The silage fire continues to burn at Columbia Basin Ag Management on Highway 207.
The company had scaled back extinguishment efforts but were continuing to work the materials, according to the Umatilla County Fire District #1. An inspection on Jan. 26 showed the fire mostly suppressed with a small amount of material that remained smoldering. Site visits prior to this date showed employees actively working to suppress the smoldering fire with heavy equipment and water.
The fire district today said it appears fire extinguishment efforts and removal of unburned materials were either minimized or ceased by the company and recent winds pushed the fire into unburned material.
The fire district has contacted Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and requested their assistance with a resolution for this fire. The fire district has also been in contact with the city of Hermiston throughout the monitoring of this situation with regard to the agricultural materials stored at location.
The fire first began burning on Dec. 8.
