2 inches of rain aids firefighters

The Central Oregon Incident Management Team assumed command of the Cougar Ridge Complex near Wallowa Thursday, and today firefighters continued formulating a plan of attack. 

The Complex consists of two fires: Cougar Ridge and Meadow Mountain. The 400-acre Cougar Ridge Fire is burning in the Huckleberry Inventoried Roadless Area and adjacent to the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area approximately 12 miles south of Wallowa near the headwaters of Deer Creek. 

The 30-acre Meadow Mountain Fire is in the Eagle Cap Wilderness approximately 25 miles south of Wallowa near Meadow Mountain.

Due to the need for initial attack and thunderstorms in the area, the flights were canceled and two personnel each hiked into the two fires. 

The abundant amount of rain and lightning that occurred in the area also created difficulties.

  “Mother Nature started these fires, and Mother Nature is trying to put them out” said Jason Loomis, a fire behavior analyst for the Central Oregon Incident Team. About two inches of rain fell over the fires Thursday and overnight. 

Mark Rapp is in charge of the incident management team. The command post has been set up  at the Tamkaliks Grounds in Wallowa. 

Today, with the extreme wet conditions, firefighters will continue scouting for locations to engage the Cougar Ridge Fire.  A direct attack along the fire’s edge is planned. Access roads to the fire are being cleared of debris at allow safe entry into the area. 

Weather forecasts say an  upper level low will be over Idaho wrapping moisture back over Northeast Oregon producing a cool rainy day.

The forecasts call for a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Temperatures will be 50-55 degrees with relative humidity at 65 to 80 percent. Winds will from the northwest to north 6 to 12 mph.

Restrictions on use of trails and use of motorized vehicles on National Forest System roads are in effect for areas near the Cougar Ridge Fire. For a full description of the closure, go to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w.