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Fires A predicted wind shift from easterly to westerly today has firefighters alert for fire spread into new areas. Humidity will be low and fires are expected to be active. Today (Wednesday) should be the last day with hot, dry conditions contributing to fire spread this week as cooler weather is on its way. Smoke Easterly winds provided some improvements in air quality yesterday but today winds shift to west/northwest moving smoke from fires in the Cascades and Canada into the Columbia Basin worsening air quality later today and overnight especially in the northern parts of the forecast area. Long Range A significant cooling trend is forecast for late in the week along with scattered rain showers in the North Columbia Basin near the Canadian border. Fires will quiet down and air quality is expected to improve for the weekend.

8/22 Natchez Fire UpdateHappy Camp, CA –An upper level low pressure area remains over the fire and is expected to move east later today bringing slightly cooler temperatures by the weekend. Today will be hot, dry and variably smoky. The fire will be most active in the afternoon as the overhead low pressure ventilates the smoke. East-northeast winds will be sustained at 12 mph, gusting to 18 mph through the morning and shifting to northwest at 5 to 9 mph, gusting to 15 in the afternoon. After nightfall, ridge winds will switch back to the northeast. Maximum temperatures are forecast to range from 83 to 93 degrees in the valleys and 73 to 83 degrees on the ridges. Relative humidity recovered to around 50 percent last night and will reach an expected low in the twenties during the late afternoon. Firefighters continue mopping up, chipping and patrolling from Mud Lake north, following the perimeter of the fire around the north end of the fire and south to the edge of the 2017 Eclipse...

Fires A predicted wind shift from easterly to westerly today has firefighters alert for fire spread into new areas. Humidity will be low and fires are expected to be active. Today (Wednesday) should be the last day with hot, dry conditions contributing to fire spread this week as cooler weather is on its way. Smoke Easterly winds provided some improvements in air quality yesterday but today winds shift to west/northwest moving smoke from fires in the Cascades and Canada into the Columbia Basin worsening air quality later today and overnight especially in the northern parts of the forecast area. Long Range A significant cooling trend is forecast for late in the week along with scattered rain showers in the North Columbia Basin near the Canadian border. Fires will quiet down and air quality is expected to improve for the weekend.

Update-August 22, 2018 For Immediate Release Incident Commanders: Ian Yocum, Oregon State Fire Marshal & Eric Knerr, Northwest Team 7 Contact: Rich Tyler, OSFM/Jeanne Klein, NW Team 7 541-239-3619 Follow Fire Information on Facebook Pages: Gilliam County Sheriff https://www.facebook.com/GilliamCountySheriff/ South Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District https://www.facebook.com/South-Gilliam-County-Rural-Fire-Protection-District-783137915065669/?ref=br_rs [Condon, Oregon] Firefighters continued to make excellent progress on each of the four fires being managed under unified command by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Team and Northwest Team 7. The Stubblefield and Seale Fires have grown together and in the future will be reported as the Stubblefield Fire. Structural firefighting crews from Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office have worked hard since Friday night, August 17, to assess, prepare and protect your homes in Gilliam County while working alongside...

Firefighters were able to take advantage of the cooler temperatures yesterday and higher relative humidity recoveries overnight to make progress on the fire. Some growth did occur on the southeastern edge. The total acreage is now at 35,287. A community meeting is scheduled for tonight, August 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Paisley Community Center. Crews will work today to limit the spread of the fire to the north, east, and south as conditions allow and work to minimize suppression impacts to riparian areas. Additional fire resources will continue to arrive today. Continued hazards for firefighters are snags, dead and down lodgepole pine and difficult terrain. The temperatures today in the fire area are forecasted to be in the 70’s to lower 80’s with relative humidity at 15-30%. Light northerly winds in the morning are expected to switch to westerly in the afternoon with gusts up to 15 mph. Warming and drying should occur over the fire this afternoon and fire behavior is...

August 22, 2018 @ 8:00 a.m. Crescent Mountain Fire: 31,091 acres; 34 percent contained Personnel: 342 Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp Start Date: July 29, 2018 Cause: Lightning McLeod Fire: 16,278 acres; five percent contained Personnel: 474 Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama Start Date: August 11, 2018 Cause: Lightning Holman Fire: 120 acres, no containment Point of Origin: Holman Peak Start Date: August 17, 2018 Cause: Unknown Current Activity: Crescent Mountain Fire: Yesterday, helicopters were able to use bucket drops to slow the fire progression toward Scaffold Ridge on the east and the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area on the southwest sides of the fire. With the fire progression slowed, operations will use these helicopters to drop retardant along Scaffold Ridge. A division supervisor is working with the National Park Service to develop a strategy for managing...

