TROY — Firefighters have built containment lines around 60% of the Cougar Creek Fire, burning just over the Washington state line — and the Grande Ronde Road from Troy to the intersection of Highway 129 in Washington has reopened.

Authorities ordered the closure of the road on July 15, shortly after the fire started. The road opening was reported in the Tuesday update from fire officials.

The fire, burning southwest of Clarkston, Washington, 1 mile west from the intersection of the Grande Ronde Road with Highway 129, continued its slow growth and was reported at 24,096 acres on Tuesday. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In all, 380 people are working on the fire. Resources on the fire include six crews, three helicopters, 28 engines, 11 water tenders and six pieces of heavy equipment.

Firefighters on Monday used a drone platform with a plastic sphere dispenser to drop combustible “fireballs,” about the size of ping-pong balls, to finish firing gaps on the north side of the fire along Forest Road 43; the mosaic pattern of vegetation made some of these areas resistant to firing operations.

Firefighters quickly lined a small slop-over fire in debris from a dozer line across Forest Service Road 40 near Saddle Butte on Monday. Fire crews continue to patrol around the fire and mop up near containment lines. 

On Tuesday, firefighters were expected to continue hauling out excess equipment and removing remaining hose from the line. The area around the fire received widespread rain Tuesday morning.

Tuesday is the last day on the fire for Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 12. Fire management will transition to Northeast Washington Team 1 at 7 p.m. The incoming team will be based at a fire camp near Fields Spring State Park.