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August 09, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. Acres: 450 Location: 3 air miles southwest of Stehekin, WA Completion: Season-ending weather eventCause: Lightning Estimated Cost: $965,000Report Date: July 26, 2019 (ignited by the lightning storms that came through on July 23 and 24) Personnel: 59, including 1 hand crew, 2 helicopters, 31 overhead personnel Current Activity: Water drops, cloud cover and cooler temperatures combined to keep the Devore Creek Fire in check Thursday. An infrared flight overnight showed only 25 acres of growth in the last 24 hours. Higher humidity at the fire area today and more clouds means the chances for rapid fire growth today are small. No impacts to air quality are anticipated. Yesterday a heavy lift helicopter made approximately two dozen bucket drops of water on the fire. The goal was to cool the fire’s edge and dampen some smaller areas of fire that are burning away from the main body of fire. This tactic was used strategically to knock down pockets of heat...

The Williams Flats Fire remains on the west side of the Columbia River, on the Colville Reservation. Special Announcements:. In order to promote public safety, the Colville Tribes Emergency Services has instituted several road closures with limited entry for the Williams Flats Fire area. The restrictions will allow firefighters to work safely along Silver Creek Road and elsewhere in advance of the fire. Traffic control points are being established at: o The junction of Silver Creek Road and Ninemile-Hellgate Road, also known as the “Four Corners”; o The junction of Olds Creek Road and the Ninemile-Frosty Meadows Road; and o The junction of Silver Creek Road and Kuehne Road. Only residents will be allowed through the control points to their residences within the affected areas. If the fire approaches Silver Creek Road, or if smoke restricts visibility to the point that firefighters are at risk, only fire and other emergency vehicles will be allowed through the traffic control...

Crews are making good progress on the HK Complex Fire, burning out along approximately three miles of line east of Tupper Butte. Many of the smaller fires are contained, being mopped up and patrolled. The Sulfur Springs and Little Bear fires merged at the 21 Road. These fires continue to be held on their southern lines. The Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry are still partnering on initial attack in some areas. They are preparing for any new fire starts with lightning in the forecast. A red flag warning for abundant lightning is in effect until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. There is potential for a strong thunderstorm to bring heavy rain and even hail this afternoon and evening. Winds are predicted to pick up and become erratic later in the day, with possible gusts up to 50 miles per hour. There will be a public meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Heppner City Hall, 111 North Main Street. Fire danger rating remains at HIGH and Public Use Restrictions limiting...

Special Announcements: In order to promote public safety, the Colville Tribes Emergency Services has instituted several road closures with limited entry for the Williams Flats Fire area. The restrictions will allow firefighters to work safely along Silver Creek Road and elsewhere in advance of the fire. Traffic control points are being established at: o The junction of Silver Creek Road and Ninemile-Hellgate Road, also known as the “Four Corners”; o The junction of Olds Creek Road and the Ninemile-Frosty Meadows Road; and o The junction of Silver Creek Road and Kuehne Road. Only residents will be allowed through the control points to their residences within the affected areas. If the fire approaches Silver Creek Road, or if smoke restricts visibility to the point that firefighters are at risk, only fire and other emergency vehicles will be allowed through the traffic control points. If stopped and asked to turn around by Tribal employees at a traffic control point, please remember...

A video of Operations Section Chief Jon Teutrine's August 8th Devore Creek Fire update has been posted to

August 8, 2019 First reported on July 30th, the Granite Gulch Fire was started by a lightning strike during a storm that passed through the area on July 14th. Fire behavior included light to moderate intensity with short uphill runs over several weeks growing to under just under 1,000 acres by August 5. Based on an analysis of predicted fire behavior, the decision was made to actively manage the fire using a confinement strategy. This allows the fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem while protecting infrastructure and public safety. On August 6, the fire made a run to the northeast increasing the size to 1,250 acres. The majority of the growth occurred along an unnamed creek east of Granite Gulch. The fire burned toward a rocky ridge where it ran out of fuel. The smoke column was seen in the Baker and Grande Ronde valleys as well as the Wallowa Valley. Ash fell on some areas along the south side of the Wallowa Valley. District Ranger Kris Stein set up a Type 3 Incident...

