Single Publication

Badland Complex Fire Update  
July 28, 2024 

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team Two 
Jared Hohn, Incident Commander 

Current Situation:  

• The Badland Complex has grown to 54,416 acres and is 0% contained with 228 personnel assigned.   
• Yesterday, the Coyote fire grew approximately 3,000 acres. Smoke jumpers are continuing to mop up and secure control lines, working in steep and rough country along the southern edge of the fire.  
• On the Thompson fire, crews constructed hand lines on the northern edge. On the west side, ground and air resources secured an area of active fire totaling approximately 40 acres. Additional night resources arrived to monitor and hold this area throughout the night. A UAS (unmanned aircraft system) with IR (infrared) will be used today to detect remaining areas of heat. Previously, smoke and the lack of available aircraft has prevented gaining aerial recon. 
• More firefighting resources will be arriving today, including a skidgine and additional engines. Nationally, there is a high level of fire activity demanding a limited supply of shared interagency firefighting resources.  
• The Powder fire is still holding with no growth. Firefighters will continue to monitor and mop up any heat sources.  
• Temperatures will continue to warm throughout the week, which is predicted to increase fire behavior. Smoke will remain heavy.  

Weather & Smoke Information: Weather will be warmer than yesterday and will continue to warm throughout the week. Temperatures will be 80s on the ridgetops, 90s in the valleys. Humidity 15-20%. Winds will be 20-25 mph from 8 pm - midnight.  

An air quality advisory is in effect for Baker County due to heavy concentrations of wildfire smoke. For current Oregon air quality conditions, please visit https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map.  

Evacuations: Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders for multiple areas of the fire. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064434892363. Sign up for Baker County emergency alerts at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?regionid=1357  

Closures: Check for highway closures at https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditions. All BLM Vale District Recreation Sites along the Snake River between Oxbow and Huntington and on Lookout Mountain are closed. This includes Spring Recreation Site, Swedes Landing, and Bassar Diggins Campground.  

Fire Restrictions: Fire Restrictions are in effect. Get details at https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-fpo-val-071024.pdf. 

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect over the fire area to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations. View a map of the TFR and details at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_7614.html. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems or drones. If you fly, we can’t! Learn more about how to use drones safely and responsibly at Home - Know Before You Fly. 

Fire Info Phone: 541-362-1507        Email: 2024.badlandcomplex@firenet.gov  Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Facebook: @BadlandsComplexFires2024   Media Line: 541-249-5894 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orvad-badlands-complex-2024