InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Quick Facts - Fire SummaryStart Date: 8/16/2020 Cause: Lightning Incident Commander: Noel Livingston, Pacific Northwest Team 3 Approximate Size: 109,223 acres Containment: 5% Total Personnel: 1000Approximate Distance:  20 miles west of Warm SpringsResources on the Fire: 39 crews38 engines 3 dozers36 water tenders10 helicopters Cooperating Agencies:Marion County SheriffLinn County SheriffJefferson County SheriffDeschutes County Sheriff Lionshead Fire Update – Thursday, September 10, 2020 – 9:00 a.m.        Weather and Fire Behavior: Morning winds from the southeast are expected to shift to the northwest this afternoon, promoting fire spread back to the south and east. Temperatures will be in the 70s with minimum relative humidity in the teens. Drought conditions, higher temperatures and low relative humidity will continue to contribute to the active fire behavior. Current Situation: The Lionshead fire continues to actively grow on the west side of the...

Springfield, Ore. – Firefighters celebrated some small successes yesterday on the Holiday Farm Fire.  Fire behavior and weather conditions were still treacherous and kept firefighters from accessing many areas of the fire.  In many cases, however, they were able to move fire around and away from structures.  They utilized small “burnout” operations to remove lighter fuels in the path of the main fire.  Burnouts enable a lower intensity burn that is more manageable and less destructive.  These tactics aren’t always feasible due to factors such as wind, terrain, and fuel conditions.  It is estimated that over 100 structures were saved yesterday. The fire was mapped using an Infrared overflight last night at 144,695 acres.  Containment remains at 0%.  207 personnel are assigned to the incident.  Fire resources are spread thin across the western United States as large fires are burning in many states. Orders for critical needs have been placed. Today, firefighters are...

   Thursday September 10, 2020 9:00 a.m. Update                                        Completion: 0% Acres: 120,000                                                                   Start Date: September 8, 2020 Cause: Human                                                        Location: 2 miles SE of Estacada, OR       Total Personnel: 100                                                                                                                                                    Yesterday: With more than 100,000 acres of new growth and numerous evacuations, firefighters focused their efforts on critical life-safety concerns as the fire moved an additional four...

Beachie Creek Fire (·Incident Name Update) Update for Thursday September 10, 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: 182,000 AcresAir Assets Assigned: 5Total personnel: 423Salem, Ore. – Fire Operations continue to be in rescue mode; however, firefighters made significant progress yesterday in opening roadways for emergency personnel. This has created critical access for crews to affect rescues and for trapped citizens to evacuate. Additionally, as fire crews and law enforcement officers patrol the interior of the fire we gain critical intelligence on the extent of destruction.The cities of Mill City, Gates, Lyons, Mehama, Detroit and other areas along Hwy 22 have seen significant damage. The fire has destroyed multiple buildings along the Santiam Canyon. Fire managers have now determined that at least 13 new fires...

Three fires actively burning in a mix of timber and brush on the Colville Indian Reservation comprise the Inchelium Complex: the Inchelium Highway Fire, Fry Fire and Kewa Field Fire.  All three fires are being managed for full suppression. The cause of the fires remains under investigation. Current Situation:  Yesterday, on the Fry Fire, firefighters constructed fire line directly against the burning perimeter on the north, east, and south sides.  On the Inchelium Highway Fire, fire bosses slowed the fire’s spread while dozers constructed line on the majority of the northern flank, up and around to Hall Creek Road.  On the south flank crews worked from the highway and to the west, securing and improving fire lines.  On the Kewa Fields Fire, dozer operations were followed up by hand crew efforts to secure and protect structures. Crews remain focused on point protection with an emphasis on structures and natural and cultural resources.  The high demand for firefighting...

The Archie Creek Fire burning east of Roseburg spread to the west Wednesday due to hot, dry and windy conditions. The fire started Tuesday in the Steamboat area and merged with the Star Mt Fire in the Susan Creek area.  The combined fires are now called the Archie Creek Fire which is now 107,000 acres and is at 0% containment.  It is burning in the North Umpqua drainage on the west slope of the Cascades. The French Creek Fire to the north is approximately 400 acres and is in patrol status.  It did not merge with the Archie Creek Fire.  Northwest IMT 9 (I.C. Goff) assumed command of the fire Wednesday evening and is coordinating suppression efforts with the Umpqua National Forest, the Roseburg Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA), the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Search and Rescue.   Today fire managers will continue assessment of the fire. They are working with local fire departments on point protection and with local...