August 22, 2018 @ 8:00 a.m. Crescent Mountain Fire: 31,091 acres; 34 percent contained Personnel: 342 Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp Start Date: July 29, 2018 Cause: Lightning McLeod Fire: 16,278 acres; five percent contained Personnel: 474 Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama Start Date: August 11, 2018 Cause: Lightning Holman Fire: 120 acres, no containment Point of Origin: Holman Peak Start Date: August 17, 2018 Cause: Unknown Current Activity: Crescent Mountain Fire: Yesterday, helicopters were able to use bucket drops to slow the fire progression toward Scaffold Ridge on the east and the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area on the southwest sides of the fire. With the fire progression slowed, operations will use these helicopters to drop retardant along Scaffold Ridge. A division supervisor is working with the National Park Service to develop a strategy for managing...

Community meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 23rd in Entiat at Chelan County Fire District #8, Station #1 (2200 Entiat Way) at 6:00 p.m. Acreage: 39,208 Containment: 40 percent Personnel: 868 Cougar Creek Fire: Today, if conditions allow, firefighters will begin low intensity burnout operations along the western edge of the fire. Residence and community members around Plain can expect to see an increase in activity and smoke due to these operations. Winds and smoke moderated yesterday, allowing aircraft to begin flying and using water and retardant to help slow the spread of the fire on both the western edge around Maverick Saddle and the northeastern edge around Grandmas Creek. Crews will continue to assess structures in the communities of Chiwawa Pines, Shugart Flats and Plain while also continuing to use dozers and other heavy equipment to prepare the secondary containment line above the communities. Structures in the upper Entiat River Valley will also continue...

August 22, 2018 @ 8:00 a.m. Crescent Mountain Fire: 31,091 acres; 34 percent contained Personnel: 342 Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp Start Date: July 29, 2018 Cause: Lightning McLeod Fire: 16,278 acres; five percent contained Personnel: 474 Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama Start Date: August 11, 2018 Cause: Lightning Holman Fire: 120 acres, no containment Point of Origin: Holman Peak Start Date: August 17, 2018 Cause: Unknown Current Activity: Crescent Mountain Fire: Yesterday, helicopters were able to use bucket drops to slow the fire progression toward Scaffold Ridge on the east and the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area on the southwest sides of the fire. With the fire progression slowed, operations will use these helicopters to drop retardant along Scaffold Ridge. A division supervisor is working with the National Park Service to develop a strategy for managing...

SOUTHWEST AREA IMT #3 ASSUMES COMMAND TODAY Summary: Southwest Area Incident Management Team #3 assumed command of the Terwilliger Fire at 6:oo a.m. this morning and will continue using full suppression strategy. The Terwilliger fire is burning on both the west and east side of Cougar Reservoir. Yesterday, crews continued to hold the fire south of Boone Creek. Heavy equipment was used to open existing roads and lines used last year on the east side of the reservoir. Aviation resources were used to hold line to the north as weather and smoke conditions allowed. Firefighters will continue their work to hold the fire south of Boone Creek. They completed line from Forest Road 19 to the Forest Road 115 and will implement a burn out operation to strengthen the control line. Heavy equipment will continue to open existing roads and fire managers will scout out areas with the most probability of success to hold the fire on the northeast side of the fire. Closures: Willamette...

Special Statement This air quality forecast predicts potential particulate matter levels, not ozone. Forecast is based on 24 hour average. Fire There has been a small growth from the firing operation between Miller Fire and Columbus Fire. Miles and Columbus fires will continue to burn towards each other burning out the fuel in between. Fuel burning is mostly dead/down fuel and live fuel that has been cured. Widespread smoke from other fires including Watson Creek Fire has contributed more smoke in these communities than forecasted yesterday. Smoke There may be some air quality improvement today but currently the forecast still indicates that smoky conditions will prevail over many of these communities south of Miller/Columbus fires due to little air movement and possible more firing operation to help clean up the fuel. With the wind shifting back to northwest, there may not be enough push to help clear out the smoke until later today. We should see an improvement to the air quality by...

Miriam Fire Update Fire Information Line: 360-481-0031August 22, 2018 – 9 a.m. Acres: Miriam Fire – 3,653; Clear Fork Fire - 20 Percent Containment: 30% Start Date: 07/30/18Personnel/Resources: 2-Type 2 IA hand crews, 1-camp crew, 1-heavy lift helicopter, 1-medium lift helicopter, 1-light lift helicopter, 12-engines, 1-dozer, 6-water tenders, 2-mastacators and 1-forwarder processor for 272 total personnel.Location: Two miles east of White Pass Ski Area, within the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the Naches Ranger District, 13 miles east of Packwood, WA. Cause: Lightning Values at Risk: White Pass area and ski resort; homes and organizational camps at Clear and Rimrock Lakes; Wilderness; late successional reserve; northern spotted owl and other wildlife habitat; bull trout habitat; and state highway 12. Estimated Incident Containment or completion: 9/30/2018 Smoke Information: Smoke concentrations in the area have lifted with increased winds and instability. The smoke is forecasted to...

