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Resources:  415 Total Personnel | 8 Hand Crews | 9 Engines | 8 Heavy Equipment | 10 Water Tenders
| 1 Fixed-Wing Aircraft | 6 Helicopters

(Dufur, OR) The Boulder Fire started on July 8 near Boulder Lake Trailhead 26 miles southwest of Dufur in the Mt. Hood National Forest’s Barlow Ranger District. The fire is burning in dead and down debris located in steep, rugged and alpine-like terrain. Approximately 238 acres have burned. The past week’s hard work has resulted in less active fire and firefighters can focus more on mop-up operations. As of last evening, the percentage of containment had increased to 15%.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A temporary flight restriction remains in place over the fire. Public and firefighter safety are the highest priorities on the Boulder Fire. 

While firefighters focused mainly on mop-up all around the fire on Friday, crews also stopped a 20’ x 20’ fire that slopped over an established containment line when a burning tree fell across the north perimeter. Crews at the fire’s southwest corner crews completed containment lines and hose lays along the western flank. They used hand tools and water from the network of hose lines placed over the past few days to extend containment lines over 10 feet within the fire’s edge. Firefighters also cut off heat sources by attacking pockets of fire directly.  Fire crews finished two-thirds of containment lines on the eastern flank. In the remaining one-third on the southeastern corner, crews searched for hot spots and found none in a systematic process called “gridding.”

Today, an unmanned aerial system (UAS) equipped with thermal-imaging equipment is expected to arrive. Fire managers will use the UAS information to more effectively locate hotspots in the area’s thick underbrush. Firefighters will continue mop-up, working to create 10 to 50 feet of cold and fuels-free line around the fire perimeter.              

Weather: Today is expected to be warmer and drier than yesterday with light terrain-driven winds. Conditions are forecast to continue warming and drying through the weekend.

Closures and Restrictions: Many of the roadways, campgrounds and trails north and east of Forest Road 48 in the Barlow Ranger District are closed. Due to the high fire danger, open fire and target shooting restrictions have been implemented. For more information or to view the full closure order, visit the Forest webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mthood/alerts-notices.

Evacuations: Boulder Lake Campground, Little Boulder Lake, Bonney Meadows Campground, Badger Lake Campground, Camp Windy, and Post Camp Campground are under a Level 3 –Go Now evacuation. Evacuation levels are Level 1 – Be Ready to Evacuate, Level 2 – Be Set to Evacuate, and Level 3 – Go Now. More information is available from the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff.

Public Safety: Firefighters and heavy equipment continue to work on and around the area roadways, including Forest Road 48. Motorists can help keep firefighters and visitors safe by driving carefully and avoiding these areas. Firefighters are using the Rock Creek OHV Area as a staging area. For everyone’s safety, the public is asked to stay clear of fire suppression operations.

Smoke: Currently, there are no significant smoke impacts from the Boulder Fire. For air quality updates, visit www.oregonsmoke.org or airnow.gov.