ENTERPRISE, OR - Predicted winds from a northwesterly cold front brought smoke and another fire to Wallowa County Saturday afternoon.
At 5:00 p.m. the Watch Duty App reported the Eggo Fire at 100 acres. Within 30 minutes, the fire was 500 acres, growing to 2,000 acres by 7:39 p.m. By morning, the fire burning on the Zumwalt Prairie west of Greenwood Butte was mapped at 3,774 acres.
Fueled by sustained winds of approximately 20 to 30 mph, the fire spread rapidly through grass fuels, creating conditions that required an immediate, coordinated, multiagency response.
Emergency Services Director Paul Karvoski and Wallowa County Sheriff Ryan Moody coordinated a collaborative response while local residents, farmers, ranchers, local fire districts, the Oregon Department of Forestry, USFS, the Nature Conservancy, and extensive aerial firefighting resources supported suppression operations.
Community members provided firefighting experience, specialized capabilities, and privately owned equipment in support of suppression operations, including water tenders, engines, dozers, all-terrain vehicles, horses, and other resources. Aviation resources coordinated with ground crews to slow fire spread and support protection efforts. The combined response helped protect lives, property, livestock, and natural resources.
The Wallowa County Road Department deployed a water truck and a large dozer in support of suppression operations, where county staff focused on fire suppression, dozer line construction, and closing nearby roads to ensure public safety. The Oregon Department of Forestry also assigned a dozer and coordinated aerial retardant operations and structure protection efforts.
Volunteers worked in coordination with responding agencies to construct firelines, operate heavy equipment, transport water, relocate livestock from threatened areas, remove fencing as needed to facilitate operations, and support wildfire suppression efforts.
County officials extend their sincere appreciation to every firefighter, agency representative, heavy equipment operator, rancher, farmer, volunteer, and community member who answered the call. Their quick action and cooperation helped prevent what could have become a much larger and more destructive incident.
At the time of this press release the Eggo Fire is five percent contained.
For further updates, follow www.facebook.com/wallowacountygovernment/, www.facebook.com/WallowaWhitmanNF, and https://app.watchduty.org/i/112631
*Picture used with permission