Today's smoke outlook reports are attached

Omak, WA – The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the death of an infant and serious injury of 2 individuals that were found yesterday within the fire perimeter. Multiple structures have been lost and level 2 & 3 evacuation orders are in place.      Crews made good progress yesterday and overnight. Overnight crews worked on containment lines in all 3 divisions of the fire with the main focus being the Haley Creek area. This is the area where the most active fire is located, and additional crews are working in that area today. We continue to receive additional resources and aircraft will be available to assist firefighters on the ground as needed.  Firefighters will continue the process of assessing properties that were lost as well as damaged infrastructure.  Warmer weather is expected today with light winds.   The Cold Springs Fire started Sunday evening at approximately 9:45 pm. and quickly spread due to high winds and low relative humidity. The...

EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDER Bureau of Land Management Roseburg District, Swiftwater Resource Area Action: Pursuant to 43 CFR 9268.3 and 43 CFR 8364.1, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides notice that effective immediately, the public lands described below are closed to all forms of public access and will remain closed until the Archie Creek Fire is declared controlled. This closure is necessary to protect public land users from risks associated with active wildland fire, fire suppression, suppression repair, emergency stabilization, and burned area rehabilitation. The closure is also needed to protect wildland fire fighters from recreational activities that could interfere with fire suppression activities. The health and safety of and staff is our number one priority. Affected Area: All BLM lands east of Interstate 5 managed by the Swiftwater Resource Area. The lands are in Douglas and Lane Counties, Oregon. Prohibitions: The public must not enter the closure area. All uses...

Omak, WA – The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the death of an infant and serious injury of 2 individuals that were found today within the fire perimeter. Multiple structures have been lost and level 2 & 3 evacuation orders are in place.      Firefighting efforts today focused on structure protection of the homes where active fire is burning and working in many other areas to get containment on the fire. Air resources were effective today and supported the firefighting on the ground. Structure protection continues to be the primary focus for day and night shifts.  Firefighters were able to start the process of assessing properties that were lost as well as damaged infrastructure. This will be a continuous process due to the large area the fire has burned. There are approximately 275 firefighters engaged in firefighting operations.   The Cold Springs Fire started Sunday evening at approximately 9:45 pm. and quickly spread due to high winds and low...

800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /· Style Definitions ·/ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;} September 9, 2020  (Douglas County, Ore.)  Under a delegation of authority order, on behalf of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Tim Freeman approved a State of Emergency for Douglas County late yesterday, September 8, 2020, due to the wildfires burning up the North Umpqua Hwy (Oregon Hwy 138) at French Creek, Archie Creek and Star...

Winds push Riverside Fire to 112,000 acres; second day of extreme fire behavior                                                                                                     Completion: 0% Acres: 112,000                                                                   Start Date: September 8, 2020 Cause: Human                                                                 Location: 2 miles SE of Estacada, OR        Total Personnel: 100                                                       Fuels/Topography: Timber, grass, rugged terrain                                              ...

Inchelium Highway Fire - A reduced, Level 2 evacuation is in effect for residents near Hall Creek and Seyler Valley Road.Fry Fire - A reduced, Level 2 evacuation is in effect for residents living near Twin Lakes and Meteor Road including North & South Twin. Kewa Field Fire - This area remains under a Level 2 Evacuation for residents in Kewa Valley. A Level 1 Evacuation is in effect for Stray Dog Canyon.

Road Closures:  Seyler Valley Road to Silver Creek Road. Please note that Bridget Creek Road remains Open.

