New team takes on growing Green Ridge Fire

As the Green Ridge Fire grows and moves onto private timberlands, Oregon Department of Forestry Team 3 will transition into management of the fire. This Type 1 Team will begin managing the fire tomorrow at 6 a.m.

According to Northwest Incident Management Team 10, high winds on Friday afternoon challenged firefighters as the fire burned through extremely dry fuels and pushed past dozer lines on the eastern edge. An 800-foot wide strip of fire spread east to the 1129 road and south of the 700 road.

Multiple helicopters and air tankers helped keep the fire from spreading further.

Weather conditions are favorable today for firefighting efforts as temperatures and winds are expected to remain lower. Crews and dozers will work to re-establish and strengthen the line on the perimeter of the fire and air support will be available to aid the ground effort.

The fire continues to move slowly down the steep flank of Green Ridge on the western side. Because of these steep slopes and the danger to firefighters, hand crews will keep working to hold and improve containment lines below the ridge. Crews will continue to prepare the 1120 road for future use as the fire line on this side of the fire. Burning material rolling downhill remains a challenge to these efforts.

The fire is staffed with over 300 personnel including interagency Type 1 hotshot crews, Type 2 initial attack crews, multiple 20-person hand crews and numerous engines, dozers, skidgeons (a tracked logging machine) and masticators.

Public and firefighter safety is the top priority for the incident management teams. Fire strategy includes stopping fire movement at the 1120 road on the western side of the fire, protecting private property, private timberlands, and any critical infrastructure within and adjacent to the fire perimeter.