Upriver Fire Tamed: 75% Containment Achieved After Days of Fierce Battling

By early Thursday morning, the massive Upriver Fire—first reported on Tuesday when red‑orange plumes rose above the canyon—was reported to be roughly 75 % contained, according to the state fire‑management team. The numbers, while encouraging, are still a reminder that the situation is far from over.

Firefighters have been on the line almost non‑stop, rotating in shifts of twelve hours and battling the blaze from multiple angles. Crews from the local fire district, the U.S. Forest Service, and several incident management teams have all been working side‑by‑side, taking turns to rest, eat, and—when the wind calms—a brief moment to catch their breath.

“We’ve made solid progress, but the terrain is unforgiving,” said Captain Luis Moreno, who’s been coordinating the effort from the incident command post perched on a ridge overlooking the fire’s southern flank. “The fire’s behavior has been unpredictable, especially when those gusts pick up out of nowhere.”

Those gusts have indeed been a headache. Afternoon winds blowing at 15‑20 mph have pushed ember showers into adjacent valleys, igniting spot fires that forced crews to reposition and protect structures that were already on high alert. Residents of the small towns of Riverbend and Pine Creek were told to stay ready for possible evacuation orders, even as the containment line advanced.

Meanwhile, the air quality downtown has taken a noticeable hit. The local health department has issued a “moderate” alert, urging anyone with asthma or other respiratory issues to limit outdoor activity. “It’s not ideal, but we’re doing everything we can to keep the smoke down,” noted Dr. Emily Hsu, a pulmonologist at the regional hospital.

Looking ahead, the fire‑management team says they will focus on securing the remaining 25 % of the perimeter, reinforcing firebreaks, and conducting controlled burns where the terrain allows. They also plan to continue monitoring weather forecasts closely; a sudden thunderstorm could either help smother the fire or, conversely, spawn new flare‑ups.

For now, the community can breathe a little easier, but the warning sirens will stay on until the final ember is out. As one local farmer put it, “We’re grateful for the crews, but we’re still watching the sky, just in case.”