Outback Wildfire LLC

Joseph, Ore. - Northwest Incident Management Team 7 began full management of the Joseph Canyon and Dry Creek fires this morning at 6:00 a.m. The fires were started from an overnight lightning storm the night of June 3, 2021. The fires are burning in steep, rugged, and inaccessible terrain in northern Wallowa County. The objective for both fires is to limit the duration and size while accounting for firefighter safety. Values at risk include human safety, private property, cultural and natural resources. Fires are burning on lands managed by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Joseph Canyon Fire - Start Date: June 3-4, 2021 Cause: Lightning Size: 7,575 acres Containment: 20%

Location: 23 miles southwest of Lewiston, ID.

Status: Two hotshot crews continued to work along the eastern flank of the fire. The western edge of the fire was moving towards monitoring status. The eastern and northwestern flanks of the fire are contained. The southern edge of the fire continues to be a challenge due to the rugged terrain.

Dry Creek Fire - Start Date: June 3-4, 2021 Cause: Lightning Size: 1,500 acres Containment: 50%

Location: The Dry Creek Fire is located in a remote and rugged part of Hells Canyon, northeast of Joseph, OR.

Status: Some interior burning occurred yesterday towards the northwest flank. The burning was confined to the fire’s interior and not a threat to containment lines. Firefighters continued to mop up a perimeter, strengthening lines with continued monitoring of the northeast flank of the fire. Three hotshot crews are currently assigned to the fire with the addition of two Wildland Fire Modules. Wildland Fire Modules are highly skilled and versatile fire crews that provide technical and ecological-based expertise in the areas of long-term planning, ignitions, holding, and fire suppression.

Weather/Fire Behavior: Today will start out partly cloudy with cooler than normal temperatures. There is a chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday. Winds will be Northwest 5-10 mph with fire continuing to burn in short grass and light fuels. There is potential for a half-mile an hour rate of spread expected on steep slopes with the wind. A significant warm-up is anticipated through the weekend.

NW Team 7 is anticipating a long and busy fire season, the emphasis is to not only minimize fire size and duration but also manage early-season fatigue for all crew and management team members. Demobilization of resources will begin as early as today as conditions have moderated and suppression actions have been successful.

Evacuations: There are currently no evacuation orders associated with the Joseph Canyon and Dry Creek fires.

Closures: The Nez Pierce Tribe has temporarily closed the Precious Lands Wildlife Management Area in Northeastern Oregon: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7513/59633/

Prevention Message: Now more than ever, please prevent wildfires.

Fire Season Declared: Oregon Department of Forestry; Northeast Oregon District proclaimed that they would go into fire season beginning Wednesday, June 9th at 12:01 a.m. They have new fire restriction signs located throughout the district, with a Fire Prevention information line; (541) 975-3027 and a QR code which will take you to www.bmidc.org, for current information on fire restrictions.

Oregon Department of Forestry Washington State Department of Natural Resources BLM Oregon & Washington U.S. Forest Service - Wallowa Whitman National Forest Nez Perce Tribe

Monday morning view of the Joseph Canyon Fire, showing the confluence of Joseph Creek and Cottonwood Creek. The photo was taken by Logan McCrae, Oregon Department of Forestry.