Wildfire at Oregon-Idaho border tops 30,000 acres

The Cherry Road Fire, burning in southeast Oregon 19 miles west of Homedale, Idaho, has now grown to more than 30,000 acres. the BLM’s Vale District reported Monday.

Containment so far is estimated at 10 percent. The fire has spread along the eastern banks of the Owyhee Reservoir, mostly in annual grasses, which create fine, easily combustible fuels.

The fire was estimated at 50,000 acres earlier Monday, but mapping reduced the size to 31,210 acres.

According to Vale District BLM fire suppression personnel, they have been able to stop the advance of the fire, except on the northern front.

Sunday night and early Monday, fire crews were able to hold the south front of the fire at Holcomb Cabin Road and the east front at Succor Creek Road. The western front of the fire is bordered by the Owyhee Reservoir, creating a natural barrier.

The remaining front to the north is the primary concern for fire suppression personnel on Monday.

“Our personnel are putting together a plan today to get line across the north advance of the fire and connect it to the river,” said Jon Dentinger, Vale BLM duty officer.

Consistent winds of around 10 mph the fire moving Sunday night faster than resources could catch it.

The main challenge, according to Vale BLM fire suppression personnel, has been the steep, inaccessible terrain around the Owyhee Reservoir. This terrain makes access by hand crews and vehicles extremely difficult.

For this reason, 15 Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) as well as three helicopters were dropping water and retardant on the fire Sunday. The 15 SEATs, dropped nearly 50,000 gallons of retardant in total.

There are 19 engines and one hand crew on site, along with water tenders and bulldozers. More than 20 more engines have been ordered, as well as five additional hand crews.

A Type 2 Incident Command Team has been ordered and is expected to take command of the fire Monday evening.

Neighboring BLM districts have been responding with resources, along with the Jordan Valley Rangeland Fire Protection Association and the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office.

Gusty winds were forecast Monday, with possible gusts up to 25 mph.

For more information on the fire, visit the InciWeb site at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4974/.

To report suspicious smoke or a wildfire call the Vale BLM Dispatch Center at 541-473-6295.