Pearl Hill and Apple Acres Fire Update for Wednesday, September 9, 2020Northwest Incident Management Team 6 with Incident Commander Shawn Sheldon is managing both Pearl Hill and Apple Acres Fires. A high-pressure system is expected to strengthen over the area today bringing light, variable winds out of the east to northeast, similar to yesterday. Today’s temperatures are expected to be about five degrees warmer than yesterday but could be moderated by heavy smoke. Smoke may limit air operations over the fire today. Apple Acres FireCrews are rapidly establishing firelines around the perimeter of the fire. However, the fire is actively burning immediately adjacent to those firelines in many areas and spot fires are common across the lines. A five-acre spot fire outside the lines grew rapidly yesterday evening and was very visible from Chelan, resulting in numerous telephone calls to the fire information line and 911. Crews, supported by helicopters, had the spot fire lined by late...

Three fires actively burning in a mix of timber and brush on the Colville Indian Reservation comprise the Inchelium Complex: the Inchelium Highway Fire, Fry Fire and Kewa Field Fire. All three fires are being managed for full suppression. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.   At 6:00 a.m. today, Interagency Northwest Incident Management Team 7 with IC, Eric Knerr assumed management of the Inchelium Complex.     Current Situation: Fire managers are looking for opportunities to engage the fires in a full suppression strategy, while prioritizing firefighter and public safety and protecting values at risk. Crews remain focused on point protection with a focus on structures and natural and cultural resources. Aircraft stationed in Omak, WA will be used to help support suppression efforts when wildfire smoke clears enough to provide visibility. Critical fire weather being experienced in areas of the Pacific Northwest has led to a high demand for firefighting resources...

  UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFOREST SERVICE WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST SPRINGFIELD, OREGONORDER # 06-18-00-20-19FOREST ORDER OCCUPANCY AND USEPursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36CFR 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited in the areas described in this order within the administrative boundaries of the Willamette National Forest. This Order is effective on 9/8/2020 and shall be in effect until rescinded or 9/30/2020. PROHIBITIONS:   Entering into or being upon National Forest System lands closed for the protection of public health or safety. 36 CFR § 261.53(e)Being on the road. 36 CFR § 261.54(e)Being on a trail. 36 CFR § 261.55(a)The closure includes all US Forest Service lands, roads and trails within the boundary administered by the Willamette National Forest.EXEMPTIONS:   Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50 (e), the following persons are exempt from this Order: Any person with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise...

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST Roseburg, OR ORDER NO. 06-15-06-20-421 EMERGENCY FIRE AREA CLOSURE Pursuant to 16 USC§ 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited upon general forest areas within the Umpqua National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit A. This Order will be effective beginning September 9, 2020 and ending December 15, 2020. PROHIBITIONS: 1. Being upon a closed road. [36 CFR § 261.54 (e)] 2. Going into or being upon a closed area. [36 CFR § 261.52 (e)] 3. Being on a trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)] Closure is described as: All lands, roads, and trails within the North Umpqua Ranger District boundary. EXEMPTIONS: Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order: I. Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission. 2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of any organized rescue or fire fighting force in the...

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFOREST SERVICEUMPQUA NATIONAL FORESTRoseburg, ORORDER NO. 06-15-06-20-421EMERGENCY FIRE AREA CLOSUREPursuant to 16 USC§ 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited upon generalforest areas within the Umpqua National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit A. This Orderwill be effective beginning September 9, 2020 and ending December 15, 2020.PROHIBITIONS:1. Being upon a closed road. [36 CFR § 261.54 (e)] 2. Going into or being upon a closed area. [36 CFR § 261.52 (e)] 3. Being on a trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)] Closure is described as: All lands, roads, and trails within the North Umpqua Ranger Districtboundary.EXEMPTIONS:Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:I. Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of any organized rescue or fire fighting forcein the performance of an...

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST Roseburg, OR ORDER NO. 06-15-03-20-420 EMERGENCY FIRE AREA CLOSURE Pursuant to 16 USC§ 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited upon general forest areas within the Umpqua National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit A. This Order will be effective beginning September 9, 2020 and ending December 15, 2020. PROHIBITIONS: 1. Being upon a closed road. [36 CFR § 261.54 (e)] 2. Going into or being upon a closed area. [36 CFR § 261.52 (e)] 3. Being on a trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)] Closure is described as: AU lands, roads, and trails within the Diamond Lake Ranger District boundary. EXEMPTIONS: Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order: 1. Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission. 2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of any organized rescue or fire fighting force in the...