InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Horns Mountain Fire Update August 27, 2018 10 am Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 9 (NWIIMT9), Brian Goff, Incident Commander Fire Information: (505-302-5008 GoogleVoice) or 218-244-2843 Email: HornsMountainInfo2018@gmail.com InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6138 Northeast Washington Fire Information https://www.facebook.com/newfireinfo/ NWCC Public Information Blog www.nwccinfo.blogspot.com NORTHPORT, WA – Today, Monday, August 27, the Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 3 (NEIIMT3) will shadow the NWIIMT9 on the Horns Mountain Fire. Transition of leadership while fighting a fire increases risk because of the transfer of vital information to the incoming team while continueing care and support of crews and firefighting. The incoming team members work beside the outgoing team members for a day to ensure that information and leadership is successfully transferred. This incoming team is especially well...

FIREFire Miles/Columbus Fire: Miles/Columbus Fire: Total acreages remain at 49,837 acres with no growth. Mop-up operation was completed yesterday and suppression repair continues through today and tomorrow. Hot spots remain within the perimeter smoldering creating smoke in few places. Watson Creek Fire: Smoke production continues today contributing moderate air quality for today at Lakeview. Air quality is expected to improve to moderate and good levels in rural communities of Paisley and southeast of Oregon. Smoke conditions of varying densities will continue for the next few days. Ramsey Canyon Fire: Mop-up continues around the fire perimeter while the fire activities continues inside the perimeter. Total acreages remain at 1,971 acres. Smoke Air quality continued to improve significantly as the fire activities improved in both Ramsey Canyon and Miles/Columbus fires. Current condition remained hot and dry with smoke popping in some places burning dead and downed fuel within the fire...

8/27 Natchez Fire Update: Happy Camp, CA – The sunny weather continues with slightly lower temperatures and no rain or lightning forecast. Similar to yesterday, morning winds will be 3-6 mph, upslope and up valley. In the early afternoon, the wind will shift and come from the North at 6-12 mph, gusting to 18 mph. Temperatures will reach the mid-70’s to low 80’s and relative humidity may fall to 30%. Monday night weather is forecast to bring 12 hours of east winds, leaving a hot, dry air mass over the fire area Tuesday and Wednesday. A substantial portion of the Natchez Fire perimeter has been contained. From Mud Lake north along the northwestern flank of the fire and south along the eastern flank, firefighters continue chipping, backhauling equipment, building water bars, mopping up and patrolling. The Contingency Group continues chipping brush piles and grading along Forest Road 4803 and improving and connecting several other potential firelines south of Takilma with dozers...

Miriam Fire Update Fire Information Line: 360-481-0031 August 27, 2018 – 9 a.m. Acres: Miriam Fire – 4,228 Clear Fork Fire -51 Percent Containment: 40% Start Date: 07/30/18 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Washington Southeast Interagency Type 3 IMT Team 1 (Team 1), Lonnie Click incident commander, has taken over the incident management of the Miriam and Clear Fork Fires. Team 1 would like to thank Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8 for their superlative work on managing the incident. Area Closures are issued and placed for the protection and safety of the public and firefighters. Area Closures have been in place on the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Gifford Pinchot National Forests for areas, trails, and roads near the Miriam and Clear Fork Fires since August 8 and 15th. An interactive map on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest webpage, shows area closures. See the following website for more information and interactive map https://tinyurl.com/yb67jobt Intrusions potentially...

Cougar Creek Fire: Chelan County Fire District 9, the Chelan County Sheriff’s office and the Incident Management Team have evaluated the current evacuation levels in place for the Chiwawa Loop Road community near Plain. The fire threat to residents has diminished significantly over the past two days due to the construction of a solid fire line along much of the western edge of the fire. Effective Monday (08/27/2018) at 9:00am, the Level 2 evacuation status for all of the Chiwawa Loop Road area (including Shugart Flats and Chiwawa River Pines communities) will be lowered to a Level 1 “fire advisory” status. Areas in Plain and Lake Wenatchee which have been at a Level 1 status, will no longer be under any evacuation notification. Residents are asked to continue to monitor fire information daily, should conditions change. Precipitation on the fire yesterday was light, with only a few hundredths of an inch of rain recorded. However relative humidity remained high throughout the day...

Chelan County Fire District 9, the Chelan County Sheriff’s office and the PNW3 Type 1 Incident management team overseeing the Cougar Creek Fire have evaluated the current evacuation levels in place for the Chiwawa Loop Road community near Plain. The fire threat to residents has diminished significantly over the past two days due to the construction of a solid fire line along much of the western edge of the fire. Effective Monday (08/27/2018) at 9:00am, the Level 2 evacuation status for all of the Chiwawa Loop Road area (including Shugart Flats and Chiwawa River Pines communities) will be lowered to a Level 1 “fire advisory” status. Areas in Plain and Lake Wenatchee which have been at a Level 1 status, will no longer be under any evacuation notification. Residents are asked to continue to monitor fire information daily, should conditions

