InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Springfield, Ore. –The hard work of wildland and structural firefighters on the Holiday Farm Fire east of Springfield is starting to pay off. Yesterday, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office lowered the evacuation level in the Mohawk Valley to 2 (BE SET). After several days with zero containment, fire managers now estimate containment at five percent. Containment reflects the fire managers’ confidence that existing control lines would prevent additional fire spread.An infrared flight that usually takes place overnight to show changes in fire growth did not occur last night. The most current information estimates the fire perimeter at 161,826 acres. Many residents in the Mohawk Valley and north of the Linn County line are affected by the drop in evacuation levels. Please note two important exceptions: ·       West of Marcola Road south of the intersection with Hill Rd. is being downgraded from a Level 2 (BE SET) to a Level 1 (BE READY). ·       East of the Mohawk River...

 The Babb-Malden, Manning and Colfax Fires started on Monday, September 7, 2020. Babb-Malden Fire - Approximately 15,266 acres have been burned and the fire is at 50% percent containment. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 121 primary residence structures have been destroyed. 8 Commercial and 94 other structures have also been destroyed. Crews continue to patrol the town of Malden and Pine City.  Today's  fire operations focused on suppression activities, putting out hot spots within the fire perimeter. Crews have made good progress on this fire. Pine City-Malden Road is currently closed to the public from the west side of Pine City to the east side of Malden. The communities of St. Johns, Sunset, Thorton and Ewan are at a Level 1 Evacuation. Please be sure to refer to the Whitman County Sheriff's Facebook page for more information on closures and evacuations. With the additional weekend crews that are here, they have made good progress on this fire. Crews are working...

  Oregon Smoke Helps Slow Washington Fires Smoke from Oregon’s fires along the western slope of the Cascade Mountains is helping to slow at least one large fire on Washington’s east side.   Meteorologist Stephen Bodnar explained yesterday that winds from the south were pushing western Oregon smoke to the north, and then westerly winds in Washington were pushing it to the east. At the Pearl Hill Fire in eastern Washington, the heavy blanket of smoke shaded the fire enough that the fire crews were able to establish a defensible edge around the most aggressive front of the fire. “The thick smoke layer kept temperatures cool and humidities higher,” said Division Zulu Supervisor Jeremy Delack, “allowing our firefighters time to complete critical containment lines.”   Burnout operations on the active northwest corner of the Pearl Hill Fire (Division Zulu) were completed on Saturday. The east side of the fire is in patrol status. Crews will be mopping up hot spots closest...

PNW Incident Management Team #12 will be holding a virtual community meeting on the Gifford Pinchot Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GiffordPinchot on Sunday September 13 at 5:00 PM. The meeting will be streamed via Facebook Live on the Gifford Pinchot Facebook page.The team will be giving an update to the current situation of the fire, as well as the current and predicted weather, fire behavior, and the leader’s intent from the incident commanders. Questions can be left on this post as well as during the virtual meeting, and staff will try to answer them to the best of our ability at the end of the presentations. The video will be saved and able to be viewed and shared for those that can’t attend during the live broadcast. Please share this message with all of those that would be interested in attending this

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs P-515 & Lionshead Fire Update – Sunday, September 13, 2020 – 9:00 a.m. Last night’s virtual community meeting can be found at: www.facebook.com/lionsheadfire Weather and Fire Behavior: Heavy smoke will continue to cover the area, although winds aloft should begin to push smoke cover and begin to improve air quality throughout the week. Temperatures today will be cooler in the 70’s and humidity levels will range from 18-28 percent. Winds will be light and variable. Fire aligning with terrain causing upslope, updrainage fire activity with group torching and spotting will become more active than we have seen the last couple of days. Growth was moderate yesterday with group torching and some long-range spotting. Extreme drought and dry fuels continue give to lead to extreme fire behavior.  Current Situation: The northeastern flank of the Lionshead fire on the reservation and near Olallie Butte was very active last night which has burned a...

