InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

 John Day, Prairie City and Hines, OR. – (June 28, 2021) Malheur National Forest Fire staff continue monitoring conditions across the Forest, including temperature, relative humidity, and fuel moisture. There are no prescribed fire units on the Malheur National Forest currently planned for active prescribed fire ignition over the next week.   Blue Mountain, Prairie City, and Emigrant Creek Ranger Districts will monitor conditions and reassess for the following week for additional ignitions.   All 3 districts will have resources patrolling previously burned units. Public can expect to see smoke and low to moderate fire activity in Murderers Creek 6, Soda Bear 4, and Galena 30 on the Blue Mountain Ranger District. Smoke will be visible from the Elk 16 units on the Prairie City district, and on the Emigrant Creek district, in Silvies units 7 and 12.   Murderers creek unit 6 will continue to consume unburned fuel along the north aspects of the unit boundaries. The photos display...

S-503 Fire UpdateNorthwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock June 27, 2021 - 9:00 AM  This will be the last fire update from Northwest Incident Management Team 8 (NWIMT8) as they will meet the incident objectives at the end of the work shift today. NWIMT8 will transition to a Type-3 fire management organization on Monday morning at 0600. Fire Updates will be distributed once daily with additional information provided throughout the day via Facebook and Inciweb. The S-503 Fire is located in timber and grasses on the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and privately owned in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. This fire is being managed as a full suppression fire. Fire Information: (541) 670-0812 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) or (541) 553-2004 (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)  E-mail:  2021.S-503@firenet.gov Information Websites:  Facebook page “CTWS – Fire Management”  Inciweb information...

BONANZA, Ore.— Containment on the Cutoff Fire has reached 96% and the remaining Level 1 (GET READY) evacuation has been lifted for all areas near the fire effective 8:00 a.m. on Sunday June 27, 2021. ODF Incident Management Team 1 will hand back responsibility for the Cutoff Fire to local ODF, BLM, and Forest Service units Sunday at 8:00 a.m. The local agencies will ensure the fire is monitored and patrolled over the coming heat wave and throughout the summer. With containment nearly complete Joe Hessel, Cutoff Fire Incident Commander said, “There is little chance of the fire escaping but it still needs to be monitored and patrolled especially through the expected hot weather.” The group taking command of the fire will patrol the fire’s edge, grid for residual heat, and keep the fire’s perimeter secure during the expected heat wave. “New fires have started in the surrounding area almost every day during this incident. I’m pleased we were able to quickly take care of...

Local ODF district to take control of Cutoff Fire on SundayBONANZA, Ore.— Containment on the Cutoff Fire 6 miles north of Bonanza has reached 85 percent.  Incident Management Team 1 will officially hand back responsibility for the Cutoff Fire to ODF’s Klamath-Lake District, BLM and US Forest Service Sunday morning at 8 a.m. The District will ensure the fire is monitored and patrolled over the summer. Mike Carlson, Operations Section Chief with Incident Management Team 1, reminded the final firefighting shift to thoroughly mop up any residual heat near the fire’s edge. “There have been cases where mop-up was incomplete and a week after crews left the fire rekindled and started a new fire. Our goal is to ensure that the Cutoff Fire stays secure through the long hot summer ahead.” A small force of firefighters who worked to put out the fire will remain to conduct patrols, back haul equipment, and repair any damage from suppression activities. Hundreds of firefighters and...

 S-503 Fire Update Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock June 26, 2021 - 9:00 AM  Northwest Incident Management Team 8 (NWIMT8) will meet the incident objectives at the end of the work shift on Sunday.  NWIMT8 will transition to a smaller fire management organization on Monday morning. Fire Updates will be distributed once daily with additional information provided throughout the day via Facebook and Inciweb. The S-503 Fire is located in timber and grasses on the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and privately owned in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. This fire is being managed as a full suppression fire.  Fire Information: (541) 670-0812 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) or (541) 553-2004 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)  E-mail:  2021.S-503@firenet.gov  Information Websites: Facebook page “CTWS – Fire Management”  Inciweb information on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7559  Oregon Smoke...

