6/7/2016 Owyhee Canyon Fire Update

Owyhee Canyon Fire at 50 Percent Containment

Vale, Ore. – The Owyhee Canyon Fire that is burning 38 miles southwest of Jordan Valley, Oregon has been 50 percent contained.

Resources on site have increased drastically with a combined 25 engines from the BLM and contracted firefighting services. Also on site are four Snake River Valley (SRV) hand crews, one hot shot crew, four water tenders, two bulldozers and air attack aircraft coordinating efforts from the air.

Also assisting with suppression is the Jordan Valley Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA).
The Owyhee Canyon Fire size had previously been estimated to be nearly 23,000 acres in size. That has been revised to 20,500 acres. The size did not grow overnight, as suppression efforts were highly effective.

Vale District Dispatch has forecasted high winds and lightning in the area today—this coupled with high temperatures and abundant fine fuels in the area means that the likelihood of this fire spreading is very high.
More information on the Owyhee Canyon fire can be found at:http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4763/.
If you suspect a wildfire or see suspicious smoke, report it to the Vale BLM Dispatch Center at 541-473-6295.