InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

  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 12, 2020 – 9:00 PM 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: Firefighters were able to complete much work today on the South Obenchain Fire. Crews on the southwestern to northern flanks of the fire continue to reinforce containment lines with dozers and heavy equipment. ...

September 12, 2020 #RiversideFire Update by Ralph Lucas, Operations Section Chief, Southwest Area Incident Management Team

All Oregon Department of Forestry-managed lands are closed for public use. Public use closures of the Tillamook and Clatsop state forests, along with ODF-managed lands in Benton, Lincoln & Polk counties, have been extended past Sunday, Sept. 13, and remain closed until re-openings are announced publicly. All other ODF-managed lands remain closed until further

 Omak, WA – Smokey conditions hindered efforts on the Cold Springs fire today. Aircraft were only able to fly for a short period of time due to limited visibility. The northeast portion of the fire which consists of Omak Lake and Haley Creek areas continue to be the main objective but is difficult due to the steep terrain. Other crews on the fire focused on the mill area and strengthening containment lines by working from the perimeter in. Firefighters 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. Residents will see smoke from the interior of the fire for several days. Crews are patrolling these areas to keep an eye on these hot spots.  The Cold Springs...

A new Level 2 Evac is in effect in the vicinity of the southwest flank of Kewa Fields Fire in the proximity of Wilmont Creek

Fire Summary: Lincoln City, OR - Firefighters had a successful day today. The continued cooler weather pattern allowed for firefighters to work on completing control lines around the fire. The fire size remains at an estimated 2,435 acres and is 15% contained.   The Kimberling Fire, east of Rose Lodge, has a fire line around the entire perimeter and hose lays were constructed. “Water began flowing at noon” stated Operations Section Chief Mike Carlson. Mop-up is the focus now on this fire. Firefighters will be working from the perimeter towards the center of the fire. This work will continue for the next few days.   On the larger portion of fire near Otis, crews have nearly completed fire line around the perimeter. Hose lays are being constructed that will assist with the mop-up operations. Hazard tree mitigation and powerline repair is still part of the day shift’s operations.   Night shift resources will focus on patrolling the fires and monitoring fire behavior. Day...

 Fire Summary:Last night firefighters completed a line around the fire. The fire is 14,450 acres and seven percent contained. It did not grow last night. This morning’s video update is available on the Two Four Two Fire Facebook page. All evacuation levels remain the same for today. Firefighters are assessing evacuated areas. Crews constructed contingency lines north of the fire and will continue improving those lines. In anticipation of high winds on Sunday, crews are scouting for and building contingency lines. Today’s goal is to secure, improve, and hold control lines. Crews will continue securing the areas around structures and putting out hot spots. Engines will be patrolling the perimeter to hold the control line. Safety to all of those who are involved in suppression activities as well as those affected in the area are top priority. This includes preventing COVID-19. Personnel are following the Center for Disease Control guide-lines. This means limiting personal contact...

  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 12, 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: An infra-red (thermal heat imaging) detection flight was conducted over the fire area for the first time last night.  The acres of the South Obenchain have been updated to 29,432 to reflect the results.  The...

 An Area Closure has been issued near the South Obenchain Fire.from the Medford District Office of The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) This Area Closure is for the safety of the public and firefighters in proximity of the current fire. Fire danger is at the extreme with dry fuels, low relative humidity, high temperatures and variable winds over the region.Reference the official document and map on the BLM webpage.

BRATTAIN FIRE UPDATE  Incident Commander: Coley Neider September 12, 2020   Summary:   Size: 8,000 acres  Containment: 0 % Cause: Human  Personnel: 120  Resources:  Engines: 15Dozers: 6  Water Tenders: 2  Aircraft:  Helicopters: 3Fixed Wing: 6 Fire Information:541-947-6243 frewinnf@gmail.com  INCIWEB:https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/7172 Facebook:www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO www.facebook.com/R6FWNF   Level 3 Evacuation:Red Cross Evacuation Center at Lake County Fairgrounds, 1900 North 4th St. in Lakeview The virtual community meeting scheduled at 7:00 tonight for the Brattain Fire has been canceled.  A new meeting date and time has not been determined.  The Brattain fire is currently burning approximately 10 miles south of Paisley.  The fire is burning in sagebrush-juniper with stringers of Ponderosa Pine in steep, rugged terrain with limited access points and high winds.  Yesterday's Operations: Winds continue to be a...

Springfield, Ore. – We are saddened to report that firefighters located a deceased person in a home within the fire area yesterday. First responders are working with the Medical Examiner’s Office to identify the deceased, which may take some time. After the person has been identified, Lane County Sheriff’s Office will notify next of kin and afford them the opportunity to notify additional family and friends prior to releasing the person’s name. Today, firefighters will begin the process of trying to locate unaccounted for people within the fire perimeter and start assessing structures. Teams will start along Highway 126 and the nearby communities. If any victims are found, the firefighters will notify the Lane County Sheriff’s Office for investigation. Yesterday, the fire grew by about 5,000 acres, raising the total to 161,826 acres. The fire perimeter is nearly 200 miles. It remains 0% contained. Calmer weather over the fire moderated fire behavior, although a few spots...

