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We are tracking about 24 wildfires and will add or remove the incidents as they move in and out of the Washington and Oregon States. We have provided some updates on these already. Some of these are brand new and others are newly reported. We will be numbering our wildfire incidents and providing these as individual separate posts.

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0404 RV Lone Rock Fire | Sit Rep 1 | July 19, 2024

Photo Courtesy: Inciweb

The aerial view of the Lone Rock Fire shows the smoke plume in the southern portion of the fire where activity increased on 7/18/2024. It also shows the wing of the Air Tactical Group Supervisor’s aircraft.

Photo Credit: Lone Rock Fire PIO

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Start Date: The 0404 RV LONE ROCK FIRE ignited from an undetermined cause on July 13, 2024, according to Fire Officials with the National Interagency Fire Center based out of Boise, Idaho which provides SIT REPS across the United States of America.

COMMUNITY MEETING

July 20, 2024, Saturday, 6:00pm (1800)

Grade School Gym (next to Elementary)

392 Main Street, Fossil, Oregon 97830

Location: This incident is burning in Nonerock (per Inciweb) stretching west of Hwy 207 and located 10 miles southeast of Condon (Gilliam), Oregon.

Fire Fuels: Tall grass, timber litter, and understory.

Cause: Undetermined.

CURRENT STATUS

Size: 83,922 acres.

Containment Status: 40%.

Fire Behavior: Active with wind-driven runs, backing, and group torching on the southerly side of the fire with some fire growth.

Cause: Undetermined, and under investigation.

EVACUATIONS

Photo Credit: Lone Rock Fire PIO, Ken Romney

Evacuations: Level 3 (GO NOW!) and Level 2 (BE SET) are in effect. For updates: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562972126530

Evacuation Shelter: American Red Cross Shelter at Wheeler High School, Fossil, Oregon.

FIRE OPERATIONS

According to several fire sources on Facebook, Inciweb, NIFC, and the NWCC, here is what is happening within operations:

Unified Command: NW Team 2, IC Joe Butler, and OSFM Red Team IC Ian Yocum.

NW Team 2: They will utilize direct and indirect lines to keep the fire west of Highway 207 and minimize acreage burned to the south. Continue structure protection efforts in coordination with OSFM resources. Continue to secure and mop up along the remainder of the fire perimeter.

Limited Resources: Given the number of large-scale incidents on the Northwest landscape and the resulting drawdown of remaining resources available at the state level, OSFM has incorporated several of our partnering agency resources into the structure protection tactical plan. NW Team 2 has bolstered OSFM numbers with 20 additional engines. These enhanced resources will provide point protection to structures near the southern extension of the fire along Forest Service Road 25. Crews will continue to triage structures in the area of the fire and south to the community of Spray. Where appropriate, crews will continue to perform surface prep. OSFM’s primary objective will remain structure protection. Crews will continue to work around the clock to protect citizen’s homes and livelihoods

OSFM: They will maintain its primary objective is structures and critical infrastructure protection. OSFM will assist our wildland partners with operations near the wildland-urban interface. OSFM task forces will continue to mop up in the town of Lonerock. The objective is to complete a 100′ mop up around structures themselves, then complete a 100′ mop up around the entire town of Lone Rock. Along the Southeastern fire front, OSFM crews will continue to perform structure triage and surface prep where appropriate. OSFM will also be triaging the community of Hardman and additional structures to the South along Highway 207.

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A temporary flight restriction is in effect, which means no aircraft including drones are allowed to be in the same airspace as fire suppression aircraft. Already there have been incursions reported and aircraft have had to be grounded when this occurs. PLEASE STOP.

TFR Violation Special Prize Awarded: If you continue, “You will be eligible for a free night or maybe two with three meals and a cot to the nearest bed and breakfast and lots of new sketchy friends, and, we have heard you may get a nice fine which will definitely put a hole in those deep pockets of yours.”

RESOURCES

Personnel: 739 fire personnel.

Incident Cooperators: Gilliam Co SO, Morrow Co SO, OSFM, USFS Umatilla NF, OR DOF, OR DOF Central OR District, BLM, BLM OR & Washington, Wheeler Co SO, Grant County, OR, Grant Co SO, OSFM Marion County Structural Task Force, PNW2’s AA Tactical Group and the American Red Cross.

COST-TO-DATE

Fire Suppression & Containment Costs: $5,200,000.

SOURCES

Verified Sources: Inciweb, Lone Rock Fire Facebook Page, NWCC, and the NIFC.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nwfireblog

Instagram NW Fire Blog

X formerly Twitter @nwfireblog

Disclaimer: Other sources are also providing pressers which we are gleaning information from.

Please see under the “Social Media” section as to which sources we are using for this post. Note: We only use verified “Fire, Law Enforcement, and Humanitarian organization information that they publicly release. We try to post the most up-to-date- accurate to the best of our abilities. Due to some incidents and the extreme fire behavior, some information may be out of date.”

ABOUT SPRAY, OREGON

Spray, Oregon is located about 30 miles southeast of Fossil, Oregon, in how Spray reported a population of about 139 total residents in 2020 in a total land mass of less than one mile at 0.29 square miles. This city is on Oregon Route 19 and Route 207, which runs along the John Day River that meets about three miles east of Spray overlay and passes through the City.

For as small as this City is, this municipality is considered in contrast to other towns and Cities in the State of Oregon. They have a Volunteer Fire Department with a Fire Chief, an Assistant Volunteer Fire Chief, and four volunteer Firefighters. Along with this volunteer Fire Department, they also have a Volunteer Ambulance company staffed by five EMTs, one Driver, and one EMR member. The City does not list a Police Department, but they have a Post Office, High School, and Community Transporation. They also list that this small town is governed by a Mayor, City Council, and other governmental employees.

The town is a great venue for many outdoor activities, including camping, holding an infamous rodeo, fishing, hiking, rafting, golfing, a historical museum, a half marathon, and major events.

It sounds like a really great place to visit.

ABOUT LONEROCK, OREGON

Lonerock or Lone Rock in Oregon, is a remote town east of Condon, a former service center for surrounding ranches in the early 1870s and its namesake after the single 35-foot high rock that sits right by the Methodist Church. The town was once

This location was once the home of the Condon AFB, a radar station operating from 1951 through 1970. Today, it sits empty and non-operational. Those who still live here are approximately 19 residents in a 1.01 square mile radius.

(c) 2024 NW Fire Blog (Publisher: Skagit Valley Girl Media)