August 1, 2023 10:50 a.m.

The Flat Fire has grown to over 27,000 acres as of Tuesday.

An update from Northwest Incident Management Team 3 said on Monday, in the southwest corner of the fire area, crews used Unstaffed Aerial Systems aerial ignitions to increase the burnout to about two hundred feet interior from the fire line. Helicopters also used a Plastic Spherical Dispenser for aerial firing operations further interior, bringing the main fire southwards towards the fire line. Fuels consumption is varied due to the existing vegetation mosaic on the landscape. A burn-out operation along the dozer line heading east from Game Lake was completed with about one hundred fifty feet of depth interior of the line to the main unburned area.

Structure protection resources continue scouting for and identifying additional homes and buildings and are collecting data to aid firefighters in protecting structures if there is a future need.

Tuesday firefighters will use aerial resources to achieve additional fire line depth between the western and eastern portions of Forest Road 3680 in the southwestern corner of the fire. Aerial interior burning will also start in the Game Lake area. Fuels removal is beginning Tuesday from vegetation cut in preparing fire line along the western containment lines. The northern containment line, from Wildhorse Lookout east to Forest Road 3577 is being actively mopped up and patrolled. The northeastern corner of the fire, using Forest Road 2308 and 150, has been prepared for firing operations if the need arises due to changes in weather conditions and/or fire activity.

Resources no longer needed for remaining suppression efforts are being released to return home, get rest and be ready for future assignments, as crews head into the remainder of fire season.

The Flat Fire is listed at 27,573 acres and remains fourteen percent contained. 1,547 personnel are assigned to the fire.

More information on the fire is linked: https://www.facebook.com/flatfireoregon2023