Fire managers are pleased with the progress so far. The fire is currently in mop up stage and containment has risen to 63%. This success shows that the hard work is paying off.

Minimal fire activity is expected today and unburned islands of fuel in the interior will continue to smolder and produce light smoke periodically. Firefighters will continue to focus on mop up operations along the perimeter and will begin removing excess equipment and supplies from secure portions of the fireline. Air resources are available to assist with bucket drops, should that be necessary.

Predicted flare up activity during the day kept firefighters busy on Tuesday. Crews achieved good successes on some sections, reinforcing control lines. As a result, several engines and crews will be reassigned today from more secure parts of the line to some of the more challenging areas. In the eastern section, there are still many islands of green, unburned areas inside the fire perimeter, which take longer to secure.

With the warmer, drier weather yesterday, there were several flare-ups during the day and overnight inside of the perimeter of the Ward Fire, where residual hot spots ignited drying grass and brush. Flare-ups such as these are common with the current weather conditions and are a vivid reminder that work on this fire is not yet finished. “We are still dealing with a fire,” said Mitch Williams, Field Night Operations.

Favorable weather conditions helped crews continue to make solid progress yesterday. John Pellissier, Operations Section Chief, summed it up during the briefing as night shift firefighters prepared to go out. “Today we had a good day of work, building off good work last night”.

Over 350 firefighters are now working to further strengthen fire lines on the Ward Fire located 13 miles southwest of Keno, Oregon along the Klamath River Canyon near the Oregon-California border.

The 1301-acre fire was started by lightening last Friday when a severe thunderstorm passed over the area. The fire instantly started growing due to topography and winds.

Containment is now 24%