TROY — Firefighters on the Cougar Creek Fire burning just north of the Washington state border took advantage of slightly wetter weather Monday, Aug. 5 to mop up spot fires and continued to keep an eye on forecasts calling for thunderstorms in the area on Tuesday.

More accurate mapping on the fire resulted in a reduction of the fire’s size to 20,653 acres, about 100 acres, according to the morning briefing issued by fire officials on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The blaze, burning within a mountainous and remote area on the Umatilla National Forest bordering the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, is now 35% contained.

Although the southern flank of the fire is holding, the Grande Ronde Road is closed from Troy to the Highway 129 junction in Washington. A Level 2 (“Be Set”) evacuation remains in effect in Wallowa County for all of Grouse Flat from Bear Creek Road north to the state boundary and the Garfield County, Washington, line south to the Grande Ronde River.

Based on the success along the south flank of the fire, firefighters Monday began the arduous task of pulling and retrieving fire hoses back to staging areas. Over 7.5 miles of hose was backhauled to be inspected, rolled up and returned to regional fire warehouses.

Monday’s weather brought light rain and scattered hail. The moisture had little overall wetting impact on the fire, but it did limit the fire’s activity on Monday, allowing firefighters to focus the day’s efforts on controlling and mopping up a spot fire west of Forest Service Road 40 near the wilderness.

Firefighters discovered two small spot fires along Forest Service Road 40 Monday, responding quickly to extinguish and mop up both fires.

A helicopter flew several scouting missions to search for new fire starts from the recent lightning that moved through the area. No new fires were located within the Cougar Creek Fire temporary flight restriction area, although lightning did cause new fire starts throughout the region. Several firefighting resources working on the Cougar Creek Fire, including helicopters, were diverted to assist with these new initial-attack fires.

Meanwhile, firefighters planned to continue constructing the hand line on the ridge above Forest Service Road 40 near Saddle Butte on Tuesday.

Firefighters are monitoring a pocket of residual heat in a steep drainage within the northeast fire perimeter and will take action if control lines are threatened. Firefighters will be looking for opportunities for direct line placement north of the Spring Creek trailhead. Chipping continues near the junction of Forest Service roads 40 and 43, along with heavy equipment work.

A red-flag warning for thunderstorms is in effect through 5 p.m. Tuesday. The forecast also calls for gusty winds and low relative humidity along the ridgelines. Temperatures will be cooler but still above seasonal norms. Air quality in the region remains at moderate quality.

Some 480 firefighters in eight crews were on the fire, as well as 32 engines, 13 water tenders, three helicopters and 17 pieces of heavy equipment.

Updated information about the fire can be found online at inciweb.wildfire.gov.