District is facing a long fire recovery period. The fire closure enabled crews to provide some road repair, hazardous tree removal, post public safety signs and initial assessment of damage to the district, all the result of the Cougar Creek fire.

The closure was lifted at 12:01 a.m. September 7, 2024.

Forest officials ask that visitors do not camp or linger in a burned area. Dead or dying trees that remain standing after a fire are unstable, especially in high winds. Loose rocks and logs can be present in a burned area and are unpredictable, creating a rolling hazard. Additionally, burned vegetation can also contribute to landslides, mudslides and erosion when rain occurs. The ground in a burned area can also be unstable, due to burned-out roots beneath the soil. Forest users should also be aware that while the fire line has been made as secure as possible, they are likely to encounter fire and pockets of heat in unburned islands within the interior of the fire area. These will likely continue to have areas of heat or open flame until significant snow or winter weather. Even areas that have no visible fire and that appear cool can still have hot ash pits below the surface.