Crews reach 5% containment on Salmon, Olive Butte fires as cooler weather aids fight

High humidity, cooler temperatures, and light rain allowed ground crews to secure 5% containment on both the Salmon and Olive Butte fires.

The favorable weather window also enabled the Oregon State Fire Marshal to nearly complete structure protection measures for 174 threatened properties in Granite, Greenhorn, and the surrounding areas. Task forces installed sprinkler kits and wrapped several historic buildings, including structures near the Fremont Powerhouse.

Because of the extensive progress, incident commanders are evaluating scaling back the number of structure protection resources so they can return home or assist with other regional blazes.

Despite the progress, fire officials caution that Tuesday's rain was light and did not penetrate the dense timber canopy. A total of 900 personnel, backed by 56 engines, 19 crews, and five helicopters, are working the fires. Crews remain alert as a slight chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms could bring gusty winds up to 15 mph on ridgelines.

Fire Snapshot

• Salmon Fire: 1,519 acres | Started July 8 | 5% contained
  • Latest Status: Firefighters completed handlines on the southwest flank, extending from the North Fork John Day Wilderness boundary to Psyche Butte. Bulldozers continue clearing line along the eastern flank to protect Greenhorn and California Gulch. (Note: Reported acreage decreased slightly from Tuesday due to more accurate mapping.)
• Olive Butte Fire: 2,465 acres | Started July 8 | 5% contained
  • Latest Status: Crews successfully burned out pockets of heavy fuel along Forest Service Road 13 to strengthen control lines south of the Red Boy Mine. On the eastern flank near Beaver Creek, firefighters are working to contain a spot fire that crossed a bulldozer line on Monday night.

Evacuations and Closures

• Evacuations: Evacuation orders issued by the Baker County Sheriff's Office remain active for Granite and Greenhorn. Residents are urged to monitor conditions closely and sign up for local alerts through Grant County Everbridge or Baker County Alert.
• Forest Closures: The Salmon, Olive Butte, and Anthony Fire Area Closure has been updated. The public must avoid the restricted areas of the Umatilla, Malheur, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests.
• Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire zone. Flying recreational drones is illegal and will immediately ground all firefighting helicopters and air tankers.

Contact Information

• Fire Information Line: 541-407-5475 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)
• Email: [email protected]
• Online Resources: InciWeb Page | Blue Mountains Fire Info Blog | AirNow Smoke Map