page_title: Timeline of the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
section_title: January 3
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge / First week / January 3
caption_attribution_description: Map of locations occupied by militants at Mahleur National Wildlife Refuge as per Oregon Public Broadcasting (http://www.opb.org/news/article/bundy-militia-calls-for-supplies/). [1] - Fire lookout used by militants as watch tower, [2] MNWR offices used as HQ by militants, [3] staff residential buildings used as barracks and canteen by militants
context_page_description: This timeline of the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge describes the progression of events leading up to, during, and after the occupation. The 2016 event played out over several weeks of public statements, occupying activity, and rallies.
context_section_description: At 11:00 a.m. on January 3, Ammon Bundy called a press conference at the MNWR headquarters building. During the conference, Bundy said the ultimate goal of the militants was to "get the economics here in the county revived" for logging and outdoor recreation, and claimed that they were being supplied by area residents. Despite the smaller estimates of militia at the refuge in early press reports, a reporter from The Oregonian who attended the press conference said he believed there were roughly 20 to 25 people present and that the militants had deployed into defensive positions with elements manning a roadblock, guarding the headquarters entry, and stationed in a fire lookout usually used to watch for forest fires. Additional militiamen occupied the facility's buildings.
  Later that day, Harney County Sheriff David M. Ward issued a statement asking residents to avoid the scene and saying that the militants aimed to overthrow the government. He explained, "These men came to Harney County claiming to be part of militia groups supporting local ranchers, when in reality these men had alternative motives, to attempt to overthrow the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the United States." The following day, Ward said at a press conference:
  I want to directly address the people at the wildlife refuge: You said you were here to help the citizens of Harney County. That help ended when a peaceful protest became an armed and unlawful protest. The Hammonds have turned themselves in. It is time for you to leave our community. Go home, be with your own families and end this peacefully.
  On the evening of January 3, Oregon State Police officials announced that a multi-agency command post would be established the following day to coordinate a response to the situation. The command post was ultimately set up at Lincoln Junior High School in Burns, which had been closed as part of a district-wide school shutdown. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said that he had been briefed by the special agent in charge of the Portland, Oregon, FBI field office and said that federal, state, and local law enforcement were monitoring the situation in detail.
caption: This USGS satellite image of the MNWR headquarters complex is labeled to show key locations referenced in news reports of the militia occupation: (1) fire lookout used by militants as watch tower, (2) MNWR offices used as headquarters building, (3) residential buildings used by militants as barracks and canteen.
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