Babb-Malden Fire – The fire has burned 15,266 acres and 25 percent contained. The fire remains under investigation. Overnight engine crews patrolled the area looking for any hotspots. Today, Operations will focus on identifying any unburned fuels within the fire and identifying any hazard trees. Fire crews will continue to strengthen control lines. Manning – The fire has burned 2,685 acres and is now 65 percent contained. Last night firefighters worked on mop up operations and strengthened control lines. Additional resources began arriving today, and fire crews will focus on extinguishing hotspots and confirm control lines. Pine City-Malden Road is currently closed to the public from the west side to Pine City to the east side of Malden. The communities of St. John, Sunset, Thornton and Ewan remain at a Level 1 Evacuation. Please refer to the Whitman Sheriff’s Facebook page for more information on closures and evacuations at: https://www.facebook.com/whitmancountysheriff/

Beachie Creek Fire Update for Saturday September 12, 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: 186,988 AcresAir Assets Assigned:  7Total personnel: 532Salem, Ore. – Firefighters spent yesterday morning assessing and cleaning up areas along the southern fire front within the Highway 22 corridor. Crews were successful in establishing anchor points in the Mehama and Lyons area.  Structural protection and assessment were also done along the Abiqua drainage while additional crews established strategic anchor points to limit fire spread. As the fire continued north, work was performed along the northwest and northern fire fronts and additional anchor points were established. Extremely dry conditions allowed continued growth north toward the Riverside Fire. Because of positive nighttime humidity recovery levels, fire growth has...

September 12, 2020 Afternoon Overview   Firefighters continue community protection efforts; working hotspots along fire edges Acres: 132,545 Percent Containment: 0% Start Date: September 8, 2020 Cause: Human-caused Location: 1/2 miles SE of Estacada, OR Fuels: Timber, Grass, Rugged Terrain Total Personnel: 246   Firefighters continue to go direct on the fire around the community of Estacada, OR with the help of hotshot crews and engines. Favorable weather continues to limit the type of rapid fire growth seen on the early days of the wildfire. However, conditions remain extremely dangerous with active fire across thousands of acres in and around the fire perimeter. Life safety remains the main priority of all fire managers and cooperators. Fire managers continue to focus on protecting firefighter and public life-safety, conducting reconnaissance, and point protection for structures where they can do so safely and effectively.   Widespread dense wildfire smoke will continue over...

Pearl Hill and Apple Acres Fire Update for Saturday, September 12, 2020Pearl Hill FireThe northwest corner of the fire in the vicinity of Whitley Canyon/Brewster Bar became very active last night due to a 20-acre slop-over.  The fire was highly visible from the town of Brewster located across the Columbia River.  The active part of the fire is in an area in which firefighters had previously constructed a dozer control line as well as a secondary contingency line.  A substantial force of firefighters actively controlled and directed the fire toward the completed dozer lines. Last night’s active fire area is the same place in which firefighters had intended to aerially ignite today.  Today’s planned burn-out was intended to consume fuels to secure the fire and check its spread.  As a result of last night’s active fire behavior, the planned aerial ignition is no longer necessary since the fuels were consumed by the natural behavior of the fire. Elsewhere within the fire area,...

STATE OF OREGON  -  DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY  -  FIRE RESTRICTIONS REGULATED CLOSURE PROCLAMATION Number 01 Effective 1:00 a.m., PDT, July 6, 2020 By virtue of the authority vested in me under the provisions of ORS 477.535 to 477.550, I hereby proclaim a Regulated Closure to be in effect in the following subject area: All lands protected by the North Cascade Forest Protection District, and all lands within one-eighth mile thereof. Under this Regulated Closure it is unlawful to be in violation of the following restrictions:  Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and other designated locations.  Open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires are permitted all day during low () fire danger with landowner permission. Open fires are only allowed at locations designated by the forester during moderate (high () fire danger. All open fires are prohibited during extreme fire danger...

News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 9, 2020 Contact: Jason Cox, ODF Public Affairs Specialist, 503-945-7427, jason.r.cox@oregon.gov All state forests closed to public use due to fire danger SALEM, Ore. — All ODF-managed forestland is currently closed to public entry and use, including the Santiam, Tillamook, Clatsop, Gilchrist and Sun Pass state forests. This also includes ODF-managed forestlands in Lane, Douglas, Coos, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Polk, Lincoln, & Benton counties. The Tillamook and Clatsop closures are until at least Sunday, Sept. 13 at 11 p.m. All other closures are until further notice. Closure is necessary due to the current extreme fire conditions that are endangering life, forest resources, and property as well as very limited fire and emergency response resources.

 Apple Acres and Pearl Hill Fire Update for Saturday, September 12, 2020 Pearl Hill Fire The northwest corner of the fire in the vicinity of Whitley Canyon/Brewster Bar became very active last night due to a 20- acre slop-over.  The fire was highly visible from the town of Brewster located across the Columbia River.  The active part of the fire is in an area in which firefighters had previously constructed a dozer control line as well as a secondary contingency line.  A substantial force of firefighters actively controlled and directed the fire toward the completed dozer lines. Last night’s active fire area is the same place in which firefighters had intended to aerially ignite today.  Today’s planned burn-out was intended to consume fuels to secure the fire and check its spread.  As a result of last night’s active fire behavior, the planned aerial ignition is no longer necessary since the fuels were consumed by the natural behavior of the fire.  Elsewhere within the...

News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 9, 2020 Contact: Jason Cox, ODF Public Affairs Specialist, 503-945-7427, jason.r.cox@oregon.gov All state forests closed to public use due to fire danger SALEM, Ore. — All ODF-managed forestland is currently closed to public entry and use, including the Santiam, Tillamook, Clatsop, Gilchrist and Sun Pass state forests. This also includes ODF-managed forestlands in Lane, Douglas, Coos, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Polk, Lincoln, & Benton counties. The Tillamook and Clatsop closures are until at least Sunday, Sept. 13 at 11 p.m. All other closures are until further notice. Closure is necessary due to the current extreme fire conditions that are endangering life, forest resources, and property as well as very limited fire and emergency response resources.