8/2/2020 Matlock Fire Update

Firefighters are steadily progressing to complete containment of the 85-acre Matlock Fire, which is burning in timber on the Umatilla National Forest, 13.5 miles northwest of Ukiah, Oregon. The fire, which is now 70% contained, is only burning in isolated, smoldering hotspots inside the perimeter. Yesterday, hotshot crews put handline around several small spot fires which had burned at the northern edge of the fire, while engines patrolled and mopped up along roads on the east and west flank. Suppression efforts are directed by Incident Commander Gabe Hale, Deputy IC Joe Goebel, and the Northeast Oregon Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team.

Today, mop-up of the Matlock Fire is continuing in some areas, and suppression repair has begun in others. Logging equipment is moving and decking trees felled during fire suppression efforts. Resources no longer needed are being demobilized and made available to respond to other fires. The Mesa and Redmond Hotshots and other resources have been dispatched from the Matlock Fire to support Umatilla National Forest firefighters in initial attack efforts on the North Fork John Day Ranger District.

Firefighters are also taking a number of precautions to prevent transmission of coronavirus. Information is being provided virtually, crew camping areas are dispersed, and resources are kept apart to the extent possible.

Firefighting resources assigned include one Interagency Hotshot Crew, two Type 2IA handcrews, five Type 6 engines, and five water tenders.

Due to the use of heavy equipment and logging machinery to suppress the fire, road guards have been posted on Forest Road 5314, which is open to incident-related traffic only. To protect public and firefighter safety, the public is asked to avoid the area of the Matlock Fire. A closure order map can be viewed on the Matlock Fire InciWeb site.