August 3, 2023 10:40 a.m.

The Flat Fire burning in Curry County is now over 31,000 acres, but the number of people working on has been reduced.

A Forest Service update said helicopters continued with aerial ignition on Wednesday. This was done to achieve additional depth from the containment line further into the unburned interior of the southwest corner of the fire in the Lawson Creek drainage. With fuels drying out, where fire has been backing down slopes in recent days and natural fuels lower on the slope align, some uphill runs are now occurring. This results in better overall unburned vegetation consumption, so fuels are less likely to re-burn.

Aerial ignition efforts over the past several days to gain additional fire line depth between the western and eastern portions of Forest System Road 3680 in the Lawson Creek drainage are planned for completion Thursday. Ariel interior burning in the Game Lake area will also continue as time and conditions allow. A heli-torch will be available to use in areas of more sparse vegetation to increase fuels consumption and overall burn effectiveness. The helitack crew will take additional checking actions in the Fantz Ranch area. The western and northern containment lines, from the junction of FSR 3680 and 3318 to Wildhorse Lookout east to FSR 3577, is being actively mopped up and patrolled. The northeast corner of the fire, using FSR 2308 and 150, has been fully prepared for firing operations if the need arises due to changes in weather conditions and/or fire activity.

The Flat Fire is listed at 31,472 acres and is twenty-eight percent contained. 1,104 people are working on the fire.

Flat Fire updates are available at: https://www.facebook.com/flatfireoregon2023