Rail Ridge Fire Update
October 07, 2024
Central Oregon Wildfire Information: centraloregonfire.org
Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov – Phone: 541-208-7111
Social Media, Evacuation and Closure Information: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
Acres: 169,074– Containment: 89% – Detection: 09/02/24 – Cause: Lightning – Personnel: 589
Forest closures around the Rail Ridge and Crazy Creek Fires remain in place. A map with the ODFW hunting management unit areas overlayed with the closure area and fire footprint can be found at: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire. It is critical that members of the public abide by these closures because of potentially hazardous circumstances in the area including narrow and damaged roads, hazard trees, fire activity, unstable ground, and crews and equipment in the area.
Operational Update
Yesterday, the fire grew over 1,000 acres in the Black Canyon Wilderness due to dry conditions and afternoon winds. Firefighters performed firing operations along containment lines to strengthen the perimeter and keep the fire in check on the north and south sides of the active fire area. Crews continued their diligent work of patrolling the uncontained areas around the northern edge of the fire and mopping-up any heat found along the contained fire edge. Suppression repair around the fire also continued.
Firefighters have been using small firing operations to stay ahead of fire growth in the Black Canyon Wilderness. Beginning today, firefighters will be looking for opportunities to use tactical firing operations to close the remaining five miles of open line along the northwest edge of the fire. Over the next several days, fire will be introduced as needed with careful consideration of weather conditions and fire behavior. With no fire-season ending weather forecasted in the next two weeks, this updated plan will shorten the duration of uncontained fire spread. There is expected to be an increase in smoke in Dayville, Mount Vernon, and possibly John Day. Around other areas of the fire, crews continue to focus on the important work of suppression repair including removing woody debris, grading roads, and repairing dozer lines so the area is left in good condition upon crews’ eventual departure.
Weather
High pressure and dry conditions will continue through much of this week. Overnight relative humidity recovery will only be in the 40 – 45% range and daytime minimum relative humidity values will be 17-22%. No significant wind is expected with just upslope/upvalley winds developing after the inversion breaks around 1000. Temperatures will remain above average on Monday and through much of this week with afternoon highs in the low to mid 70s.
Evacuations
Level 1 evacuations in Grant County were dropped this week and the level 2 evacuations remain. Wheeler County evacuation remain the same.
For Current Evacuation Levels all affected counties, please visit: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
Closures
The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have implemented closures for the Rail Ridge Fire. For more details and closure maps, visit https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
