Beech Creek Fire Update – August 7, 2022
JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY, and HINES, OR – (Sunday, August 7, 2022) Containment has increased to 66% on the 155-acre Beech Creek Fire. A few days of cooler temperatures and higher humidity recoveries at night have aided firefighter progress in anticipation of the dryer and warmer conditions expected Sunday through Thursday. Personnel are continuing to support both day and night suppression operations.Fire suppression efforts are now concentrated on strengthening containment lines south of Hwy 395. Heavy equipment, such as feller bunchers, are working to mitigate hazard trees to allow fire crews safer access to secure the direct dozer lines. The unpredictability of fire-weakened trees poses a considerable risk to firefighter safety, so heavy equipment operators and felling teams are brought in to help mitigate those hazards. Resources along the northern section of the fire perimeter continue to reinforce and patrol containment lines having successfully mopped up, or extinguished pockets of heat, 300 feet interior from the fire’s edge.
Those traveling along Hwy 395 between Long Creek and Mt. Vernon can expect some delays as fire personnel continue to work along the roadway. Flaggers and a pilot car are leading traffic through the fire area. For updated information on delays or road closures prior to traveling in the area please visit: https://www.tripcheck.com. Smoke and air quality impacts within the state can be monitored by visiting: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com. Fire updates are aired on KJDY and are posted at Chester’s Market, the DinoMart in John Day, and the Chevron station in Mt. Vernon. As temperatures warm up again, the public are encouraged to be aware of the elevated fire danger on the Malheur National Forest. Current fire conditions and public use restrictions can be found on the Forest webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur.
For additional fire information, please visit:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8301
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MalheurNationalForest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalheurNF
Email: 2022.beechcreek@firenet.gov
InciWeb
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Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
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