Please contact Ferry County Dispatch Center at (509) 775-3132 after 5:00 pm, on August 28, 2018 for further information on the Boyds fire. Kettle Falls, WA - The Boyds Fire is located 3 miles west of Kettle Falls. The fire is 81 percent contained and 4549 acres. The fire continues to burn in a mixture of timber litter, slash, brush and grass. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Rain fell over the fire area putting a damper on fire activity. Slippery roads and hazard trees continue to pose a threat to firefighter safety. Heavy equipment will continue to reduce fuels along the fireline. Crews will continue repair work along the fire perimeter, cleaning up roadways and restoring areas to pre-fire conditions. Fire officials expect the fire to continue smoldering and creeping along, potentially producing a visible smoke column when the weather clears. “While all fires present unique challenges for our fire crews, an incident like this highlights the need for increased pace...

Inciweb: Crescent Mountain: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6093/ McLeod: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6130/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrescentMTNFire/ Fire Information Center: (480) 744-9318 Email: gilbertfireinfo2018@gmail.com Community Meeting on Monday, August 27, at Twisp Community Center, 6:30 p.m. August 27, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Crescent Mountain Fire: 42,784 acres; 24 percent contained ● Personnel: 559 ● Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp ● Start Date: July 29, 2018 ● Cause: Lightning McLeod Fire: 21,585 acres; five percent contained ● Personnel: 497 ● Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama ● Start Date: August 11, 2018 ● Cause: Lightning Holman Fire: 284 acres, no containment ● Point of Origin: Holman Peak ● Start Date: August 17, 2018 ● Cause: Unknown Crescent Mountain Fire: Light showers and higher relative humidity enabled the firefighters to make a...

Inciweb: Crescent Mountain: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6093/ McLeod: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6130/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrescentMTNFire/ Fire Information Center: (480) 744-9318 Email: gilbertfireinfo2018@gmail.com Community Meeting on Monday, August 27, at Twisp Community Center, 6:30 p.m. August 27, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Crescent Mountain Fire: 42,784 acres; 24 percent contained ● Personnel: 559 ● Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp ● Start Date: July 29, 2018 ● Cause: Lightning McLeod Fire: 21,585 acres; five percent contained ● Personnel: 497 ● Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama ● Start Date: August 11, 2018 ● Cause: Lightning Holman Fire: 284 acres, no containment ● Point of Origin: Holman Peak ● Start Date: August 17, 2018 ● Cause: Unknown Crescent Mountain Fire: Light showers and higher relative humidity enabled the firefighters to make a...

Incident Meteorologist Matt Mehle accurately forecast the windy conditions experienced over the fire area on Sunday. In the northwest corner of the fire, crews were able to take advantage of favorable wind directions by utilizing controlled burning to strengthen the lines. Some spot fires were detected in the morning but contained by end of shift. All aircraft were able to fly the entire day and containment lines held. There will be a public meeting at the Paisley Community Center 7:00 p.m. today, August 27, 2018. On Tuesday, the public is invited to tour the fire camp in Paisley any time between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. In collaboration with Team 6 the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has agreed to retain all evacuation levels at their current status and will re-evaluate today at 4:00 p.m. Evacuation notices are coordinated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office: • Level 3 (GO): Lakeview Estates neighborhood just north of Campbell and Deadhorse Lakes in the Fremont-Winema...

August 27, 2018 Combined Update: Taylor Creek and Klondike FiresKlondike Fire WildfireNews – 16 min. agoFire Update – Monday, August 27, 2018 – 8:00 a.m.Klondike Fire West ZoneCalifornia Interagency Incident Management Team 4Jay Kurth, Incident CommanderFirefighters continue to implement an aggressive and adaptive approach to suppressing the fire in the Klondike West Zone. One highly skilled ‘hotshot’ crew and six small fire engines arrived yesterday, adding to the available firefighting resources. This was a welcome addition after a week of requesting crews and not being able to obtain them due to the large number of fires burning across the country.Air tankers and helicopters continued to support firefighting activities near Silver Peak Ridge yesterday and are expected to be active in that area again today. Fire managers are maximizing every effort to take actions that will keep this fire in the smallest footprint possible. Silver Peak Ridge will be scouted today for...

Fire Update – Monday, August 27, 2018 – 8:00 a.m.Klondike Fire West ZoneCalifornia Interagency Incident Management Team 4Jay Kurth, Incident Commander Firefighters continue to implement an aggressive and adaptive approach to suppressing the fire in the Klondike West Zone. One highly skilled ‘hotshot’ crew and six small fire engines arrived yesterday, adding to the available firefighting resources. This was a welcome addition after a week of requesting crews and not being able to obtain them due to the large number of fires burning across the country.Air tankers and helicopters continued to support firefighting activities near Silver Peak Ridge yesterday and are expected to be active in that area again today. Fire managers are maximizing every effort to take actions that will keep this fire in the smallest footprint possible. Silver Peak Ridge will be scouted today for possible helispot locations.Firefighters continue to improve a fireline from Chinaman Hat to Dorr Creek. This...

