Evacuation notices to be lifted today

The Green Ridge Fire stands at 4,348 acres with no growth in the last 24 hours. The perimeter of the fire is now completely lined with 30 percent containment. The incident management Team reports that evacuation level notifications will be lifted at 11 a.m. today.

Success was found on the north side of the fire yesterday in a challenging area dubbed “the honeycomb” due to the number of small fires spotting over containment lines. The team reported that, “hard work and calmer conditions helped keep the fire in place for the first time in several days.” That portion of the fire is now either lined with hose ready for mop-up or existing road systems. Fire crews will work the next several days to, as Operations Section Chief Eric Perkins puts it, “thicken the rind” of the perimeter through the mop-up process.

The east side of the fire, known as the head of the fire, has been another tough area due to the prevalent afternoon winds out of the west. With diminished wind activity Wednesday, fire crews were able to strengthen lines and begin mopping up into the perimeter, further lessening the chance of the fire spotting over the line.

The Deschutes National Forest Area Closure remains in place. FS Road 14 and associated campgrounds remain open. For information about evacuation notices and Forest Area Closures go to: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7012/.

An individual working the Green Ridge Fire has tested positive for COVID-19. The fire team’s response has been in accordance with the protocols developed by the Oregon Health Authority and in partnership with Deschutes County.

The team stated that, “Protecting the health and safety of firefighting personnel and those in the local community is this team’s highest priority. ODF Team 3 remains committed to the safety of the public and wildland fire personnel. All fire personnel are expected to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control for preventing the spread of COVID-19.”