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Battle Mountain Complex firefighters continue to face difficult terrain and critical weather challenges

UKIAH, Ore. – Firefighters on the Battle Mountain Complex continue to face critical weather and fire behavior as hot temperatures are expected to hold through the weekend. High heat, paired with low humidity, make the vegetation more receptive to fire and make fire behavior more erratic and difficult to suppress. 
 

Portions of the Snake Fire crossed the North Fork John Day River and continues to burn south as firefighters attempt to construct and improve line to stop the fire’s forward progress. 
 

More crews and resources continue to arrive to the complex to bolster divisions along both fires. While firefighters are trying to hold the fire within its current footprint, steep terrain, standing dead trees and rolling debris present hazards that firefighters must mitigate to fight fire safely.
 

Fire officials and public partners will host a community meeting at the Ukiah community park tonight at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be recorded and shared to the incident’s social media channels. 
The Battle Mountain Complex consists of the 3,642-acre North Fork Owens Fire and the 2,766-acre Snake Fire. Both fires were among the 17 fires in northeast Oregon that started in the late afternoon and evening of July 17, 2024, as a result of the recent lightning event. 
 

Closure: U.S. Forest Service officials are temporarily closing some of the lands, trails and roads in North Fork John Day Ranger District to ensure safety for the public and firefighters engaged in operations to suppress the Battle Mountain Complex, Upper Winom, Double Snag, Big Creek, and Monkey Creek Fires.
Road Closures: A closure remains in effect for Highway 395, between mile posts 50 through 90, beginning 35 miles South of Pilot Rock. 
 

Evacuations: Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set) and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations are in effect. For updated evacuation information, visit the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, www.facebook.com/UmatillaCountySheriff, or sign up for the Umatilla County  Emergency Alert System at https://member.everbridge.net/index/2590041373147145. 
 

For current fire restrictions, go to www.bmidc.org or call the Northeast Oregon Fire Prevention line at (541) 975-3027. For current fire info, go to http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/ 
ODF NEO Facebook: www.facebook.com/oregondeptofforestryNEO/.