Containment on Cutoff Fire passes two-thirds markBONANZA, Ore.— Hard work pays off. Containment has reached 67% on the Cutoff Fire. There’s been no growth in the fire’s size, which remains at 1,288 acres. The fire is located six miles north of Bonanza and 20 miles east of Klamath Falls. Today, firefighters will continue mopping up remaining hot spots close to the fire’s edge that were identified Wednesday night by air and ground-based infrared heat detection equipment. Firefighters are digging out stump holes, extinguishing smoldering duff and clearing low-hanging tree limbs. Crews from the Cutoff Fire were sent to a new fire start east of Bonanza late yesterday to help local firefighters. Together, they stopped the spread of the Painter Fire. This is the fourth time aircraft or ground resources deployed to the Cutoff Fire have responded to new fire starts in the area. This morning, officials lowered the evacuation levels for the fire area to Level 1 (Get Ready). Residents...

Containment on Cutoff Fire passes two-thirds markBONANZA, Ore.— Hard work pays off. Containment has reached 67% on the Cutoff Fire. There’s been no growth in the fire’s size, which remains at 1,288 acres. The fire is located six miles north of Bonanza and 20 miles east of Klamath Falls. Today, firefighters will continue mopping up remaining hot spots close to the fire’s edge that were identified Wednesday night by air and ground-based infrared heat detection equipment. Firefighters are digging out stump holes, extinguishing smoldering duff and clearing low-hanging tree limbs. Crews from the Cutoff Fire were sent to a new fire start east of Bonanza late yesterday to help local firefighters. Together, they stopped the spread of the Painter Fire. This is the fourth time aircraft or ground resources deployed to the Cutoff Fire have responded to new fire starts in the area. This morning, officials lowered the evacuation levels for the fire area to Level 1 (Get Ready). Residents...

Containment on Cutoff Fire passes two-thirds markBONANZA, Ore.— Hard work pays off. Containment has reached 67% on the Cutoff Fire. There’s been no growth in the fire’s size, which remains at 1,288 acres. The fire is located six miles north of Bonanza and 20 miles east of Klamath Falls.Today, firefighters will continue mopping up remaining hot spots close to the fire’s edge that were identified Wednesday night by air and ground-based infrared heat detection equipment. Firefighters are digging out stump holes, extinguishing smoldering duff and clearing low-hanging tree limbs. Crews from the Cutoff Fire were sent to a new fire start east of Bonanza late yesterday to help local firefighters. Together, they stopped the spread of the Painter Fire. This is the fourth time aircraft or ground resources deployed to the Cutoff Fire have responded to new fire starts in the area. This morning, officials lowered the evacuation levels for the fire area to Level 1 (Get Ready). Residents are...

S-503 Fire UpdateNorthwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin StockJune 25, 2021 - 9:00 AMFire Updates will be distributed once daily with additional information provided throughout the day via Facebook andInciweb.The S-503 Fire is located in timber and grasses on the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and privatelyowned in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. This fire is being managed as a full suppression fire.Fire Information: (541) 670-0812 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) or (541) 553-2004 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)E-mail: 2021.S-503@firenet.govInformation Websites:     Facebook page “CTWS – Fire Management”     Inciweb information on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7559Oregon Smoke Information - http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/Acreage: 6,679 (approximately 535 acres is private in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry).Containment: 50%General Updates: The S-503 Fire has remained in its current...

 Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock June 24, 2021 - 9:00 PM The S-503 Fire is located in timber and grasses on the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and privately owned in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. This fire is being managed as a full suppression fire. Fire Information: (541) 670-0812 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) or (541) 553-2004 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) E-mail:  2021.S-503@firenet.gov Information Websites: Facebook page “CTWS – Fire Management” Inciweb information on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7559 Oregon Smoke Information - http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ Acreage: 6,679 (approximately 535 acres is private in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry).   Containment: 50% General Updates: The fire remains in its current footprint. The fire perimeter is completely lined. Firefighters are focusing on strengthing containment lines by mitigating hazard trees so crews can...

 Fire crews mopping up hot spots ahead of coming heat wave BONANZA, Ore.— Overnight, detection operations were conducted by numerous methods including a drone, a fixed-wing airplane, and ground-based crews, all equipped with infrared heat detection equipment. These are just some of the tools that fire managers are using to ensure the Cutoff Fire is contained.  There has been no fire growth in the past 24-hours.  Firefighters have shifted their attention to the mop up process.  Mop up consists of intentionally identifying hot spots that could threaten the fire line and extinguishing them. Last night’s infrared detection resources have given firefighters detailed information on where many of these hotspots are. Firefighting traffic remains heavy in the fire area.  Fire managers ask that other traffic in the area stay aware and reduce speeds as they share the roads with firefighters.  Fire managers would also like to remind people that hazards remain in and near the fire area,...

