UKIAH — Crews continue to make progress toward full containment of the Battle Mountain Complex as they strengthen lines and ramp up mop-up activity, fire managers said in an update on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The fire, burning in portions of Grant, Umatilla and Morrow counties, is holding at around 182,000 acres, according to the latest estimates. Just over 1,800 personnel are assigned to the blaze.

Overnight, firefighters pushed containment to 39% as they continued to extinguish lingering hot spots and increasing mop-up depth, fire officials said. On Tuesday, crews will continue mop-up operations around the entire perimeter of the fire. Firefighters will pay special attention to the duff, the dense layer of pine needles that accumulates in the understory, under juniper trees and limb them up to ensure that no fire smolders and climbs branches later in the summer.

Firefighters will continue securing the area between Ditch Creek and the Potamus drainage as they bring the fire to control features along the ridgetops where it’s flatter and more defensible.

Late in the evening and overnight, with the cooler temperatures, crews will burn the light vegetation to those firelines at a low intensity to remove the grass and brush but leave trees intact. Crews will also continue building contingencies and a shaded fuel break north of that area as an additional safeguard for homes and natural resources.

Crews will also continue suppression repair work along lines considered fully contained, especially along the east and southeast. Suppression repair work consists of burying firelines, knocking down berms built by bulldozers and using water bars diverting runoff to minimize potential soil erosion and environmental impacts. Crews will also remove hazardous, standing dead timber near firelines and roads.

Residents should continue to expect to see smoke in the interior and the unburnt island within the fire perimeter as unburnt vegetation burns well within the fire’s footprint. Crews will continue to patrol the fire perimeter throughout the summer to check fire behavior and ensure the fire doesn’t escape.

The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 3 will be passing the baton to Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 3 on Wednesday. Fire managers expressed their thanks to the Ukiah, Dale, Ritter, Long Creek, Monument and Heppner communities for their support during the incident. 

Evacuations: Learn more about current evacuation levels at the following sites:

For Umatilla County, follow www.facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff or sign up for Umatilla County Emergency Alert System at https://member.everbridge.net/index/2590041373147145.

For Grant County, visit the RAPTOR arcgis site or sign up for alerts at: https://member.everbridge.net/index/825462649520134.

For Morrow County, visit https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/de78333b0d2544f7a320142174aa20ae

Public Land Closures: The Bureau of Land Management has closed public lands along the John Day River from Kimberly to Dale, and from Kimberly to Service Creek. More information here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.

The Umatilla National Forest has implemented a closure for public lands within the Heppner Ranger District and the North Fork John Day Ranger District. More information at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1194462 and https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5286768.

Total Estimated Complex Size: 181,941 acres

Monkey Creek Fire: 177,457 acres

North Fork Owens: 4,484 acres

Total Containment 39%

Cause: Under Investigation

Estimated Cost: $51,180,190

Hand Crews: 57

Engines: 74

Water Tenders: 38

Dozers: 22

Helicopters: 9

Total Personnel: 1,805