Grizzly Bear Complex fires grow 2,000 acres

Published 1:10 pm Sunday, August 23, 2015

The Grizzly Bear Complex fires, which forced evacuations in the Troy area Thursday, grew by 2,000 acres Saturday.

“Most of the growth was on the southeastern edge,” said Erik Pronold, a public information officer for the Eagle Complex fires.

The growth, specifically was in the Bear Creek Drainage and Dry Gulch areas. The fires are burning on Umatilla National Forest and private land.

Thirty-three structures have been lost to the fire to date, including five permanent residences. Crews reported that a barn full of hay was destroyed on Saturday, but they were able to save the home and a garage on the property.

Low relative humidity helped fuel the fire on Saturday, Pronold said.

Firefighters have not been able to make as much use of airplanes and helicopters in fighting Grizzly Bear Complex blazes as they would like because of smoky conditions.

“We don’t have much wind (to blow the smoke out). It limits our ability to fly,” Pronold said.

Information on the status of the Grizzly Complex fires will provided today at community meetings in Flora and Anatone, Wash. The Flora meeting starts at 3 p.m. and and the meeting in Anatone begins at 6 p.m. Leaders of the firefighting operation and public information officers will discuss the fires at the meeting.

Level 3 evacuation notices were issued for the fires on Thursday for Troy, Eden Bench, Grouse Flat, and Bartlett. The area north of the Grande Ronde river at Eden Bench and Troy to the state line. East along the state line to Highway 129, north through Boggan’s Oasis to Big Butte.

People are required to evacuate immediately when a Level 3 notice is issued.

Level 2 evacuation notices remain in place for an area east of Highway 129 from the State line north through Boggan’s Oasis to Big Butte. An area within the boundary form the Clearwater Guard Station to Lick Creek Road; from Lick Creek Road to Asotin, Washington city limits; around Asotin to the Snake River; from the Snake River south to the state line; from the state line west to Highway 129, Flora, Lost Prairie, Redmond grade northeast to Highway 3.

Level 2 evacuation notices require people to be ready to evacuate immediately.

A Level 1 evacuation notice remains in effect for the city of Asotin. Those receiving Level 1 notices are expected to ready to evacuate almost immediately.

A Red Cross Shelter for those affected by the Grizzly Bear Complex fires is now set up at Enterprise High School, 201 SE 4th Street in Enterprise. The phone number is 541-519-2360.