InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Air quality and smoke summaries can be found

Start Date: 8/16/2020 Cause: Lightning Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3 Approximate Size: 168,097 acres Containment: 5% Total Personnel: 1340Approximate Distance:  20 miles west of Warm SpringsResources on the Fire: 46 crews50 engines 7 dozers32 water tenders12 helicopters Cooperating Agencies:Marion County SheriffLinn County SheriffJefferson County SheriffDeschutes County Sheriff Lionshead Fire Update – Monday, September 14, 2020 – 9:00 a.m. Weather and Fire Behavior: Today, the dense smoke cover will begin to disperse, continuing through the week as the area experiences a transition in weather. Slightly stronger southwest winds are expected along ridges and in valleys, which may align with terrain to contribute to fire movement. Temperatures will remain in the 70s, but with higher relative humidity levels of 25 to 35 percent. Very active surface fire is anticipated along the northern perimeter of the fire with torching and spotting...

Los incendios Babb-Malden Fire, Manning Fire, y Whitney Fire comenzaron el lunes 7 de septiembre, cuando un frente frío creó ráfagas de más de 50 mph, lo que resultó en un comportamiento de fuego extremo y un rápido crecimiento del fuego. Los bomberos continúan avanzando en los tres incendios, reforzando las líneas de contención y limitando la propagación del fuego. La calidad del aire seguirá siendo peligrosa durante el fin de semana a medida que el borde de ataque de la columna de humo de los incendios en Oregon y California se mueva por el área. Es posible que llegue un frente frío el lunes, lo que podría traer lluvias dispersas y algo de alivio del humo. Los fuertes vientos del lunes serán la primera prueba de las líneas de contención. space Whitney Fire Ayer: Los equipos retiraron los árboles muertos que quedaban en Hawks Creek Canyon, lo que hizo que sea seguro continuar funcionar en esa área. También extinguidon puntos calientes a 300 pies de...

Beachie Creek Fire Update for Monday, September 14, 2020 Brian Gales, Incident Commander, NWIMT13Les Hallman, Incident Commander, OSFMStart date: Aug, 16, 2020Location: Santiam Canyon west of Detroit, OR, Southern Clackamas CountyCause: UnknownFire size: 188,374 acresAir Assets Assigned: 7Total personnel: 563Salem, Ore. – Firefighters will resume work on Monday to secure the perimeter of the Beachie Creek Fire. Crews and heavy equipment are working to tie the pieces of existing control line together on the west and northwest portions of the fire. Line construction and reinforcement efforts which began Saturday south of Highway 22 will continue. Firefighters continue to work with landowners on the southeastern perimeter of the fire to build and secure control lines in that area. Firefighters began mopping up and systematically assessing damage to structures inside the fire on Sunday and will continue those efforts today.The Beachie Creek Fire and the Riverside Fire remain about one...

Special Statement Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has extended the AIR QUALITY ADVISORY for the entire State of Oregon due to smoke levels that are fluctuating between unhealthy for sensitive groups and hazardous. Fire Fire crews took advantage of the smoke blanket and cooler temperatures this weekend. Fire growth and activity on large fires remain limited compared to the wind events of last week. Holiday Farm continues to burn internally through a dense understory. Beachie Creek and Lionshead have merged, and both still have pockets of unburned fuel along the northern edge where there is minimal safe access. Riverside is the most active of the large fires, continuing to make small runs internally as it aligns with rugged terrain and light winds. These cooler temperatures and high nighttime humidities will continue to moderate activity today. Smoke This morning the smoke layer will be joined by a dense band of fog pushing inland. This window of reduced visibility should...

South Obenchain Fire Update   Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers September 14, 2020 – 9:00 AM The life and safety of the public and all wildland fire responders is always the number one priority for all fire agencies.  To keep firefighters and communities healthy and safe, all firefighters are asked to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of illness.  This also includes limited entry into the incident command post and base camp.  Please see the websites below or contact the Jackson County Emergency Management Office at (541) 776-7338 for further fire information. Current situation:  The south and western containment lines of the fire perimeter have held for several shifts. Crews continue to improve and mop up the interior of the established lines, in many places up to 300 feet.  Improvement of...

