9/12/2015 Grizzly Bear Complex Update

Driven by warmer temperatures and lower humidity the fire grew another 195.5 acres yesterday on the Northern flank near Oregon Butte.   

With the continued warmer weather through the weekend, the fire is expected to pick up activity with more torching and much more smoke in the air. Today, crews are focusing suppression activities to hold the fire within the containment lines.  Communities nearest the fire can expect to see smoke plumes as the fire moves through unburned fuels within the interior of the fire.

Weather predictions are calling for more fall-like conditions beginning next week; a general cooling of temperatures and a rise in relative humidity which will help slow the fire’s growth.

The spike camp located at Bluewood Ski Area will be moving to the Godman Guard Station area.  This moves firefighters and other resources closer to the fire activity in that area.

Total personnel assigned to the fire have declined to 333 people.  Most resources will remain assigned to the fire through the weekend and the duration of the warmer temperatures; fire officials will continue to evaluate resource needs as conditions change.

The public is reminded that the fire footprint and adjacent areas are closed to entry.  This safety issue is based on potential fire behavior and suppression work of equipment and crews on the fire.  Forest Roads 64, 6415, 62 and potions of the 46 and 4608 roads are all closed.  The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and some adjacent non-wilderness lands that have been directly impacted by fire will remain closed to access.  This non-wilderness area is roughly the area from Big Hole to Eden Bench. See the websites listed below for maps of the most up-to-date area and road closures.

A current closure description and map of closed roads is available at all Umatilla National Forest offices as well as on the Umatilla National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla/ in addition to the “closures” tab located at the http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4511/#.