S-503 Fire Evacuation levels lowered - Wasco Co. Sheriff Office has announced: Closures and Evacuations- The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has determined all residences west of Kelly Springs Rd/Back Walters Rd have been lowered to Level 1 - Get Ready. Anything east of Kelly Springs to Reservation Rd, including Walters Corners and the community of Pine Grove, also remains at Level 1 - Get

 Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock  June 24, 2021 - 9:00 AM The S-503 Fire is burning in timber and grasses on the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and privately owned in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. This fire is being managed as a full suppression fire. Fire Information: (541) 670-0812 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) or (541) 553-2004 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)E-mail: 2021.S-503@firenet.govInformation Websites:Facebook page “CTWS – Fire Management” Inciweb information on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7559Oregon Smoke Information - http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/Acreage: 6,679 (approximately 535 acres is private in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry).Containment: 30% General Updates: For the past 48 hours, the fire has continued to remain in its current footprint. The fire perimeter is completely lined. Firefighters are focusing on securing containment lines by identifying...

Fire Crews Strengthen Control Lines Ahead of Predicted Heat Wave  BONANZA, Ore.—More precise mapping now shows the size of the Cutoff Fire as 1,288 acres. Containment has reached 41%. Firefighters have mopped up all around the fire to a distance of at least 100 feet, and to 150 feet from the edge in some places. Tonight, a drone carrying infrared heat-detection equipment will fly over the fire's perimeter to identify areas that are still hot and smoldering. Meanwhile, ground crews will use hand-held infrared heat detectors to comb over the fire looking for hot spots that need to be mopped up. The forecast calls for a heat wave in the area moving into the weekend. Temperatures could reach 100 degrees by Sunday. Fire managers are reminding firefighters to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration and heat stress. Evacuation levels remain unchanged at Level 2 or 1 in areas near the fire. Residents are allowed to come and go from their properties but are asked to be alert to hazards...

 S-503 Fire Update Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock June 23, 2021 - 9:00 PM The S-503 Fire is burning in timber and grasses on the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and privately owned in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. This fire is being managed as a full suppression fire.Fire Information: (541) 670-0812 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) or (541) 553-2004 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)E-mail:  2021.S-503@firenet.govInformation Websites:Facebook page “CTWS – Fire Management”Inciweb information on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7559Oregon Smoke Information - http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ Acreage: 6,679 (approximately 535 acres is private in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry).Containment: 30%General Updates: There was no fire perimeter growth today. Acreage reflects the most recently updated mapped data. The entire fire is in full mop-up mode on all perimteres. All smokes and hotspots...

S-503 Fire Update Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock June 23, 2021 - 9:00 AM The S-503 Fire is burning in timber and grasses on the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and privately owned in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. This fire is being managed as a full suppression fire.Fire Information: (541) 670-0812 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) or (541) 553-2004 (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)E-mail:  2021.S-503@firenet.govInformation Websites: Facebook page “CTWS – Fire Management”Inciweb information on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7559Oregon Smoke Information - http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ Acreage: 6,556 (approximately 535 acres is private in-holdings protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry). The change in acreage numbers is due to more accurate GIS mapping and aerial infra-red imagery. Containment: 20%General Updates: Cooler temperatures and higher humidity allowed firefighters to strengthen the...

Night crew sets day crew up for success BONANZA, Ore.— Night shift resources made good progress on the fire. Crews worked on containing the 5 acre spot fire from yesterday afternoon.  Firefighters also carried out a small, controlled burn of unburned vegetation in the fire’s interior. Today the plan is to mop-up 150 feet into the fire’s perimeter.  Crews will continue to strengthen containment lines until the fire reaches full containment.  The biggest threat to spread is hot spots close to the fire’s edge.  Tonight, an infrared drone will fly over the fire to map the hot spots near the fire’s perimeter. This resource maps heat that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Residents in the area may notice this aircraft as it operates after dusk along the perimeter of the fire. Members of the public are not allowed to fly drones near wildfires - if you fly, we cannot! ODF Incident Management Team 1 held a community meeting last night.  The meeting was recorded and is posted on...

AIR QUALITY REPORT AND FORECASTSunrise: 5:20 am Sunset: 8:54 pm A. TODAY’S AIR QUALITY INDEX ratings (Particle Size: 2.5 microns):AQI average/rating: 5.0 μg/M3 (21 Good)Meaning: Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poseslittle or no risk.Good 0 to 50 Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.Moderate 51 to 100 Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 101 to 150 Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.Unhealthy 151 to 200 Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.Very Unhealthy 201 to 300 Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected. Hazardous 301 to 500 Health alert:...