PHOTO: The Rail Ridge Fire is located on the South Fork of the John Day River near Martin Creek. The fire jumped the river yesterday and moved into the Murderers Creek drainage, where it continued to increase in size. Evacuations for all of Aldrich Mountain Proper were enacted.
Several lightning caused fires combined to become the Rail Ridge Fire. Wildfires designated as 778 Fire, 761 (Rail Ridge) Fire, 779 (Powell) Fire, and 796 (Black Canyon) Fire are now being managed as one wildfire response. Full suppression strategy will be used where possible and with firefighter and public safety in mind. The Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Mitch Ketron assumed command of the fire on Tuesday, September 3, at 1:00 PM (PST).