Start Date: 8/16/2020 Cause: Lightning Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3 Approximate Size: 138,718 acres Containment: 5% Total Personnel: 1482Approximate Distance:  20 miles west of Warm SpringsResources on the Fire: 51 crews62 engines 11 dozers49 water tenders10 helicopters Cooperating Agencies:Marion County SheriffLinn County SheriffJefferson County SheriffDeschutes County Sheriff Last night’s virtual community meeting can be found at: www.facebook.com/lionsheadfire   Weather and Fire Behavior: Heavy smoke will continue to cover the area, although winds aloft should begin to push smoke dispersement and begin to improve air quality throughout the week. Temperatures today will be cooler at 70-75 and humidity levels will range from 18-28 percent. Winds will be light and variable, on the fire aligning with terrain causing upslope, updrainage fire activity with group torching and spotting, becoming more active than we have seen the last couple...

A virtual community meeting will be held at 7:30PM tonight via Facebook Live on the Colville Tribal Broadcasts, News and Information Facebook page. The event will feature updates from Colville Business Council member Joel Boyd, Incident Commander Eric Knerr, fire operations leadership, and fire weather and behavior

Lincoln City, Ore. – Resources have been hard at work on the Echo Mountain Complex.  Much of the fire line has been completed and firefighters will spend the day completing the last sections of line and beginning mop up.   At 2,435 acres in size, the fire is currently 20% contained. 383 personnel are now assigned to the fire. There are still resource shortages around the region, as large fires are spread across the western landscape.  Local resources, such as cooperators with heavy equipment have been instrumental in the success on the complex.Today’s weather forecast calls for stable air over the fire area.  These stable conditions will result in continued conditions of smoke and haze in the area.  Rain and mist are forecast to begin tonight.  This forecast will help firefighters to make progress in mopping up and further securing the perimeter of the fire.Additional resources are expected to arrive at the fire today.  These resources are specialists trained in structure...

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.   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 las...

Acres: 132,526                                                                                                  Percent Containment: 0% Start Date: September 8, 2020                                                                   Cause: Human Total Personnel: 315 total personnel   Flight Restriction in Effect; If You Fly, We Can’t – Do Not Fly Drones Near Wildfires   Yesterday firefighters were able to create dozer line around spot fires on the west side of the fire to help secure the areas closest to the communities of Estacada and Molalla   Today firefighters will continue suppressing and securing hotspots on the northwest flank of the Riverside Fire near Estacada and the southwest side near Molalla. Public and firefighter safety and property conservation remain the focus. Crews are also working on the north end...

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 will be held at 7:30PM tonight via Facebook Live on the Colville Tribal Broadcasts, News and Information Facebook page. The event will feature updates from Colville Business Council member Joel Boyd, Incident Commander Eric Knerr, fire operations leadership, and fire weather and behavior specialists.  Current Situation: Aviation resources were unable to fly yesterday due poor visibility under an inversion.  The inversion lifted late last night increasing fire behavior, resulting in spotting in some areas. On...

  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 13, 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. General Updates: A Red Flag Warning has been issued for all of Jackson County as a dry cold front moves over the burn area bringing gusty winds from the west to northwest. Smoke will begin to thin out today bringing warmer...

The Babb-Malden Fire, the Manning Fire, and the Whitney Fire all began on Mon., Sept. 7, when a cold front created gusts in excess of 50 mph, resulting in extreme fire behavior and rapid fire growth.  Firefighters continue making progress on all three fires, reinforcing containment lines and limiting fire spread. Air quality will remain hazardous through the weekend as the leading edge of the smoke plume from the fires in Oregon and California moves through the area. A cold front may arrive on Monday, which could bring scattered showers and some relief from the smoke. Gusty winds on Monday will be the first test of the containment lines. Another chance of rain is predicted on Friday. Whitney Fire Yesterday: Crews removed standing dead trees that were remaining in Hawks Creek Canyon making it safe to continue mopping-up that area. They also mopped-up within 300 feet of structures south of Hwy 2. Firefighters along with Washington National Guard soldiers and airmen...

Warm Springs Police Department has issued a level 1 evacuation warning for Sidwalter Flats. A level 1 indicates get ready for possible evacuation of the area.

Special Statement: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an AIR QUALITY ADVISORY for the entire State of Oregon.FireAnother day of heavy smoke yesterday all across the region moderated fire behavior. On Lionshead, crews continue to mop-up, provide structure protection, scout for future firelines, and conducted a firing operation yesterday to secure the northeast side of the fire. Today, fire activity and weather are expected to be similar to yesterday.SmokeThe area continues to experience a heavy inversion, keeping smoke heavy across Central Oregon. The inversion may break slightly this afternoon, but southwest winds may bring smoke from other west-side fires into Central Oregon. Today - air quality conditions will remain "Unhealthy" to "Hazardous"conditions across the region. Visibility for everyone in the area will be impacted throughout the day. Tomorrow, increasing winds aloft may be able to move some smoke out of the area.HealthRecommendations on how to protect...

