Vale
District Fire Update
Vale, Ore. – The Cherry
Road Fire, burning 19 miles west of Homedale, ID has now grown to an estimated
50,000 acres. Containment so far is estimated at 10 percent. The fire has
spread along the eastern banks of the Owyhee Reservoir, mostly in annual
grasses, which create fine, easily combustible fuels.
According to
Vale District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fire suppression personnel, they
have been able to stop the advance of the fire except on the northern front.
Last night and
early this morning, fire crews were able to hold the South front of the fire at
Holcomb Cabin Road and the East front at Succor Creek Road. The western front of
the fire is bordered by the Owyhee Reservoir, creating a natural barrier. The
remaining front to the North is the primary concern for fire suppression
personnel today.
“Our personnel
are putting together a plan today to get line across the north advance of the
fire and connect it to the river,” said Jon Dentinger, Vale BLM Duty Officer.
Consistent
winds of around 10 miles per hour kept the fire moving last night faster than
resources could catch it.
The main
challenge, according to Vale BLM fire suppression personnel, has been the
steep, inaccessible terrain around the Owyhee Reservoir. This terrain makes
access by hand crews and vehicles extremely difficult.
For this
reason, 15 Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) as well as three helicopters were
dropping water and retardant on the fire yesterday. The 15 SEATs, dropped
nearly 50,000 gallons of retardant in total.
There are
currently 19 engines and one hand crew on site, along with water tenders and
bulldozers. More than 20 more engines have been ordered as well as five
additional hand crews.
A Type 2
Incident Command Team has been ordered and is expected to take command of the
fire Monday evening.
Neighboring BLM
Districts have been responding with resources along with the Jordan Valley
Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA) and the Malheur County Sherriff’s
Office.
Winds are
forecasted for today, with possible gusts up to 25 miles per hour.
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