Battle Mountain Complex Update
Firefighters look to take advantage of cooler weather
A community meeting will be held tonight at the Long Creek School Gymnasium at 6 p.m.
MONUMENT, Ore. – Yesterday, the Monkey Creek and Boneyard fires grew together. The fire will now be referred to as the Battle Mountain Complex. Zone I includes the western portion of the fire, previously known as the Boneyard Fire and the Courtrock Fire.
Fire behavior moderated overnight with cooler temperatures and increased humidity. This weather is anticipated to continue through the morning, however as temperatures warm in the afternoon and winds increase firefighters are anticipating fire behavior to increase.
Today, smoke will remain in the area and will impact air operations. Firefighters will look for opportunities to use helicopter bucket drops to support work on the ground.
On the western flank of Zone I firefighters will use dozers and hand line to complete the fireline, securing this edge of the fire. Portions of line on the western edge have indirect line, not along the fire’s edge. Strategic firing operations will be used to eliminate fuels between the fire and the indirect line, reducing potential for uncontrolled fire to move outside the line.
Firefighters in the southeastern area of Zone I will monitor the fire and continue to strengthen the fireline in this area. Structural and wildland firefighters continue work in the area near Monument to secure the fireline and monitor for any hot spots.
Seven structural task forces from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are assigned to the Courtrock Fire and Zone I to provide protection for homes in the fire area and secure fireline around structures.
Fire operations continue to coordinate with landowners who are supporting and integrating with firefighters on the fireline on the Courtrock Fire. Today’s operations will focus on the southeast area of the fire where yesterday’s growth occurred. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity will allow opportunities for direct line construction to control the spread of the fire. The western edge of the Courtrock Fire will have firefighters patrolling and securing the line, especially near the homes in this area.
Closures: The Bureau of Land Management has closed public lands along the John Day River from Kimberly to Dale, and from Kimberly to Service Creek. More information here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/
The Umatilla National Forest has implemented a closure for public lands within the Heppner Ranger District. More information here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/
Evacuations: Level 1 (Get Ready), Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect. For updated evacuation information:
- Grant County Emergency Management Office’s Facebook page, or sign up for the Grant County Emergency Alert System at https://member.everbridge.net/
825462649520134/login. - Morrow County Evacuation information can be found at https://experience.arcgis.com/
experience/de78333b0d2544f7a3 20142174aa20ae
Shelters: An evacuation center has been set up at Grant Union High School (911 S Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845).
Clean air and cooling centers are located in the following locations in Grant County:
- Grant County Library- cooling & clean air, Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- John Day Senior Center- cooling & clean air, Monday & Thursday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday 12 – 4 p.m.
- Prairie City Public Works - clean air center, Monday - Friday 12 – 7 p.m.
- Dayville Community Hall- cooling & clean air, 24/7
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