Single Publication

Cougar Creek Fire Update for Monday July 29, 2024 

KEY MESSAGES:  

The First Creek Fire has been contained. Rappellers on the First Creek Fire completed suppression operations with assistance from aerial support providing water. These resources will now be available to assist other firefighting priorities.  A few aerial resources were loaned to assist incidents affecting communities in Idaho. 

CURRENT STATUS:  

The Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and hand crews coordinated tactical firing operations in the northeast flank of the Cougar Creek Fire. Mop-up continues in southern areas of Wenatchee Creek and through Grouse Flats where there was minimal to no advancement of the fire.  Heavy equipment, including dozers, are focusing efforts on the southwestern corner to complete line further to the north and west where crews have been prepping containment features for the last week. 

FIRE BEHAVIOR AND WEATHER: 

There was minimal fire progression within live vegetation, though heavy dead and down, dry fuels that exist on the landscape were available for consumption contributing to fire growth. The fire perimeter continues to expand west in areas where slope and fuels align. 

The cold front that brought 20 mph gusts yesterday on ridgetops will continue through today.  A west-southwest wind will develop as the day progresses. Yesterday’s cloud cover kept temperatures lower than in previous days and relative humidity up. Today, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms and precipitation to be followed by warmer and drier conditions.  

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES:  

Forest closure descriptions and maps are available online on the Umatilla National Forest Closure page. In Washington, evacuation notices are posted on the Asotin County Sheriff webpage and Asotin County Emergency Management  Facebook page. Grande Ronde Road is closed from Troy, Oregon to Highway 129 junction in Washington.  In Oregon, a level 2 evacuation is in effect for Wallowa County, including all of Grouse Flat from Bear Creek Rd north to the State boundary and the Garfield County line to Grande Ronde River.