Green Ridge Fire grows to more than 3,500 acres

The Green Ridge Fire north of Sisters has continued to grow and is now estimated at 3,590 acres with zero containment. There are no changes to Level 1 and Level 2 evacuation notices issued on Wednesday.

Cooler temperatures and a shift in the wind brought smoke into Sisters on Friday morning.

Northwest incident Management Team 10 reported that high afternoon winds on Thursday, August 20, pushed the fire across dozer lines on the eastern edge of the fire. Crews and dozers worked overnight to re-establish a line on the perimeter of the fire and firefighters are tasked to hold and improve this line on Friday.

Although cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity will help today’s efforts, firefighters expect that sustained afternoon winds will continue to challenge existing fire lines to the east.

The fire continued to move slowly down the flank of Green Ridge on the western side of the fire. Due to steep slopes, hand crews will continue working to establish and hold containment lines on this portion of the fire, as well as improving the 1120 road to be used as the fire line.

Burning material rolling downhill and across containment lines will continue to challenge these efforts. Helicopters will continue to support the ground effort with bucket drops, and heavy air tankers will be available if the fire is pushed outside of containment lines again today.

The fire remains staffed with almost 300 personnel including interagency hotshot crews, Type 2 initial attack crews, 20-person hand crews and numerous engines, dozers, skidgeons (a tracked logging machine) and masticators.

Fire strategy includes stopping fire movement at the 1120 road on the western side of the fire, protecting private property, private timberlands, and any critical infrastructure within and adjacent to the fire perimeter.

There are no changes in the current Evacuation Notices and Forest Area Closures. For more information, visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7012/.

with the situation, NW Team 10 is prepared for wildland fire activity during this time.

A Public Meeting will be held at 6 p.m., PST, Friday, August 21, for the Green Ridge Fire. This meeting will be livestreamed to help meet recommendations for minimizing the spread of COVID-19. To join the meeting, go to Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NorthwestTeam10/live/.