A Bureau of Land Management fire truck waits in a garage bay at the Vale BLM office. The Vale post is responsible for administering about 5 million acres of land in eastern Oregon. (The Enterprise/Rachel Parsons)
ANNEX – Despite winds of 40 miles per hour, firefighters worked through the night into Tuesday on the Wickiup Fire burning north about 30 miles north of Ontario and had it 45% contained.
The fire was reported at 3 p.m. along both sides of Oregon Highway 201 on Sunday afternoon and crew to 975 acres overnight. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Weiser Rural Fire Department, Vale Rangeland Fire Protection Association, firefighters from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, a hand crew from Burns and volunteer firefighters worked overnight to contain the fire, according to Larisa Bogardus, Vale District BLM public affairs officer.
“They did some really exceptional work out there last night in really bad conditions,” said Sam Delong, Vale BLM fire duty officer in a morning update.
Of Tuesday morning, 45 firefighters, five engines, four bulldozers, two water tenders and a helicopter were assigned on the fire this morning, according to Bogardus.
The fire did not damage any structures, but did affect some power lines. It burned on grass and brush on private property and BLM lands. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
KEEP THE ENTERPRISE GOING AS OTHERS CLOSE…..
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