8/21/16 Cherry Road Fire

Vale District BLM Takes on Cherry Road Fire

Vale, Ore. – The Vale District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is now fighting a new fire near Succor Creek State Park.

The Cherry Road Fire, which was first reported at around 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon, is burning in brush and grass approximately 16 miles west of Homedale, Idaho. The fire is currently estimated to be 3,500 acres in size.

There are 15 Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) and three helicopters responding as well as more than 12 engines, 2 water tenders and two bulldozers.

10 engines and three hand crews are also on order.

According to Vale District fire suppression personnel, the fire is expected to grow. Additionally, the fire is burning just two miles east of the Owyhee Reservoir and Succor Creek State Park is being threatened.

The High Desert Type 3 Team—made up of Vale and Burns BLM fire suppression personnel—will be taking over management of the fire tomorrow morning.

Cooler weather and higher humidity is expected this evening.

“We are hoping that between the cooler weather tonight and the heavy resources we’re putting on the fire, that we can turn the tide on this fire before it gets much larger,” said Don Gonzalez, Vale BLM District Manager.

The Jordan Valley Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA) is responding as well as Malheur County fire resources.

For more information on the fire, visit the inciweb site at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4974/.

To report suspicious smoke or a wildfire call the Vale BLM Dispatch Center at 541-473-6295.

-BLM-