10/16/2024 Rail Ridge Update

Rail Ridge Fire Update

October 16, 2024

Central Oregon Wildfire Information: centraloregonfire.org

Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov  –  Phone: 541-208-7111

Social Media, Evacuation and Closure Information: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire

Acres: 175,961 – Containment: 89% – Detection: 09/02/24 – Cause: Lightning – Personnel: 576

Northwest Team 2 assumed command of the fire last night at 8pm. Team 2 is looking forward to working with the local landowners, community, and agency administrators during their two-week assignment on the Rail Ridge Fire.

Operational Update: Yesterday, most of the fire area was shaded by the smoke inversion until it lifted around 1:30pm. This prevented fire activity from increasing throughout the morning and early afternoon. Winds flowed into the area from the southwest throughout the morning and shifted to flow from the northwest around 4pm. This caused fire activity to increase slightly. However, the northwesterly winds allowed for the fire to push back toward the main fire footprint. On the northwest section of the fire, crews are continuing to build containment lines above Cougar Ridge. Fire managers are continuing to explore contingency lines farther north of FS Road 3850, which is tied in with dozer lines. There was a small spot in the northwest that the Salmon River Hotshots quickly addressed and prevented from spreading. Around contained areas of the fire, crews continued suppression repair including extensive hazard tree removal, fence repair, and other clean up. Air resources included two Type 1 helicopters and one Type 3 helicopter.

Moderate rains began after midnight. The most active areas of the fire in the Black Canyon Wilderness and Cougar Ridge received up to 0.29” of precipitation. The increased humidity and significant wetting rainfall is expected to curb most of the fire activity that we have been seeing over the last few days. Expect to see on and off mist showers and cloudy skies throughout the day. Winds will pick up from the northwest this afternoon with gusts up to 25mph expected on some higher elevation ridges.

Today, crews in the northwest will continue to use heavy machinery to build containment lines, utilizing Forest Service Road 3850. Firefighters are diligently to seeking out hotspots and responding accordingly to changing or unexpected weather conditions.  Crews on the northeast area of the fire are wrapping up suppression repair and will be ready to relocate if additional fire resources are needed on more active fire perimeters. Firefighters will continue to work extensively on FS Road 2150 and 24 to remove hazard trees and increase the safety of these roadways. Fire crews will continue to patrol the contained perimeter of the fire. Air resources will continue to be available and utilized. With the rain comes slick roads, so fire personnel will be assessing the fire conditions and engaging where it is safe to do so.  

Weather: Much cooler and wetter conditions are expected over the next few days. Temperatures will likely dip below freezing later tonight and snow showers will be possible above 4,500 feet. Winds will be gusty out of the northwest, but with all the moisture this weather system brings, there should be little impacts to the fire. Rainfall amounts through Thursday will likely exceed 0.1", and higher elevations may see a dusting to an inch of snow through Thursday.