Single Publication

Acres:  43,225                                                                         Start Date: 08/05/24

Location: Lake County, OR                                                  Personnel: 225

Containment: 0%

Highlights: Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the Warner Peak Fire this morning at 6 a.m.

Fire Activity: Resources continued working towards establishing and strengthening fire lines on all sides of the Warner Peak Fire yesterday. The hot, dry weather and exceptionally receptive fuels are conducive to rapid fire spread. These conditions reduce the efficacy of retardant and water drops, which work best when crews on the ground can back them up by digging line and addressing hotspots. The steep, rugged terrain in some areas of the Refuge makes access and travel very difficult for firefighters.

On the east side of the fire, crews were able to hold the line along Blue Sky Road. The spot fire that spread to the northeast yesterday at Swede Knoll was slowed by a change in fuels coupled with some strategic retardant drops. It did not grow any further today. To the north, crews continued to secure the Refuge Headquarters and to halt fire spread at the Hart Mountain Road. Crews and bulldozers worked to reinforce the stretch of the Hart Mountain Road from the Refuge entrance south past Hart Lake to The Narrows to act as a control line. Fire behavior was very active on the south side, spreading into Riffle Canyon and towards The Narrows. Firefighters were able to keep it from crossing the Hart Mountain Road with the help of bucket drops from helicopters. Overnight, crews conducted additional firing operations along Hart Mountain Road from the Refuge entrance south to Hart Lake to prevent further growth to the west. 

Closures: The Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge is closed for the safety of the general public.

Weather: Warm and dry conditions will persist today, with temperatures into the high 80s and low relative humidities. Winds from 5-9 miles per hour out of the southwest will impact the fire area in the afternoon. 

Smoke: Wildfire smoke from the Warner Peak Fire may impact the community of Plush. Go to fire.airnow.gov/ to see the latest smoke conditions in your community. 

More Information:

Information Phone Line: 541.208.1770 

Email: 2024.warnerpeak@firenet.gov  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563957367189 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orshr-warner-peak