 Archie Creek Fire Northwest Incident Management Team 9 (Incident Commander Brian Goff) Email: 2020.archiecreek@firenet.gov Phone: 971-334-7674 Hours: 7am-8pm Fire Update: Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 Current Situation: Favorable weather conditions yesterday resulted in another day of decreased fire activity on the Archie Creek Fire. Containment lines along the western flank of the fire were held in check from the South Fork of Calapooya Creek, down to Glide.   Crews continue working in the area to reinforce primary and secondary containment lines. In the Little River area, crews are using a combination of existing road systems and new dozer lines to check the fire’s spread. Structure protection resources remain in place area. Air operations were grounded for another day due to smokey conditions in the region.Firefighters, and crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation and Pacific Power continue work along Highway 138E by cutting hazard trees, checking downed power lines and...

Lincoln City, Ore. – Firefighters are working to finish the last of the fire line on the Echo Mountain Fire.  Once these last pieces of line are completed, both fires will be 100% lined.  Firefighters have been battling difficult terrain and dense fuels to complete the line.  The fire remains at 2,435 acres in size, and is currently 25% contained. The weather forecast for today call for similar conditions to yesterday until this evening, when rain is expected.  A chance of precipitation persists in the forecast through the end of the week. Crews will be looking to take advantage of the incoming precipitation.  While the rain is helpful, there is still a lot of work to accomplish.  Once the line is completed, firefighters will begin working to open up heavy fuels to expose them to the incoming moisture.  It is the hope of fire managers that by utilizing the weather, they will need fewer feet of hose to mop the fire up.  Minimizing the amount of hose put out simplifies the...

The Whitney, Babb-Malden and Manning fires all started on Monday, September 7, when a cold front created gusts in excess of 50 mph, resulting in extreme fire behavior and rapid fire growth.  Firefighters continue making significant progress on all three fires. Air quality will remain hazardous through the next few days as the smoke plume from fires on the West Coast continues to move through the area. A cold front with gusts up to 18 mph may arrive today, which brings a 20 percent chance of scattered showers and possibly some relief from the smoke. These gusty winds will be the first test of the containment lines. Whitney Fire Yesterday: Most firefighting activity occurred in the northeast corner of the fire as crews continued mopping up 300 feet from all structures. Crews broke apart and extinguished a burning hay storage area south of Schuster Road. Washington National Guard soldiers and airmen, along with firefighters, continued strengthening containment lines and...

Riverside Fire: Remote Automated Weather Stations in Use Temporarily to Provide Timely Local Weather Data to Firefighters   The incident management team assigned to the Riverside Fire have begun using Incident Remote Automatic Weather Stations (IRAWS) to provide near real-time observational data as crews work around the clock to continue suppressing and securing hotspots.   Dedicated technicians place weather stations in areas throughout the perimeter temporarily during the fire. The weather stations are intended to be used on or near the fireline, and can be rapidly relocated if and as needed to provide timely weather data.   Fire managers use the portable weather stations to predict fire behavior, assess prescription burning times, help with fire weather forecasting, and gauge canyon and ridge top winds. Meteorologists also use this data to produce spot forecasts and provide fire weather support from all central locations.   IRAWS collect, store, and transmit data via...

Three fires actively burning in a mix of timber and brush on the Colville Indian Reservation comprise the Inchelium Complex: the Fry Fire, Inchelium Highway Fire, and Kewa Fields Fire.  All three fires are being managed for full suppression. The cause of the fires remains under investigation. Crews remain focused on point protection with an emphasis on structures and natural and cultural resources, and minimizing the footprint on all three fires.   A virtual community meeting was held yesterday to provide an overview of the fires and answer questions. A recording of it can be viewed at: www.facebook.com/ColvilleTribune, www.facebook.com/CCTBroadcasts Current Situation: With favorable conditions yesterday, firefighters were able to accomplish a lot of work in meeting objectives. On Inchelium Highway Fire crews completed a containment line directly against the burning perimeter along the northwest flank, and held it throughout the day. At Kewa Fields Fire firefighters completed...

