Firefighters continue mop up, focus on completing fireline
MITCHELL, Ore. – Overnight firefighters worked to tie together portions of fireline on the southwest corner of the fire near Peggy Butte. Nearly 300 firefighters worked on the fire last night, taking advantage of reduced fire behavior to increase the depth of cold black on the perimeter and improve fireline. The fire grew slightly to 26,475 acres with increased containment of 26%.
Firefighters continue mop up around the fire perimeter, extinguishing hot spots. Gridding along the fire’s edge, they will use tools to dig into areas of thick duff or larger woody material and use water to mix and cool areas of heat or visible flames.
Hot, dry weather remains in the forecast today along with increased winds from the northwest. This will make hot spots more visible for firefighters and will increase fire behavior. Increased fire behavior may include single or group tree torching for unburned islands of fuel in the interior of the fire.
Helicopters are available to support work on the ground by dropping water on hot spots, cooling the area to allow firefighters to get closer and work as well as providing information on fire behavior to firefighters and landowners.
Increased containment and the transition to mop up has reduced the threat to structures in the fire area, allowing Oregon State Fire Marshal structural task forces to leave the Shoe Fly Fire to provide structure protection for homes threatened by the Service Fire near Fossil. These task forces are available to return if there is a need.
Evacuation notices for residents around the fire remain unchanged and continue to be evaluated by the Wheeler County Sheriff, Wheeler County Fire Defense Board Chief, and Team 1 Operations personnel. More information on current evacuations is available at https://tinyurl.com/RAPTOR-Evacuation-Info
Resources from the Shoe Fly Fire are available to support any new fire starts in the area.
Cooler temperatures and the potential for rain showers are forecast for later in the week, along with winds from the northwest and west. This change in wind direction will test firelines and the work completed across the fire. Firefighters are strengthening lines in anticipation of this change.