August 08, 2019 – 11:00 a.m. Acres: 425 Location: 3 air miles southwest of Stehekin, WA Completion: Season-ending weather event Cause: Lightning Estimated Cost: $898,000 Report Date: July 26, 2019 (ignited by the lightning storms that came through on July 23 and 24) Personnel: 59, including 1 hand crew, 3 helicopters, 31 overhead personnel Current Activity: As predicted, fire activity increased Wednesday and the fire has grown an estimated 232 acres since it was last measured on Tuesday night. Fire managers took action to slow that growth by using a heavy lift helicopter to make water drops Wednesday afternoon. This tactic is designed as a delaying action to cool portions of the fire’s leading edges and prevent more “spot” fires. Spot fires are created when embers float out ahead of the main fire and start burning in new areas. A water drop can also cool hot spots at the bottom of the slope and prevent the fire from making an aggressive uphill run. The water...

For current Chelan County information visit https://www.facebook.com/CCSOEM.Devore Creek Fire – Level 1 Advisement as of 11:00 today, 8/8/2019 - for the Stehekin ValleyA Level 1 Advisement has been issued as of 11am for the Stehekin Valley.This is the time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons with special needs, mobile property, and (under certain circumstances) pets and livestock.This Post will be updated as new information becomes available. You can also monitor the Devore Creek Fire Facebook page. Devore Creek Fire - Nivel 1 Asesoramiento a partir de las 11:00 de hoy, 8/8/2019 - Stehekin ValleySe emitió un Aviso de Nivel 1 a partir de las 11 a.m. para el Valle Stehekin. Este es el momento de preparación y movimiento preventivo de personas con necesidades especiales, propiedad móvil y (bajo ciertas circunstancias) mascotas y ganado.Esta publicación se actualizará a medida que haya nueva información disponible. También puede monitorear la página de Facebook...

Williams Flats and Lundstrom Butte Fires Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson August 8, 2019 - 9:00 A.M. Fire Information: (509) 634-7341 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm); 2019.williamsflats@firenet.gov Information Websites: Inciweb – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6493 ; Facebook Pages – Colville Tribal Broadcast, News and Information Williams Flats Fire Special Announcements: Multiple new Evacuation Notices have been issued for homes near the Williams Flats Fire by the Colville Tribes Emergency Services and the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office while other levels have increased in severity. For a full description of all, see the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page or the Colville Tribes Emergency Services Facebook page. A Level 3 Evacuation Notice has been issued for areas south of Wilmont Creek to Whitestone Lookout Road; resident are advised to leave now. All residents in the Wilmont Creek drainage are now in a...

A closure order is in effect due to fire activity in the area. The closure is formally referenced as Order Number T-2019-0614-UMA-02. The closure order is available at www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla

Fire at a Glance:Size: 2,455 acresContainment: varies by fire, 8 fires in the Complex are 100%Location: 15 miles north of Monument, Oregon (Heppner Ranger District)Cause: LightningTotal Assigned Personnel: 474Assigned Resources:Multiple engines and crewsAircraft:Multiple fixed-wing resources from John Day AirbaseClosures:Umatilla National Forest Roads & Recreation Sites www.fs.usda.gov/umatillaFIRE INFORMATION:(877) 958-9663InciWeb:http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/Facebook:www.facebook.com/UmatillaNFTwitter:@UmatillaNFFirefighters have contained many of the fires in the HK Complex. The smaller fires are lined and contained with some being mopped up and patrolled. Today there will be transitioning as the Type 3 Team from John Day transferred command of the fire complex to a Type 2 Team at 6:00 a.m.The Sulfer Springs Fire was active yesterday and made a push to the 21 Road. It is being contained with dozer lines. The Little Bear Fire is 50% lined and aviation resources were stopped due to...