DRONE INTRUSION GROUNDS AIRCRAFTSize: 5,398 acres Containment: 2% Cause: Under Investigation Location: 5 miles SE of Blue River Structures Destroyed: 0 Total Personnel: 382 including 9 hand crews, 16 engines, 5 dozers, 9 water tenders, and 4 helicopters Incident Commander: Alan Sinclair with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team #3 Summary: Southwest Area Incident Management Team #3 is utilizing a full-suppression strategy and implementing tactics that minimize impacts to important values at risk. Incident Responder and public safety will always remain the highest priority. Yesterday, fire activity moderated as clouds, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity covered the fire area until midafternoon. The fire continued to move north of the Basalt Creek, moving up slope, and established a well-developed column of smoke. On the southwest perimeter, crews strengthened a direct line along the road and aim to secure this area in the coming days. Air...

Command of the Miles and Columbus fires transitioned at 6:00 AM today from Pacific Northwest Team 2 to the Nevada Interagency Type 3 Team led by Incident Commander Brock Uhlig.

From the desk of Sheriff John WardCurry County, Oregon94235 Moore Street, Suite 311 (mailing)29808 Colvin Street (physical)Gold Beach, OR 97444 (541) 247-3221wardj@co.curry.or.us August 26, 2018 OperationsCalifornia Interagency Incident Management Team #4 As of 08-26-18 at 3:00 pm, The Curry County Sheriff’s Office announced that Agness residents in the Agness Zone are now in a Level 2 Closure. This decision was made in cooperation with the California Interagency Incident Management Team #4, due to the fire location and progression reaching the Management Evaluation Point of Sliver Peak Ridge Trail.The area to be notified will be starting on the south side of the Rogue River along the Agness Road #33 at Spud Road and those residents on Spud Road just west of the Illinois River Bridge and east to the Coon Rock Bridge that crosses the Rogue River just above Agness. Down river on the north side of the Rogue River from junction #33 to the #375 road into Old Agness and all residences...

The Watson Creek Fire has been exposed to gusty winds today coming from the southwest to the northwest, and the containment lines have held well as of 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. Some burnout is being conducted in the northwest corner of the fire, where winds are favorable. The Lake County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with Team 6, has agreed to retain all evacuation levels at their current status and will re-evaluate tomorrow at 4 p.m. after the wind has diminished.Watson Creek Fire Information CenterPaisley,

RAMSEY CANYON FIRE Ramsey Canyon Fire Evacuations Lowered 08/26/2018 4:00 p.m. White City, Ore – Thanks to the hard work of wildland and structure firefighters and favorable weather conditions the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is reducing the evacuation levels of the Ramsey Canyon Fire.Areas previously under a Level 3 “Go” evacuation notice will reduced to Level 2 “Be Set.” Areas previously under a Level 2 “Be Set” notice will reduced to a Level 1 “Be Ready.”The following is a complete list of evacuations for the Ramsey Canyon Fire:Level 3 “Go”There are no Level 3 evacuation notices currently associated with the Ramsey Canyon Fire.Level 2 “Be Set”East Evans Creek Rd., beginning at the address of 17935, and continuing east including addresses 18505, 18509 (all accessed off of West Fork Evans Creek Rd.), then continuing to include the address of 19373 at the intersection of Meadows Rd; West Fork Evans Creek Rd., the addresses 18504 and 18508; Ramsey Rd.,...

The Watson Creek Fire was subdued overnight, according to night operations chief Vince Grace. However, light winds from the southwest this morning are expected to increase in velocity and vary in direction throughout the day. Fire lines on the east side may be tested by the wind and engines will patrol as a precaution. A slight southerly flow is predicted to pick up in the fire area, becoming westerly around noon then northwesterly in the evening. Winds of 8 to 13 mph could gust up to 25 to 30 mph in places. Temperatures will remain cool in the fire area from the upper 60s to low 70s. A drone flown by Lakeview Crew 7 from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) detected a two-acre spot fire near where Forest Roads 28 and 33 join. The spot fire was contained and a precautionary Level 2 evacuation order was issued for the area south and southwest of the Watson Creek Fire. Evacuation notices coordinated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office: · Level 3 (GO): Lakeview Estates neighborhood...

Fires Light rain and higher humidities extended over the forecast area yesterday resulting in moderate to low fire behavior. Crescent Mtn. fire is 42,784 acres (+2,535) and 24% contained, McLeod fire is 21,585 acres (+717) and 5% contained, Cougar Creek fire is 41,324 acres (+898) and 45% contained, and the Miriam fire near White Pass is 4,228 acres (+84) and 40% contained. Smoke Fires remain active and smoky. Cool, damp weather and light winds for most of the day will keep new smoke close to fires. Low to moderate levels of background smoke remains in some areas of the Okanogan. Winds increase tonight into Monday morning which should clear much of the lingering smoke out of the area. Winds will move smoke south tomorrow, increasing smoke impacts. Long-Range A return to warmer and dryer weather begins tomorrow. Fires are expected to become active again and produce more smoke. Air quality is likely to degrade somewhat especially for areas close to fires...