Single Publication

LONE ROCK FIRE UPDATE July 22, 2024

Location: Lonerock, Oregon to west of Hwy 207 | Size: 124,556 acres | Containment: 40% Cause: Under Investigation 

Start Date: July 13, 2024 | Total Personnel: 834

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orprd-lone-rock-fire 

Fire Information Line: 541-208-4369 

Email: 2024.0404rvlonerock@firenet.gov

Condon, Oregon — The Lone Rock Fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy by the unified command of the Northwest (NW) Team 2 and Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Red Team.

Yesterday’s Activities: An upper-level weather system moved over the fire late yesterday morning bringing high based showers and isolated thunderstorms. Cloud cover and smoke from area fires kept temperatures down with afternoon temperatures generally in the upper 80s. As a result of cooler temperatures and increased cloud cover, firefighters had an advantage in securing portions on the south end of the Lone Rock Fire. Crews were able to directly engage the fire on the eastern edge of the fire from Brown Cabin Spring towards Forest Service Road (FSR) 21. Crews working south of FSR 21 worked along the edge of the fire from FSR 21 to the south using a combination of direct and indirect fireline construction. In the southwestern portion of the fire, firefighters were working in coordination with the Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA) to construct indirect line with the possibility of initiating firing operations, as conditions allow, from HWY 19 north to existing containment line in the northern portion of the fire.

Task forces continued their focus on protecting structures on the southern edge of the fire, working from a new forward operating base established in Spray, Ore. Additional resources were also positioned north of the town working with hotshot crews on strategic firing operations to establish a line east of Notch Road, allowing crews to anchor down to HWY 19.

The existing 40 percent containment around the Lone Rock Fire remains secure. Crews continue to patrol the entire northern portion of the fire and the community of Lonerock, Ore.

There was a new lightning-caused wildfire detected within the incident management team’s response area late yesterday. Firefighters responded to the new start and were able to contain the single tree lighting strike fire.

Working north from HWY 207 near Alder Creek, firefighters may have opportunities to complete firing operations along indirect lines towards the existing containment area on the west side of the Lone Rock Fire.

The 12 structural task forces assigned to the Lone Rock Fire will continue to their mission of point protection around structures, providing critical community protection.

Today’s Activities: Crews plan to secure indirect line with firing operations. These types of burning operations are strategically planned to consume fuels in a controlled manner, making fuels unavailable to a growing wildfire. Preparations for these operations have been made on the east side of the fire near Forest Road 21 and near the junction of Alder Creek Road and Highway 19.

Firefighters will be working directly on the fire edge from existing containment near Burton Hill south all the way to the Umatilla National Forest Boundary at FSR 21. From FSR 21 to the south, crews will continue to work directly

along the fire edge to improve containment features all the way to the west of Spray, Ore.

Evacuations:

• Level-3 Evacuations – GO NOW! Level-3 Evacuate immediately for the following areas:

o Gilliam County: residences South of Lonerock. For more information on evacuations, visit Gilliam County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

o Wheeler County: HWY 19 at Rowe Creek Road, south on Rowe Creek Road to Twickenham Bridge, to HWY 19 at Girds Creek, east to the county line, north of the county line to Morrow County

line, west on the northern county line, south through the Kinzua area, south back to Rowe Creek

Road. For more information on evacuations, visit Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. o Morrow County: from the West County Line along Buttermilk Canyon to HWY 207, Mile Post 10 south

of Hardman to the south Morrow County line. The Red Cross will be setting up a temporary shelter at the Heppner Elementary School. For more information on evacuations, visit Morrow County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

• Level-2 Emergency Alert – GET SET! Level-2 Be set to evacuate at a moment’s notice for the following areas:

o Gilliam County: residences north of Lonerock. For more information on evacuations, visit Gilliam County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

o Wheeler County: HWY19/Rowe Creek to Twickenham then Girds Creek/HWY 207 S, south on HWY 207 to Cherry Lane west to the Grant County line. For more information on evacuations, visit Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page

Shelters:

• An evacuation center has been set up at the Wheeler High School (600 E B Street, Fossil, Ore.). A large animal shelter is available at the County Fairgrounds (720 E 3rd Street in Fossil, Ore.).

• The Red Cross will be setting up a temporary shelter at the Heppner Elementary School.

Closures:

• OR-19 is closed between milepost 78.7 to milepost 95.2. Highway 207 from OHV Park to the junction of Highway 207 and Highway 19 is closed for firefighting operations. For update road closure information, visit https://www.tripcheck.com/.
• Umatilla National Forest Order Number 06-14-02-24-01 affects all National Forest System lands, trails, and roads that lay within the Proclamation Boundaries of the Umatilla National Forest and reside within Wheeler County.
• Umatilla National Forest Order Number 06-14-02-24-02 includes prohibitions within the Heppner Ranger District on the Umatilla National Forest.

• Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office issued an Emergency Public Land Closure on BLM- managed lands along the main stem John Day River from Kimberly, Ore. To Dale, Ore.; and along the North Fork John Day River from Kimberly, Ore. to Dale, Ore.

   

Weather: A marine push will bring higher relative humidity values to the fire area today, with temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s this afternoon. Winds will be breezy out of the northwest on Monday with gusts up to 25 mph on ridges in the afternoon. Drier air is expected to return on Tuesday before the return of a dry, cold front passage on Wednesday.

Smoke Information: Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ for local air quality information.

Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place above the Lone Rock Fire area. If you fly, we can’t. Unauthorized drone flights (UAS) pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. Aerial firefighting is suspended when unauthorized UAS are in the area, allowing wildfires to grow larger.

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