The Big Hollow Fire is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Carson and 7 miles southeast of Cougar, Washington. Temperatures will cool by a few degrees from yesterday, with light winds out of the southwest. Yesterday’s Operations: The layer of smoke continued to reduce at higher elevations. This resulted in higher temperatures and drier weather at high elevations of the fire. Crews continued firing operations in the southwest area of the fire, moving east along the 57 and 58 roads to secure the fire edge. Containment lines along the 1000 road in the Siouxon block were near completion. Road systems along the eastern edge of the fire were scouted for potential containment opportunities. Crews continued installing sprinklers around the cabins at Government Mineral Springs and conducted some fuel reduction around the structures. The team held a virtual community meeting, which is available for viewing at https://www.facebook.com/GiffordPinchot.   Today’s Operations: In...

 Omak, WA – The northeast portion of the fire that has been the main priority has a good line in now and is holding. Firefighters had to go direct with line construction due to the steep terrain This progress has allowed the objectives of the fire to turn the corner and utilize some of those crews to be spread out and work containment lines farther into the charred area.  Repairs to the fencing and roads that were damaged during initial attack are being looked at for repair. The Old Mill area will need some additional mop up today with heavy equipment and water tenders. Smoke conditions from the fires in the south are expected to stay in the area today. Crews will continue assisting the power companies with hazard trees near the power lines to make their work areas safe. The public will continue to see smoke from smoldering trees in the area for several days. Crews are patrolling these areas to keep an eye on these hot spots.  The Cold Springs Fire started Sunday evening and is...

Please remember that drone incursions into the temporary flight restricted area will inhibited air resources to working on the fire. 

The Lionshead Fire has heavily impacted several communities in the Santiam drainage and Breitenbush area.  Ongoing damage assessments in the Detroit area have identified 264 residences and 14 commercial properties destroyed.   Marion County Sheriff’s Office has set up a phone line (503-798-6823) to provide updates on the status of properties in the Detroit and Idanha areas (www.facebook.com/MCSOInTheKnow/).  Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been impacted.

The Lionshead Fire has heavily impacted several communities in the Santiam drainage and Breitenbush area.  Ongoing damage assessments in the Detroit area have identified 264 residences and 14 commercial properties destroyed.   Marion County Sheriff’s Office has set up a phone line (503-798-6823) to provide updates on the status of properties in the Detroit and Idanha areas (www.facebook.com/MCSOInTheKnow/). Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been impacted.

Lincoln Co. Sherriff's Department has changed the evacuation levels for the Whitney Fire area.  Changes to evacuation levels are:All areas within the fire perimeter are changed to Level 1 (Get Ready).All Level 1 areas outside the perimeter of the fire are removed.Safety Message:  Areas within the fire perimeter still continue to smolder and produce smoke.  If you see a fire that poses a direct threat please call 911. Be aware that firefighting and utility repair equipment remains in the area. Please take necessary

Archie Creek Fire Evening Update: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020Favorable weather conditions resulted in another day of decreased fire activity on the Archie Creek Fire. Containment lines along the western flank of the fire were held in check from the South Fork of Calapooya Creek, down to Glide. Crews continue working in the area to reinforce primary and secondary containment lines. In the Little River area, crews are utilizing a combination of existing road systems and new dozer lines to check the fires spread. Structure protection resources remain in place throughout the Little River area. Air operations were grounded for another day due to smoky conditions in the region. The Archie Creek Fire has burned 121,379 acres and remains 10% contained.Crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation and Pacific Power continue work along Highway 138E by cutting hazard trees, checking downed power lines and removing debris from the roadway. The highway remains closed to all non-fire personnel from...

September 13 #RiversideFire Video Update: Cooperators come together to share updates, "We're in this together"#ClackamasWildfires Watch video here:

 September 13, 2020 – 9:00 PM Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers The life and safety of the public and all wildland fire responders is always the number one priority for all fire agencies.  To keep firefighters and communities healthy and safe, all firefighters are asked to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of illness.  This also includes limited entry into the incident command post and base camp.  Please see the websites below or contact the Jackson County Emergency Management Office at (541) 776-7338 for further fire information. General Updates:  Predicted strong winds did not materialize but the fire did became active on the east flank. Smoke continued to inhibit the use of aircraft on the incident. Crews on the southwestern to northern flanks of the fire continue to reinforce dozer...