Green Ridge Fire grows to more than 11,000 acres

DAYTON—The Green Ridge Fire, burning 30 miles East of Walla Walla, has burned a total of 11,449 acres as of August 3. According to a morning update, the fire is 15% contained. More than 380 personnel are working the scene.

On Tuesday, fire crews focused on firing along the 46 Road that will connect the Edmiston Springs and Spangler Creek sections. Aircraft will be assisting ground resources with retardant and water-dropping runs to help minimize the potential for additional fire spread, working the strategy of anchor and flanking. It will be warmer today with temperatures in the 70’s along the ridges and ’90s in the valley bottoms. Every effort is being made to protect the numerous values at risk to include Mill Creek Municipal Watershed, plantation reforestation sites, sensitive plants, recreation areas, fisheries, numerous cultural, archaeological, and historic sites, farming, high-value agricultural lands, a RAWS site, and a repeater site are also threatened.

Air quality in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties is expected to be impacted by the smoke from multiple wildfires in the area. On Tuesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Dayton was 181 (Unhealthy). Walla Walla’s AQI was 112 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Air quality information, including current AQI and forecasts, can be viewed at http://www.wasmoke.blogspot.com.

The Level II Evacuation Notice, issued on July 29th by Columbia County’s Sheriff’s Office, remains in effect for the area: south of the previous Level I evacuation in Columbia County. The Level II evacuation notice extends east to the forest boundary, including Bald Butte Mountain, and south to the Columbia County-Wallowa County state border. The evacuation notice also extends west to the forest boundary and north to Chase Mountain. From Chase Mountain, it extends to Middle Point Trailhead to Midway Campground. Additionally, a Level I evacuation notice remains in effect for the following areas: everywhere north and west of Chase Mountain and Midway Camp in the forest boundary. If you have questions, please call the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (509-382-1100; or 509-382-2518). The Level 1 evacuation remains in place in Garfield County. If you have questions, please call the Garfield County Emergency Management Director, Tina Meier, or Sheriff Drew Hyer (509-843-3494). These are the only evacuations in place at the time of print, August 3.

Updates are provided daily via the Green Ridge Fire Facebook page, and online at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7628/. Multiple businesses in Dayton and Waitsburg, including Ten Ton Coffee and Dayton Mercantile, have fire information displays.