Boulder Fire Update: 46% Containment
From NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 10 - INCIDENT COMMANDER: ALAN LAWSON:
Dufur, OR, July 17th, 2023 —The Boulder Fire which started on July 8 near Boulder Lake Trailhead 26 miles southwest of Dufur in the Mt. Hood National Forest Barlow Ranger District is burning in dead and down debris located in steep, rugged and alpine-like terrain. An estimated 233 acres have burned. The percentage of containment has increased to 46%.The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A temporary flight restriction remains in place over the fire. Public and firefighter safety are the highest priorities on the Boulder Fire.
On Sunday, slightly lower temperature and higher relative humidity moved over the fire area. Fire activity was minimal even as winds picked up with the arrival of a cold front. The unmanned aerial system (UAS) equipped with a heat-sensing device flew over the fire area in search of hot spots and, for the second day in a row, none were detected. The percentage of containment increased to 46% overall and crews are almost finished opening the 4860Road for better access to the ridge that lies beyond the east side of the fire. Firefighters made additional progress along every side of the fire moving toward mop-up (the process of ensuring that the ground is cool and free of fuels) objectives. Mop-up objectives vary with features such as fuel types, terrain, access and wind exposure but the goal is the same. Mop-up must be completed to a level that’s sufficient to keep the fire from escaping or spotting across existing containment lines, given current and expected conditions. Also, when another fire broke out near LaDee Flats southeast of the Portland area last evening, Boulder Fire managers temporarily assigned a large helicopter and a spotter plane to the initial attack.
Today, mop-up continues as firefighters extend further into the fire’s interior. Crews expect to finish their brushing work on the 4860 Road and will begin backhauling (returning) equipment.
Weather: Temperatures will be much lower, dropping into the 70’s, and the relative humidity will be significantly higher on Monday. Gusty winds are forecast throughout the day but will be strongest in the morning and calmer in the afternoon.
Closures and Restrictions: Many of the roadways, campgrounds and trails north and east of Forest Road 48 in the Barlow Ranger District are closed. Due to the high fire danger, open fire and target shooting restrictions have been implemented. For more information or to view the full closure order, visit the Forest webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mthood/alerts-notices.
Evacuations: Boulder Lake Campground, Little Boulder Lake, Bonney Meadows Campground, Badger Lake Campground, Camp Windy, and Post Camp Campground are under a Level 3 – Go Now evacuation. Evacuation levels are Level 1 – Be Ready to Evacuate, Level 2 – Be Set to Evacuate, and Level 3 – Go Now. More information is available from the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff.
Public Safety: Firefighters and heavy equipment continue to work on and around the area roadways, including Forest Road 48. Firefighters are using the Rock Creek OHV as a staging area. Drivers can help keep firefighters and visitors safe by avoiding these areas. Recreationalists planning to use trails and roadways must check closures and restrictions before entering the forest; for everyone’s safety, the public is asked to stay clear of all fire suppression operations.
Smoke: Currently, there are no significant smoke impacts from the Boulder Fire. For air quality updates, visit www.oregonsmoke.org or airnow.gov.
For more information call: Mt. Hood National Forest Fire Information 541-215-6735 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. or visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormhf-boulder-fire
