Crews contain large spot fire on edge of Courtrock Fire

Published 8:40 am Sunday, August 4, 2024

MONUMENT — Firefighters gained control of a large spot fire and are working to consolidate and strengthen containment on the Courtrock Fire, fire managers said in an update on Sunday, Aug. 4.

Burning south of Monument and west of Long Creek, the fire is estimated at just over 20,000 acres and is 57% contained. A total of 327 firefighters are assigned to the blaze.

Fire crews secured a hoselay Saturday evening around the 80-to-100-acre spot fire on the east side of the fire’s perimeter. On Sunday, they will continue to identify pockets of heat within the fire’s interior, and work to connect scattered dozer lines to increase containment.

Additional resources including three more fire crews have been ordered to assist the firefighters who are working to contain the Courtrock Fire. As of Saturday, a number of resources from the Lone Rock Fire were reassigned to the Courtrock Fire and were relocated to the camp at Long Creek.

Firefighters assigned to the upper east side of the fire continue to patrol and look out for threats to the fireline. Mixed conifer fuels are holding heat inside the Malheur National Forest, on the southern edge of the fire’s perimeter. Rugged terrain and steep slopes make accessing these hot spots very difficult.

Having additional resources on the fire will help firefighters secure the uncontained areas of fire in difficult terrain. The plan for Sunday is to create a clean, definitive fire’s edge by tying together a myriad of dozer lines to create one strong defensible fireline.

Weather: Widespread haze is forecast for Sunday, with areas of smoke after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with temperatures ranging from the upper 80s to 105 degrees. Light and variable winds becoming northwest 5-8 mph in the morning, with gusts between 15-25 mph.

There is a 15% chance for isolated thunderstorms Sunday afternoon. The potential for dry lightning igniting new fires is the primary fire weather risk for today.

Evacuations/Shelters/Closures: No Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect.

For Grant County evacuation information, visit Grant County Emergency Management Office’s Facebook page, or sign up for the Grant County Emergency Alert System.

For Morrow County evacuation information, visit the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

Evacuation center is set up at Grant Union High School, 911 S Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.

The U.S. Forest Service has issued closures for the Malheur National Forest.

Fire Information: 541-208-4369 from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. –2024.courtrock@firenet.gov

Acres: 20,013 acres

Start Date: July 21st, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Fuels: Timber, grass, brush

Containment: 57%

Resources: 327