On Wednesday, firefighters on the Lone Rock Fire in north central Oregon plan to patrol and mop up to maintain the existing fire perimeter in anticipation of incoming weather. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 12 p.m. through 11:00 p.m. Wednesday for abundant lightning for local fire weather zones. Thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours to the southeast of the fire perimeter may bring strong winds, lightning, and overall instability to the fire area. Shifting wind patterns, particularly in the tight canyons and draws, may test containment lines.
The focus for much of the uncontained fire perimeter will be on holding the existing line, connecting control line, and prepping unburned areas. Sprinkler line will continue to be installed on the fire’s western perimeter between Forest Service Roads 21 and 25 for holding where terrain allows. Similarly, crews along the south and southwest of the fire perimeter will focus efforts on mop-up and holding. Crews along Alder Creek and near the western side of Forest Service Road 25 will continue to hold heat built during firing operations to control fire activity along Highway 19 to the south and Forest Service Road 25 along the western fire perimeter. Crews will continue to build containment line and secure the spot near Notch Road using direct dozer line. The Oregon State Fire Marshal task forces will be focused on prepping and mopping up around structures along Winlock Road. Structural task forces will also work to access more homes within the fire perimeter to complete damage assessments.
QUICK FACTS
Location: Lonerock, Oregon to west of Highway 207
Size: 134,752 acres
Containment: 40%
Cause: Under Investigation
Start Date: July 13, 2024
Total Personnel: 1,031
On Tuesday, firefighters worked through the day along the eastern side of the fire perimeter to build control lines from Burton Hill to the south. The steep terrain between Forest Service Roads 21 and 25 continues to pose challenges for control. Crews used existing dozer line and water tenders to suppress fire activity in this area. Night crews continued these suppression tactics by beginning to construct a hose lay along the fire line. Indirect dozer line is being used as a contingency. South of Forest Service Road 25 crews continued to secure the fire line with direct and indirect line and begin mop-up activities where fire behavior allowed.
Crews and OSFM structural task forces carried out firing operations and structure protection on the southern portion of the fire. These operations were successful, and firefighters were able to hold the line with minimal spotting. Where fire did extend beyond the planned control lines, firefighters were quick to secure and contain any minimal spot fires.
On the northern portion of the fire, crews continued to patrol the fire line with no change in fire activity in the area with 40 percent containment.
Strategic aerial firefighting plays a critical role in firefighting efforts when supported by firefighters on the ground. Aerial supervision provides birds-eye identification of hot spots and coordinates where to send helicopters equipped for suppression and is needed when there are multiple aviation assets in the air. Use of aircraft for strategic aerial firefighting is constantly evolving based on resource availability, weather, and smoke conditions. Strategic aviation resources were also used for aerial ignition with a plastic sphere dispenser on Tuesday. The plastic sphere dispenser allowed firefighters ease in connecting large areas of unburned fuels that threaten to extend beyond the western edge of the fire along Forest Service Road 25. Task forces conducted structure assessment of areas to the west of Forest Service Road 25 and crews identified a small spot to the west of Notch Road. Crews worked through the evening to build line around this spot to reduce further growth.
The OSFM structural task forces worked with their wildland partners to hold Highway 19 and support firing operations. Crews were also able to access areas of the fire that previously burned to begin damage assessments. During their initial assessments, OSFM resources identified three primary residences that were destroyed by the fire. Assessments will continue as firefighters are able to get into more areas, some additional structure damage may be found. An additional structural task force from Marion County arrived, bringing the total number of OSFM structural task forces to 13.
The Lone Rock Fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy by the unified command of the Northwest (NW) Team 2 and Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Red Team.
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/inciden…/orprd-lone-rock-fire
Fire Information Line: 541-208-4369
Email: 2024.0404rvlonerock@firenet.gov
Information and Evacuation Resources
BLM Oregon & Washington
Oregon State Fire Marshal
Grant County Emergency Management
Oregon State Fire Marshal
Bureau of Land Management
Morrow County Sheriff’s Office
Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office
Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office
Grant County Emergency Management