The Big Hollow Fire is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Carson and 7 miles southeast of Cougar, Washington. Temperatures will be similar or slightly cooler than yesterday. Winds will shift to the southwest and help to alleviate smoke at high elevations. Yesterday’s Operations: Thick smoke diminished fire behavior but also decreased visibility. There was some reduction in smoke at higher elevations, resulting higher temperatures. In the southwest, crews conducted firing operations along the 57 road to secure the fire edge. In the Siouxon block, crews made progress constructing control lines using heavy equipment. The fire grew in the east, burning down the ridge west of Wind River Hwy and Middle Butte. Crews continued to prep the cabins at Government Mineral Springs for fire protection. Residents of the cabins were escorted in to retrieve belongings. Today’s Operations: Acreage has incrementally increased over the past three days while updated maps were...

 Omak, WA – Today: The area like most of Eastern Washington is dealing with smoke from the south.   These conditions will stick around through the day while crews are on the line. Firefighters today will continue their focus on the northeast portion of the fire which is the Omak Lake and Haley Creek area where they will work on direct attack and constructing primary and secondary line. Dozers and tenders will work the old mill area by pulling apart the large wood piles that are still smoldering.  Firefighters will continue to strengthen containment lines and patrol areas that have good containment. Crews are still assisting the power companies with burned trees near the power lines to make their work areas safe. Omak Lake and Haley Creek area are still under level 2 and 3 evacuation levels.   Power and cell phone coverage will continue to be a challenge in some areas due to hundreds of power poles destroyed and cell phone towers damaged or destroyed during initial attack....

Archie Creek Fire: Evening Update: Saturday, September 12, 2020Today, wildland firefighters assigned to the Archie Creek fire worked with local fire departments, industriallandowners and loggers on structure protection and creating containment lines around the perimeter of theblaze. The majority of work today was completed along the western flank of the fire between the Little Riverarea and the Nonpareil area. Air operations were grounded for another day due to thick smoke which blanketedthe region. The fire has burned 115,857 acres and is 10 % contained. 495 people are now assigned to the ArchieCreek Fire.Crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation made good progress on clearing Highway 138E throughthe burned area. Fallers were used to remove hazard trees along the highway while heavy equipment removeddown trees and rocks from the roadway. Highway 138E remains closed between Milepost 17 and 83 for allnon-fire traffic. Road clearing operations were also completed by fire crews...

Riverside Fire – September 12, 2020 Evening UpdateAcres: 132,526 Percent Containment: 0%Start Date: September 8, 2020 Cause: Human-causedTotal Personnel: 315 total personnelFirefighters Working to Suppress Hot Spots Near Estacada and Molalla;Canby, Oregon City, Sandy reduced from Level 2 to Level 1This evening the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is dropping the evacuation level for the Cities of Canby, Oregon City and Sandy from Level 2 ("Set") to Level 1 ("Ready") based on current fire activity and firefighter progress in securing hotspots near these communities. This decision was prompted by recommendations from the Riverside Fire Incident Management Team based on current fire activity and firefighter progress in securing hotspots near these communities. Details: https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/2020-09-12-CCSOPR-FireEvacLevelReduction.html IMPORTANT: There are NO reductions in Level 3 ("Go") areas at this time.Evacuation Information: https://twitter.com/ClackCoSheriff and...

 Fire Summary:Approximately 150 National Guard troops will join firefighters to assist with containing the fire. Their primary responsibility will be to find hot spots and extinguish them. They will also be laying hose to get water to the interior of the fire. Today, crews started diligently removing hot spots. Crews worked on both widening the control line and clearing heat near houses. Tonight and tomorrow, crews will continue mopping up the hot spots. The goal is to have wide control lines before mid-day tomorrow. Once a fire has a wide, fuel-free, and cooled buffer along the line, it's contained. It's a long process, and tomorrow's weather will test the work completed so far. For tomorrow, weather forecasters predict increased winds from 11am-9pm. These winds will be from the southeast, pushing the fire to the northwest. This will test the control lines. The goal is to hold the fire within its current footprint throughout the wind event. The heavy smoke has lowered the air...