Williams Flats and Lundstrom Butte Fires Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson August 7, 2019 - 9:00 P.M. Fire Information: (509) 634-7341 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm); 2019.williamsflats@firenet.gov Information Websites: Inciweb – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6493 ; Facebook Pages – Williams Flats; Colville Tribal Broadcast, News and Information Williams Flats Fire Special Announcements: Several new Evacuation Notices have been issued for homes near the Williams Flats Fire by the Colville Tribes Emergency Services and the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office while others have been upgraded. For a full description see the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page and the Colville Tribes Emergency Services Facebook page. A Level 3 Evacuation Notice has been issued for areas south of Wilmont Creek to Whitestone Lookout Road are advised to leave now. All residents in the Wilmont Creek drainage are now in a Level 2 Evacuation...

The Level 1 Evacuation has now been elevated to a Level 3 Evacuation Notification – “Leave Now” by the Colville Tribes Emergency Services and the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office. While homes are not immediately in danger, the only road out may be cut off by fire. Now is the time to evacuate. Anyone who remains in the area may not be able to leave once the fire reaches the Nine Mile-Hellgate Road. The evacuation zone is as follows: From the intersection of Little Nine Mile Creek with the Nine Mile-Hellgate Road, draw a straight line west to the Whitestone Lookout. All areas south of that line are now at a Level 3 Evacuation —-”Leave Now”. All residents of the area are advised that for their own safety, they need to leave now. The Colville Tribes Emergency Services requests evacuees go to the Inchelium Community Center and check in. If they need a shelter, a place to stay overnight will be arranged at or near the Community Center. For a full description see the Williams...

NEW LEVEL 3 Evacuation Advisory—“Leave Now” NEW LEVELS 1 and 2 Evacuation Advisories The Williams Flats fire is continuing to grow and is burning to the east and northeast. All areas southwest of Wilmont Creek to Whitestone Lookout Road are now in a Level 3 Evacuation Advisory — residents are advised to leave now. Take your medications, personal hygiene items, bedding and pillows, changes of clothes, and important personal papers. There are thirteen homes in this area. The Inchelium Community Center will remain open overnight as an evacuation shelter. All residents in the Wilmont Creek drainage are now in a Level 2 Evacuation Advisory—”be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.” Do not wait to be warned to leave—if you see fire approaching your area, leave. There are eleven homes known to be in this area. All residents and campers along the shoreline of Lake Roosevelt/the Columbia River from the Falls Creek/Cougar Canyon Road (the area sometimes called the Smoke...

NEW LEVEL 3 Evacuation Advisory—“Leave Now” NEW LEVELS 1 and 2 Evacuation Advisories The Williams Flats fire is continuing to grow and is burning to the east and northeast. All areas southwest of Wilmont Creek to Whitestone Lookout Road are now in a Level 3 Evacuation Advisory — residents are advised to leave now. Take your medications, personal hygiene items, bedding and pillows, changes of clothes, and important personal papers. There are thirteen homes in this area. The Inchelium Community Center will remain open overnight as an evacuation shelter. All residents in the Wilmont Creek drainage are now in a Level 2 Evacuation Advisory—”be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.” Do not wait to be warned to leave—if you see fire approaching your area, leave. There are eleven homes known to be in this area. All residents and campers along the shoreline of Lake Roosevelt/the Columbia River from the Falls Creek/Cougar Canyon Road (the area sometimes called the Smoke...

