InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Kalama Fire Update – October 1, 2022  Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is approximately 435 acres in size and is currently five percent contained. Cooler weather and rain over the fire area the past few days has assisted in the firefighting efforts.  The fire remains within containment lines.  Fire Behavior: On the south flank of the fire there is low to moderate spread, with backing towards the dozer line.  Fire behavior on the west flank is similar with low-speed creeping to the west.  Fire is slowly backing and following contour lines toward the north and east with minor uphill spread.  The potential for fire growth remains and containment lines are being put in place. Weather: An upper ridge moving into the area will bring a warming and drying trend through the weekend.  Today’s weather is expected to bring east winds and dry air with a 50-60% chance of gusts reaching or exceeding 20mph in the...

The Goat Rocks Fire was generally quiet yesterday, still affected by showers and high humidity earlier this week. As the inversion lifted and temperatures rose, the fire became more active and began to creep through fuels. Most spread was on slopes southeast of Forest Road 4612 and in upper Coal Creek drainage. Yesterday, firefighters completed the hazard tree cutting along Forest Road 4612 and continued to chip woody debris along Forest Road 46. One of the “heavy” helicopters dropped water on residual heat in Coal Creek drainage toward US 12. The Rogue River Interagency Hotshot Crew evaluated historic structures at Packwood Lake for protection needs. Today will be the start of a warming and drying trend with winds generally from the east. High temperatures are expected to be near 80 degrees with relative humidity dropping to 35%. These conditions will favor an increase in fire activity. The dry weather is expected to last into next week.Today, winds are forecast up to 20 mph on...

Western Washington Incident Management Team 3 Incident Commander: Kent Stanford Estimated size: 12,070 acres      Cause: Human  Resources: 149 personnel – Two type-2 initial attack hand crews, two hand crews, one helicopter, 15 engines, one dozer, one water tender and 66 overhead.  US 2 Has Reopened: US 2 has reopened from mile marker 46-49. Crews are still working in the area so please drive at the posted reduced speeds through the fire area.  Fire Update: The fire continues to burn up to containment lines on the south, east and west edges, which has minimized fire behavior in priority areas that have concentrated values at risk (homes, structures, campgrounds, road systems etc). Today, firefighters will continue to monitor these containment lines while reinforcing them as necessary; mop up, chipping and hazard tree mitigation continues in many of these areas as well. Evacuations have also been lifted in all previously-impacted areas as of 8 a.m. this morning....

Cedar Creek FireSeptember 30, 2022 | Update 8:30 AM | Size: 120,591 acres | Contained: 27% | Start Date: August 1, 2022 | Origin: 15 miles east of Oakridge, OR | Cause: Lightning | Total personnel: 1,022  | Resources: 28 engines; 18 crews; 19 heavy equipment; 8 helicopters  A shift in wind direction has been contributing to an increase in fire activity and gusts out of the east have pushed smoke from across the fire toward the community of Oakridge and surrounding areas. This east wind is expected to continue and increase over the weekend. Unlike the east wind event several weeks ago that generated extreme fire behavior, this eastly wind is accompanied by cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity, and, thanks to firefighter efforts, a reduced fuel load. West Zone Operations: Yesterday, crews and heavy equipment continued work to repair areas that have been disturbed by firefighting activities along the northern edge of the fire. A task force of firefighting...

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires September 30, 2022 Update – 8:00 AM                  Northeast Oregon Type 3 Team  NOTICE:  This update will be provided every 3 days and when significant changes occur. Highlights: The Northeast Oregon Type 3 Team has assumed command of all fires from the Southern Area Blue Team. During the last 24 hours between a quarter inch to over an inch and a half of precipitation has fallen on the area. Cool, moist conditions are expected to remain through Saturday. Today crews will assess fires to determine what affect the rain had on remaining areas of heat. Suppression repair is nearly complete and those resources will be reassigned and the overall team size will drop as the Southern Area Blue Team departs. Double Creek Fire: 161,591 acres, increased 81 acres | 89% contained | 436 personnel assigned Areas of heat remain in the Cow Creek and Lightning Creek drainages. The northern portion received drenching rains...

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires September 30, 2022 Update – 8:00 AM                  Northeast Oregon Type 3 Team  NOTICE:  This update will be provided every 3 days and when significant changes occur. Highlights: The Northeast Oregon Type 3 Team has assumed command of all fires from the Southern Area Blue Team. During the last 24 hours between a quarter inch to over an inch and a half of precipitation has fallen on the area. Cool, moist conditions are expected to remain through Saturday. Today crews will assess fires to determine what affect the rain had on remaining areas of heat. Suppression repair is nearly complete and those resources will be reassigned and the overall team size will drop as the Southern Area Blue Team departs. Double Creek Fire: 161,591 acres, increased 81 acres | 89% contained | 436 personnel assigned Areas of heat remain in the Cow Creek and Lightning Creek drainages. The northern portion received drenching rains...

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires September 30, 2022 Update – 8:00 AM                  Northeast Oregon Type 3 Team NOTICE:  This update will be provided every 3 days and when significant changes occur.   Highlights: The Northeast Oregon Type 3 Team has assumed command of all fires from the Southern Area Blue Team. During the last 24 hours between a quarter inch to over an inch and a half of precipitation has fallen on the area. Cool, moist conditions are expected to remain through Saturday. Today crews will assess fires to determine what affect the rain had on remaining areas of heat. Suppression repair is nearly complete and those resources will be reassigned and the overall team size will drop as the Southern Area Blue Team departs.   Double Creek Fire: 161,591 acres, increased 81 acres | 89% contained | 436 personnel assigned Areas of heat remain in the Cow Creek and Lightning Creek drainages. The northern portion received drenching rains...

