Fires flaring around region

POMEROY––Wildfire season is here.

A fire dubbed the Cougar Creek Fire, located about a mile west of Highway 129 and the Grand Ronde River intersection has grown to 10,766 acres and is 23% contained, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources Southeast Region.

There's another small fire across the state line in Idaho, the Billy Creek Fire, which was first reported July 3 along the banks of the Snake River. Containment advanced to 74% by July 10.

There is a big one-the Battle Mountain Complex-of 43,067 acres that is upwind of southeast Washington, and it is only 3% contained. There are 654 personnel on the fire located west and south of Ukiah, Ore. It is three fires: North Fork Owens, Snake Fire and the Monkey Creek Fire.

As of press time, morning operations on the Battle Mountain Complex were challenged by thick smoke and limited visibility, which changed abruptly in the afternoon when the inversion layer lifted and brought high temperatures and wind gusts. That combination increased fire behavior, testing lines and producing several multi-acre spot fires.

On the Snake Fire, firefighters caught a fire that spotted across Camas Creek and Highway 395. Helicopters slowed the fire's rate of spread quickly enough for hand crews to line the fire.

Crews were able to hold the southeast corner of the Snake Fire and construct contingency lines. They tied in and improved the dozer line to the south completely across to the Monkey Creek Fire. They also scouted to the north of both fires for a location to construct a similar dozer line to box in the fires. Within the river corridor, firefighters focused on structure protection and creating defensible space around homes.

In other portions of the fire, crews constructed and improved dozer and handlines as directly and safely as possible. Officials expect additional resources in the coming days to bolster capacity.

On the 3,887-acre North Fork Owens Fire, crews continued mop-up operations, bringing containment up to 20%. Crews will continue mop-up operations and patrolling the perimeter.

Firefighters still face critical fire weather in the region and heavy smoke is making it difficult for helicopters to access some portions of the fire. In addition to the smoke from this complex, the area is inundated with smoke from fires across the region.

Closures: A road closure remains in effect for Highway 395, between mile posts 50 through 90, beginning 35 miles South of Pilot Rock.