The hills above the town of Imnaha smolder on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, after back-burning operations were conducted to help protect the town from the Double Creek Fire, Oregon’s largest current blaze, estimated at 137,179 acres on Sept. 9.

IMNAHA — Brooke Van Sickle felt pretty confident as the Double Creek Fire was scorching tens of thousands of acres over the past week not far from her home in Imnaha, but she still was glad to see much of the grass and brush on nearby slopes burned on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

She welcomed those flames because they were ignited on purpose by crews working on the Double Creek Fire in eastern Wallowa County, the biggest blaze this year in Oregon, estimated at 137,179 acres on Friday morning, Sept. 9.

Van Sickle said in a phone interview on the morning of Sept. 8 that the planned fire — known as back-burning, and intended to consume fuel between the main blaze and control lines — has left Imnaha, home to 29 people, well-protected from the Double Creek Fire, which was sparked by lightning Aug. 30.

“We feel safe here in town,” she said. “We have clear blue skies today. People are going about their daily business.”

Although the town has been on a Level 3 evacuation notice (leave now) for the past several days, Van Sickle said most Imnaha residents have remained.

Van Sickle and her boyfriend, Cody Mawhinney, have owned the Imnaha store, tavern and restaurant since April 2019. The business, in a building constructed in 1904, remains open.

Van Sickle said the situation is more dangerous for residents who live farther up the Imnaha River, in the Freezeout area, where there’s more timber and homes built among the trees.

She said one couple who live in that area evacuated and are staying in an RV on the property she and Mawhinney own in Imnaha.

Fire crews from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office have been tasked with protecting structures in the Freezeout area and other places along the Imnaha River south of the town.

Mawhinney is from Baker City, where his parents, Robin and Chuck Mawhinney, live.

Robin Mawhinney said she visited her son on Sept. 7. It was her first trip to Imnaha since the Double Creek Fire started.

Robin said she hasn’t been worried about her son and Van Sickle, in part because they have a lot of green grass around their property.

Robin said she saw the results of the back-burn on Sept. 7 and agreed with Van Sickle that the intentional fire did much to protect Imnaha.

“The town is pretty much protected,” Robin said.

She said she has been talking with her son by landline phone daily since the Double Creek Fire ignited.

“He wasn’t that worried,” she said. “They’re taking it all in stride.”

The Double Creek Fire grew substantially on Sept. 7, fueled by wind gusts up to 50 mph from a passing cold front. The fire expanded by about 30,000 acres.

The back-burning near Imnaha was done before the stronger winds arrived, according to an update from the fire’s incident command team.

The fire was less active on Sept. 8 in the cooler temperatures and higher humidities that followed the cold front.

Containment increased to 15% due to work on a 10-mile corridor along the Imnaha River between the town of Imnaha and Freezeout Road.

The fire did spread east to the Snake River near Pittsburg Landing on Sept. 8, and a group of firefighters have been assigned to protect structures along the river if needed. A total of 652 people were assigned to the blaze as of the morning of Sept. 9.

Eagle Cap Wilderness fires

A trio of lightning- sparked blazes continues to burn in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. These are “managed” fires, meaning crews are monitoring the blazes and taking steps, such as having helicopters drop water, to try to limit the fires’ spread toward the wilderness boundary and private property.

The largest of the blazes, the Sturgill Fire, has burned 18,715 acres and is zero percent contained, according to the Sept. 9 update. There are 120 personnel assigned to fight the fire, which is burning 15 miles southwest of Enterprise, on the east side of the Minam River.

On Sept. 9, fire personnel were repositioned to Red’s Horse Camp to continue structure protection activities. Firefighters were preparing for defensive firing operations and indirect line construction to the northwest of the Sturgill Fire, and Oregon State Fire Marshal resources continue to maintain and improve structure protection preparations for values near the Sturgill Fire.

The Nebo Fire, which is burning 21 miles southeast of Enterprise near Mount Nebo at the eastern end of the wilderness, has burned 11,688 acres and is zero percent contained, the Sept. 9 report stated. There are 119 personnel assigned to fight the fire.

The Goat Mountain 1 Fire is not active, according to fire managers. The Goat Mountain 2 Fire, which has burned 466 acres and is zero percent contained, is near the Sturgill Fire. The fire was active on top of the Lostine Divide on Sept. 8, and helicopters were assigned to drop water on the fire as needed Sept. 9.

Crockett Knob Fire

The other large blaze in the region, the Crockett Knob Fire on the Malheur National Forest, is burning about 19 miles north of Prairie City.

The fire is 50% contained and has burned an estimated 4,331 acres as of Sept. 9’s report.