The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST—The Green Ridge Fire, burning in the Umatilla National Forest thirty miles east of Walla Walla, had consumed more than 40,000 acres as of Tuesday, August 31, and was 39% contained.

Gusty winds on Monday challenged the strength of containment lines, however, the lines held throughout the day. Fire officials said that the winds aided fire crews by directing the fire to burn pockets of fuel within the containment area.

Crews continue to make progress on direct containment efforts in the southeast corner of the fire area, near Diamond Creek Road below Mount Misery, with pl...