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Resumen del Incendio Cedar CreekExtensión: 120,546 acres | Contenido 27% | Fecha de Inicio: 1ro agosto, 2022 | Origen: 15 miles Este de Oakridge, OR | Causa: Relampagos | Personal: 1,252 | Recursos: 33 camión de bomberos; 26 Cuerpos bomberos; 27 Maquinaria pesada; 9 helicop. 16 USC § 551 and 18 U.S.C §§ 3551, 3559, 3571, and 3581. Condiciones climáticas: Una tendencia del clima significativamente caliente y seca se presentará a partir del viernes con ráfagas de vientos provenientes del Este y afectando el área del incendio. Se espera un clima presentando brisas calientes y secas a partir del viernes permaneciendo el fin de semana con las posibilidades de presentar una combinación pesada de viento y baja humedad para el sábado.   Cierres de caminos: Los Bosques Nacionales de Deschutes y Willamette, han dictado ordenes de cierres de camino. Algunas de estas áreas permanecerán cerradas hasta que se haya realizado un estudio del peligro en las zonas que han...

Cool temperatures and light precipitation had a calming affect on the Goat Rocks Fire yesterday. Although most precipitation didn’t make it past the tree canopies, higher humidity was absorbed into finer fuels like brush and small sticks. Large logs and stumps continued to burn, but with less intensity. The fire produced less smoke and did not spread.  Today, fire activity will continue to be moderated by residual moisture in the air and in fuels. Temperatures are expected to rise into the 70s, with clearing skies. Warmer, drier air will start to move into the area again tomorrow, with winds from the east developing. High temperatures are expected to be around 80 degrees Monday and Tuesday.  Ahead of this warm, dry weather, fire personnel are working to secure indirect containment lines. Most of these lines are being developed along existing roads where there is already a break in the fuels: the road. The objective is to remove enough trees and brush along lines that fire will...

BAER Team Begins Post-Fire Assessment of Bolt Creek Fire near Skykomish, and Boulder Lake, Lake Toketie and Suiattle River Fires near DarringtonA Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been established by the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (MBSNF) to begin post-fire burned area assessments of the Bolt Creek Fire and other wildfires near Darrington that have recently burned on Forest Service federal lands, and private lands. The BAER team leader is Joe Blanchard, Forest Service Watershed Program Manager. Forest Service BAER team assessments typically take approximately two weeks to complete. BAER teams coordinate with tribal nations, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), National Weather Service (NWS), US Geological Survey (USGS), and other federal, state, and local agencies as they assess potential post-fire impacts to the burned watersheds. BAER surveys are rapid assessments that evaluate the burned area to identify watersheds having...

  Kalama Fire Update – Sept. 30, 2022Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is at approximately 435 acres in size and is currently five percent contained. Acres increased only slightly with burn out operations to assist in securing the perimeter of the fire. Cooler weather and rain over the fire area these past few days has assisted in the firefighting efforts.   Fire Behavior: The fire was located on a cliff and is now burning on extremely steep ground. Fire fighters are preparing indirect lines in more favorable terrain where they can be successful. Fire behavior has been smoldering and creeping with some torching observed. The potential for fire growth remains and containment lines are being put in place. Weather: Weather today is predicted to be drier and warmer then the past few days. A surface thermal trough will push up from the south, creating northerly flow with warmer and drier weather. Tonight, the...

 Bolt Creek Fire Update September 30, 2022 Western Washington Incident Management Team 3Incident Commander: Kent Stanford Resources: 175 personnel – One hotshot crew, two type-2 initial attack hand crews, two hand crews, one helicopter, 13 engines, one dozer, one water tender and 78 overhead. US 2 Has Reopened: US 2 has reopened from mile marker 46-49. Crews are still working in the area so please drive at the posted reduced speeds through the fire area.Fire Update: Fire resources, utility crews and WSDOT finalized work along the US 2 closure area on Thursday and the road was reopened on Thursday evening. Two days of moderated fire conditions contributed to mostly minimal fire spread from Wednesday through Thursday night, though the fire has continued to burn up to containment lines on the west, south and east edges of the fire. Very few pockets of unburned vegetation remain along the road, and most of the fire’s continued spread will be to the north and into the Wild Sky...

Cedar Creek FireSeptember 30, 2022 | Update 8:30 AM | Size: 120,546 acres | Contained: 27% | Start Date: August 1, 2022 | Origin: 15 miles east of Oakridge, OR | Cause: Lightning | Total personnel: 1,252  | Resources: 33 engines; 26 crews; 27 heavy equipment; 9 helicopters  West Zone Operations: Work continued yesterday to secure fire perimeter nearest to the communities of Oakridge, Westfir, and High Prairie ahead of anticipated weather that could challenge containment lines. A taskforce of engines, crews, and equipment will be arriving ahead of a new weather system pushing in from the east to aid in this work and reinforce containment lines along the southwestern edge. With the change in weather, smoke is expected to impact surrounding communities beginning today and continue over the next few days.  As containment increases, efforts will be shifted toward assessing damage from the fire and repair work across the fire area. Many areas must be cleared of hazards...

 US 2 has reopened from mile marker 46 to 49. Please drive at reduced speeds as crews will be continuing work in these