HERMISTON — Management of the Hat Rock Fire is back in local hands, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the nearly 17,000-acre burn is 100% contained.

The state agency announced its task force turned over management of the fire to local authorities at 7 a.m. Saturday, June 17. All task forces are heading home along with the incident management team.

“Our crews have worked hard to build and maintain a perimeter around the fire area,” incident commander Lance Lighty said.

No flare-ups have occurred since the morning of June 15. The final size estimate for the Hat Rock Fire is 16,816 acres with 100% containment.

The blaze at its height threatened 243 structures, 65 of those being homes, the State Fire Marshal’s Office reported, but no structures were damaged or lost.

The state agency transitioned management of the Mount Hebron Fire in Pendleton back to local authorities June 16. That fire also is 100% contained and spanned 370 acres.

“Investments made through Senate Bill 762 in 2021 made a significant difference in keeping the fire to the smallest footprint and protecting communities,” according to the agency’s press release.

Administrator Travis Medema thanked Umatilla County Fire District No. 1, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office “and all the firefighters for their hard work, the landowners and community members that rose to the occasion to protect their neighbors.”

The sheriff’s office announced it has removed all evacuation alerts for the Hat Rock Fire.