Contact: Dave Schmitt, Public Information Officer (541-519-1460) Incident Summary Initial report: July 30, 2019 Cause: Lightning Approximate size: 1,683 acres (Aug. 6, 10:00pm PST)Personnel assigned: Incident Commander, Trainee Incident Commander, Public Information Officer, Strategic Operational Planner, two Fire Effects Monitors, and a four-person Fire Module Resources assigned: Type 3 helicopterResources available: Type 1 helicopter, fixed wing aircraftJoseph, Oregon – Fire activity yesterday was low to moderate across the Granite Gulch Fire. The southwest portion of the fire was the most active. The fire module crew began installing pumps, hose, and sprinklers to protect the Elk Creek Bridge across the Minam River as a precaution in case the fire moves in that direction. They will complete that installation today. Fire managers continue to follow a confinement strategy as they actively manage the fire. The long-term objective is to keep the fire within the upper Minam drainage...

Type 2 Interagency Management Team to take command of HK Complex PENDLETON, Ore. – Firefighters have made progress on the majority of the wildfires caused by the recent thunderstorms. Concentrated lightning activity occurred across portions of the Forest last night. New smoke reports are anticipated throughout the next few days as the weather conditions remain hot and dry. Two new fires were discovered yesterday within the boundary of the HK Complex, which consists of 13 lightning fires burning on the Heppner Ranger District near the Alder Creek Skookum Trailhead, approximately 15 miles north of Monument, Oregon. The total acreage of all fires within the HK Complex is now estimated at 1,500 acres and the fires are burning in grass, brush and timber. The largest of the fires within the complex is estimated at 125 acres. Yesterday fire behavior consisted of torching, spotting and active running. Hot and dry conditions, as well as strong winds, contributed to rapid growth on the...

Special Announcements: The Level 1 Evacuation has now been elevated to a Level 3 Evacuation Notification – “Leave Now” by the Colville Tribes Emergency Services and the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office. While homes are not immediately in danger, the only road out may be cut off by fire. Now is the time to evacuate. Anyone who remains in the area may not be able to leave once the fire reaches the Nine Mile-Hellgate Road. The evacuation zone is as follows: From the intersection of Little Nine Mile Creek with the Nine Mile-Hellgate Road, draw a straight line west to the Whitestone Lookout. All areas south of that line are now at a Level 3 Evacuation —-”Leave Now”. All residents of the area are advised that for their own safety, they need to leave now. The Colville Tribes Emergency Services requests evacuees go to the Inchelium Community Center and check in. If they need a shelter, a place to stay overnight will be arranged at or near the Community Center. For a full...

The Level 1 Evacuation has now been elevated to a Level 3 Evacuation Notification – “Leave Now” by the Colville Tribes Emergency Services and the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office. While homes are not immediately in danger, the only road out may be cut off by fire. Now is the time to evacuate. Anyone who remains in the area may not be able to leave once the fire reaches the Nine Mile-Hellgate Road. The evacuation zone is as follows: From the intersection of Little Nine Mile Creek with the Nine Mile-Hellgate Road, draw a straight line west to the Whitestone Lookout. All areas south of that line are now at a Level 3 Evacuation —-”Leave Now”. All residents of the area are advised that for their own safety, they need to leave now. The Colville Tribes Emergency Services requests evacuees go to the Inchelium Community Center and check in. If they need a shelter, a place to stay overnight will be arranged at or near the Community Center. For a full description see the Williams...

August 07, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. Acres: 193 Location: 3 air miles southwest of Stehekin, WA Completion: Season-ending weather event Cause: Lightning Estimated Cost: $800,400 Report Date: July 26, 2019 (ignited by the lightning storms that came through on July 23 and 24) Personnel: 83, including 2 hand crews, 3 helicopters, 33 overhead personnel Current Activity: A temporary air quality monitoring station is now operational in Stehekin. While impact to Stehekin has been minimal, there is still potential for the fire to grow and for smoke to affect air quality in the village and surrounding area throughout the season. Air quality monitoring data for Stehekin is available online at https://tools.airfire.org/monitoring/v4/. Today’s weather forecast calls for stronger winds around sunset, which could produce some additional fire activity. Smoke is expected to be more visible, especially later in the day. The Entiat Interagency Hotshot Crew will be leaving Stehekin today after a two-week...