Containment on the Cougar Creek Fire burning just north of the Washington state border has reached 80% as officials reduce the resources assigned to the blaze.

The fire, which has been holding steady over the last week at about 24,091 acres, has been burning since July 15. It’s been burning in a mountainous and remote area southwest of Clarkston, Washington, 1 mile west of the intersection of Highway 129 and Grande Ronde River Road. The cause is under investigation.

Firefighting crews continue to engage a section of the fire on a steep and rugged section between Mount Horrible and the Saddle Butte Road, along Forest Service Road 40, according to an update on the fire issued Monday, Aug. 19.

Along Forest Service Road 43 between Indian Tom to Willow Spring Saddle, crews are patrolling the area for missed or rekindled hot spots. Equipment such as pumps and hoses is being dismantled and returned to base camp. Dozer lines that are not part of the primary containment line continue to be rehabilitated between Cougar Creek and Grouse Flat on the southern section of the fire.

Incident managers will be focused Monday and Tuesday on demobilization of fire crews and facilities as they downsize the firefighting effort. The incident team anticipates returning command of the fire to the local district on Thursday.

As of Monday, 226 people were assigned to the fire.

All evacuation notices and road closures issued as a result of the fire were lifted last week.  

The website InciWeb has current information on the fire, as does the Cougar Creek Fire Facebook page.

New fire burns in Eagle Cap

The Boulder Creek Fire, burning about 1.5 miles northwest of Boulder Park in Union County, has prompted evacuation notices for portions of Union and Baker counties.

Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash said Monday, Aug. 19 that the goal of the notices largely is to notify hikers and campers about the fire, which is burning in the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

Ash said the area covered by the evacuation notices has about seven cabins, including a U.S. Forest Service guard station that’s available for rent, but no private residences. 

A Level 2 (“Be Set”) notice has been issued for areas north of the Union-Baker county line, east of Peaks 8271, 8881, and Snowfield Peak, south of Arrow Lake Peak, and west of Eagle Creek. This includes Copper Creek and a portion of Boulder Creek.

Under a Level 2 notice, people are urged to be set to evacuate at a moment’s notice as there may be significant danger. 

A Level 1 (“Be Ready”) warning has been issued for the following areas:

• In Baker County, the area west of U.S. Forest Service Road 7755 south from the county line to the Two Color Guard Station. Also, east of West Eagle Trailhead and Forest Service Road 77 from the county line south to Forest Service 7700-450 Road.

• In Union County, the area east of West Eagle Creek north of the county line to the ridgeline south and east of Echo and Traverse lakes. This area extends east to Eagle Creek north of the Level 2 area and includes Heart Lake, Arrow Lake, and Bench Canyon.

Under a Level 1 notice, residents are urged to be ready for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in the area.

Officials urged people in the affected areas to stay alert to fire activity and potential trail closures. The evacuations notices also apply to campers or hikers in the area.

Officials urged people to avoid areas near active fire or drainages with active fire. Be aware that conditions can change rapidly, potentially impacting travel plans or requiring emergency evacuations.

The Boulder Creek Fire was first reported on Sunday, Aug. 18 and grew to 150 acres. The cause of the fire is undetermined.

U.S. Forest Service crews are fighting the blaze and also are conducting assessments to protect structures that may be threatened by the fire. 

Firefighting efforts on the steep terrain are being supported by rappel crews and helicopters with water drops.

Several fires were quickly spotted and suppressed across the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest during the weekend. All but the Boulder Creek Fire and the 22-acre Lyle Fire, west of Sumpter, were caught before they grew past 4 to 5 acres. Firefighters report making good suppression progress on the Lyle Fire.

For current area fire information, visit the Blue Mountain Fire Information site at https://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/