Weather Temperatures will cool today as a storm system pushes in from the west and carries moisture with it, helping to moderate fire behavior. A high temperature around 80 degrees is expected today with relative humidity in the mid-20 percent range. Winds will turn from the west to northwest and will be lighter than previous days. Taylor Creek Fire and Klondike Fire East The Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team is managing the Taylor Creek Fire and Klondike Fire East. A smoke inversion subdued fire behavior on Tuesday. The smoke shaded the fire, keeping temperatures 5-10 degrees cooler than forecast. The lower temperatures, combined with lighter winds, helped firefighters hold key control lines on the south end of the Klondike Fire East along Babyfoot Road. That control line is now connected to the burn scar of the 2017 Chetco Bar Fire, which serves as a natural control line due to the lack of available fuels. Firefighters are working diligently to widen the southern...

Weather Temperatures will cool today as a storm system pushes in from the west and carries moisture with it, helping to moderate fire behavior. A high temperature around 80 degrees is expected today with relative humidity in the mid-20 percent range. Winds will turn from the west to northwest and will be lighter than previous days. Taylor Creek Fire and Klondike Fire East The Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team is managing the Taylor Creek Fire and Klondike Fire East. A smoke inversion subdued fire behavior on Tuesday. The smoke shaded the fire, keeping temperatures 5-10 degrees cooler than forecast. The lower temperatures, combined with lighter winds, helped firefighters hold key control lines on the south end of the Klondike Fire East along Babyfoot Road. That control line is now connected to the burn scar of the 2017 Chetco Bar Fire, which serves as a natural control line due to the lack of available fuels. Firefighters are working diligently to widen the southern...

Pacific Northwest Team 2 fire managers will be hosting a community meeting to inform the public about efforts to protect local communities and safely manage the Miles and Columbus Fires. Fire commanders and local officials will be on hand to answer questions regarding the fires. The meeting will start at 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 23rd and will be held at the Tiller RFPD fire station, 27598 Tiller-Trail Highway, Tiller,

Fire crews will finalize gridding and mop up operations today and will continue to disassemble and remove equipment from the lines. Tenders and a grader will be operating on N. Fork Trout Creek Road and Rose Valley Road. Yield to tenders and the grader on the road, use caution while driving in the area and respect the closed road sign at the Empire Sno-Park. The Incident Management Type 3 team will transfer operations back to the USFS Republic District tomorrow at 9:00am. A huge thank you to the community, fire crews, supporting agencies and contractors for the success of this mission. The Kelly Mountain Fire started at approximately 11:00am on August 11th and was a part of eleven lightning and storm related fires reported in the Republic/Curlew/Toroda area. Local resources from US Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources along with private contractors responded to the Kelly Mountain fire that grew rapidly due to strong winds and extremely dry conditions....

The burn operation yesterday afternoon was successful along the 6640 Road on the eastern edge of the fire. Firefighters took advantage of winds blowing from the east and ignited a small test burn that displayed desirable results. Crews moved forward with the burn operation and brought fire along the 6640 Road to secure black line on the eastern flank. Patrol and mop up operations continued on the southern and western sides of the fire. Firefighters continued to support neighboring fires and resources remain available for initial attack. Firefighters worked through the night and successfully completed the three mile burn operation along the 6640 Road. Crews were supported by an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS or “drone”) with infrared capabilities that was able to fly through smoke and detect the heat perimeter and areas of unburned fuels. Today’s Activities: Firefighters will remain on the 6640 Road continuing work to secure the eastern flank by removing any green fuels and...

News Release Media Contact: (509) 664-9200, Public Affairs Officer, Holly Krake Extreme fire danger across Forest; additional fire restrictions in effect Wenatchee, WA (August 21, 2018)- Due to extreme fire danger the entire Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, will implement Stage II Fire Restrictions effective Wednesday August 22, 2018. These new restrictions limit the number of activities that are typically allowed on the Forest and will remain in effect until significant moisture arrives. “Extreme fire danger with numerous large wildfires is very serious to the forest and our communities,” said Deputy Forest Supervisor, Erick Walker. “These fire restrictions will help us prevent unwanted, human-caused wildfires and limit the exposure of area residents and visitors during dangerous fire conditions.” Implementation of fire restrictions normally occurs based on a combination of carefully considered factors including current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire...