InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Angel Springs Fire UPDATE August 4, 2018 08:30 AM Northeast Washington Interagency IMT Type 3, Team #1 Eddie Lewis Incident Commander For Immediate Release Davenport, WA – The fire remained active throughout the night and crews continued to provide structure protection and establish containment lines. More firefighters have arrived and will be focusing on fire line construction on areas that have been previously tough to access. Firefighting aircraft will be back over the fire today assisting with fire suppression efforts. One additional structure was lost last night. The fire started August 2nd, at 3:00pm and quickly spread. Firefighters from Lincoln County Fire Districts 4 and 5, Washington State Department of Natural Resources and numerous federal, state and local agencies assisted with fire suppression well into the evening. Level 2 and 3 evacuation orders remain in place. For current evacuation, orders...

The Southwest Oregon Joint Information Center has released the update for August

Fire Fire behavior is expected to pick up more in the afternoon with westerly winds and occasional gusts. Continued firing operations to shore up fire line breaks are planned for both fires.Smoke Winds from the northeast are expected to carry smoke to the coast in the morning, shifting to the NW/W in the afternoon. Smoke impacts are expected for downwind communities, and downslope communities as down valley winds trap smoke tonight. Model predictions show potential impacts to western portions of this outlook area with similar patterns to the past few

Fire Fire behavior is expected to pick up more in the afternoon with westerly winds and occasional gusts. Continued firing operations to shore up fire line breaks are planned for both fires.Smoke Winds from the northeast are expected to carry smoke to the coast in the morning, shifting to the NW/W in the afternoon. Smoke impacts are expected for downwind communities, and downslope communities as down valley winds trap smoke tonight. Model predictions show potential impacts to western portions of this outlook area with similar patterns to the past few

Hard work gets results. The difficult, dangerous work happening on the Garner Complex is getting the job done. On each shift hand crews seek and extinguish more and more hot spots. When all the hot spots have been mopped up, that section of the fire is placed in patrol status. Fire managers have placed the northernmost section of the fire in patrol status. Engines will patrol the perimeter to ensure that any smokes appearing near the control lines are suppressed. Fire managers are evaluating other sections along the fire’s eastern and western edges to determine if they could be placed in patrol status. As portions of the fire move to patrol status, resources are reassigned to other sections of the fire. Crews that were mopping up on the northern portion of the fire have been moved to the southern end of the fire, just north of Pleasant Creek Rd. In addition to mop up, crews have begun suppression repair to remove impacts caused by fire suppression activities. Firefighters have begun...

Incendios de Cougar Creek, White Pine, Bannock Lakes, and Navarre Comunicado de noticias: ENTIAT (4 de agosto, 2018: 8:00 am) Incendio de Cougar Creek · Acres: 4224 · Contención: 0% · Ubicación: 20 millas al noroeste de Entiat · Fecha de inicio: 28 de julio, 2018 a las 7:21 pm · Causa: Rayos Actividad actual: El Equipo 5 de California del Manejo de Incidentes Interinstitucionales (Equipo 5) asumió el mando del incendio de Cougar Creek a las 6:00am, hoy. El viernes el comportamiento del fuego y su propagación fue moderado. La mayor parte del crecimiento estuvo en el lado este del fuego; sin embargo, permanece al oeste de Tyee Ridge. Se detectó un incendio de un acre en el lado este de la carretera Tyee Lookout Road (FR 5700). Los tripulantes intentarán acceder al fuego pequeño y suprimirlo directamente hoy. Se consumió la vegetación no quemada dentro del límite del fuego y una gran cantidad de madera muerta y caída de fuegos anteriores es...

Cougar Creek, White Pine, Bannock Lakes, and Navarre FiresNews Release: ENTIAT (August 4, 2018: 8:00 am)Cougar Creek FireAcres: 4224Containment: 0%Location: 20 miles northwest of EntiatStart Date: July 28, 2018 at 7:21 pm Cause: Lightning Current Activity: The California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (Team 5) assumed command of the Cougar Creek Fire at 6:00 am, today.Fire behavior and spread was moderate Friday. Most of the growth was on the fire's east side; however, it remains west of Tyee Ridge. A one-acre spot fire was detected on the east side of Tyee Lookout Road (FR 5700). Crews will attempt to access the spot fire and directly suppress it today. Unburned vegetation was consumed within the fire boundary and a large am-unt of dead and down timber from previous fires is the primary carrier. A night shift of engines patrolled the Entiat River Valley last night to watch for spot fires.The management priorities include protecting the Entiat River Valley, the community of...

Northport, WA - PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE FIGHTER SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. The Albuquerque and NE Washington Type 3 Incident Management Teams are suggesting the public avoid the Sheep Creek road and surrounding area. Sheep Creek campground is still closed. Voluntary evacuation is in place for residents in the Sheep Creek area. The entrance of Sheep Creek road has been blocked off by the local Sheriff’s Department, and road closures are in place for areas surrounding the fire. Mandatory evacuations will be required if fire gets established north of Sheep Creek road. Summary The fire is burning on private land through areas of mixed conifer with pockets of heavy logging slash and standing dead timber. The fire acreage increased after yesterday’s burnout operations and more accurate mapping. The fire is still within the boundaries of the Flagstaff and Sheep Creek roads. Primary and contingency dozer and hand lines have been established throughout the fire perimeter....

There will be a Public Meeting for the Miriam Fire on Sunday August 5 at 2 pm at White Pass Village Inn. Fire Managers and agency representatives will provide current updates on suppression activates, evacuations and

Dufur, OR – It was a busy and productive night for firefighters as they continue to strengthen containment lines and extinguish hot spots 25’ or more interior from those lines. OSFM resources have reduced the threat to structures by removing fuels and mopping up hotspots. Unburned interior pockets of fuel will be assessed today and measures taken to reduce the threat of embers igniting them. With the majority of the fire’s heat located in the Winslow Rd area, a hose line was put in place to assist firefighters with mopping up those areas. The north and east flanks of the fire continue to cool and firefighters will be assessing those containment lines for strength and mopping up the perimeters. With the risk to the structures reduced, structure protection task forces will begin to demobilize today, with the last task force anticipating being released tomorrow morning. Weather will be warmer and drier than yesterday with afternoon winds on the fire this afternoon increasing,...

Prospect, Oregon – The Northwest Incident Management Team #13 (NW#13) was mobilized to control nineteen fires on the High Cascades Ranger District west of Crater Lake National Park under the collective name Sugar Pine, which is also the name of one specific fire. The Goodview Fire has merged with the Sugar Pine Fire. Both will be referred to as the “Sugar Pine Fire”. The Sugar Pine Fire is now 8,496 acres. The Miles Fire (over 10,000 acres) is part of the neighboring “South Umpqua Complex”. The Miles Fire has also spread into the Sugar Pine. Yesterday, the Miles/Sugar Pine fires made no runs and grew very little. The 200-acre spot fire that started on the south east side of Elk Creek Thursday afternoon was aggressively attacked by hand crews, heavy equipment and air support and was successfully held in check with direct and indirect line construction. Homes along Elk Creek Road were protected. The Miles and Sugar Pine fires continue to merge interiorly which...

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 will assume command of the fire Sunday, August 5, at 6:00 a.m. Weather and Fire Behavior: Fire activity picked up late yesterday in Sixmile Creek to the south and on the northwest perimeter evidenced by visible smoke columns. Weather today will be similar to yesterday; mostly sunny, with smoky conditions continuing. Increasing humidity along with a cooling trend is expected today and Sunday with a return to warming and drying starting early next week. West-northwest winds will again lead to some west to east clearing along the western Klondike perimeter this afternoon. There is potential for active to very active fire behavior when this clearing occurs. Continued perimeter growth of up to one-half mile is possible in active areas. Yesterday’s Activities: Crews continued structure protection in Briggs Valley north of the fire. Firefighters worked through the day to mop up and hold the containment line where burnouts were...

The Smoke Outlook for southwest Oregon has been released for August

COMMUNITY MEETING WILL BE HELD IN HAPPY CAMP AT THE GRANGE ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 5TH AT 6:00 P.M. Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 1 will assume command of the fire Sunday, August 5, at 6:00 a.m. Weather & Fire Behavior: Temperatures across the fire area will be cooler again today with the ridges in the high 70’s and high 80’s across the valleys. Fire behavior will be active as the smoke continues to clear. Winds will continue to be light out of the west, shifting to north-northwest in the afternoon. Yesterday’s Activities: Crews continued to patrol and mopped up the dozer line between the 4810, 012 and 4808 roads on the northern end of the fire. The west side of the fire continues to hold at the 060 road. Crews are continuing to open dozer lines established during the Eclipse Fire in 2017 south of Indian Creek and will work to tie those lines into the 030 road and back into the Siskiyou Wilderness to the southwest. Helicopters took advantage of a recently...

Miriam Fire Update Fire Information Line: 541-786-0489 August 4, 2018 – 9 a.m. Firefighters succeed in limiting the spread of the Miriam Fire yesterday Acres: 800 acres Percent Containment: 0% Start Date: 07/30/18 Personnel/Resources: Three 20-person crews, 1 helicopter (others available, as needed), 14 engines, 1 dozer, 212 total personnel Location: Two miles east of White Pass Ski Area, within the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the Naches Ranger District, 32 miles southwest of Naches, WA. Cause: Lightning Estimated Incident Containment or completion: 9/1/2018 A public meeting will be held tomorrow, Sunday, August 5 at 2 pm at the White Pass Village Inn to provide current updates on the Miriam Fire and associated evacuations and closures. Current Activity: Fire behavior moderated again yesterday by cool temperatures and, with the aid of aviation resources, firefighters were able to keep the Miriam Fire from expanding significantly. The fire did...

Size: 36,406 acres Containment: 34%Community Meeting Tonight at 6pm at the North Valley High SchoolAs the Taylor Creek Fire continues to steadily back toward Bear Camp Road, Galice Creek drainage, and Chrome Ridge, crews used favorable weather to initiate firing operations Friday and early Saturday north and northwest of the fire. Aerial techniques enable crews to strategically place fire where conditions are favorable, to eliminate fuels ahead of the advancing wildfire. Oregon State Fire Marshal structure firefighters continued to prepare and protect homes in these areas. Bear Camp Road system closure remains in effect. Firefighters continue to patrol the eastern extent of Taylor Creek Fire from Hog Creek to Limpy Creek, diligently searching for any remaining pockets of heat within 150 of the fire’s edge. Residents returning home should avoid fire-weakened trees or debris rolling from steep slopes. With the slightest breeze, barely-standing trees or deteriorated limbs come...

Miles and Sugar Pine Fires combined in the Hawk Creek drainage Thursday. Goodview Fire also merged with Sugar Pine last night. Miles Fire is being mopped in the northwest area. While there was fire activity north of Ragsdale Butte, fire lines prevented any growth. Crews will continue to maintain the current line near Alco Rock and work on a secondary line along the west branch of Elk Creek. The spot fire across Elk Creek and near Burnt Peak has grown to approximately 300 acres. Level 3 evacuations are still in place for residents of the Elk Creek area. One structure was confirmed lost in the Elk Creek area. In coordination with resources working on the Sugar Pine Fire, structure protection is ongoing. Columbus Fire showed little growth yesterday. The 68 Road was cleared for fire traffic but snag issues persist. The fire continues to fill in the Black Canyon drainage. Fire growth to the east is expected to be slowed by the 2017 Broken Lookout fire scar. Snowshoe Fire is looking good as...

GILBERT FIRE UPDATE Level 2 Evacuations TWISP (August 4, 2018:7:00am) · Acres: 7000 · Personnel: 110 · Location: 21 miles west of Twisp · Start Date: July 28, 2018 · Cause: Lightning · Completion: Current Activity: The fire grew from 6000 to 7000 acres last night. The growth was primarily in a southeast direction into Williams Creek. Crews are being used to scout contingency lines and continue to work on assessing and preparing for structure protection in the Twisp River drainage. Structure protection preparations by crews may include a variety of methods such as removal of vegetation and flammable debris, fireline construction, and the installation of sprinklers around or on structures. A Type 1 Incident Management Team has arrived and command of the fire will be transferred to that team on Sunday morning . Evacuations: There is currently a Level 2 evacuation notice for residents above the road closure at the intersection of Buttermilk Road and Twisp...

COMMUNITY MEETINGS: There will be two Hendrix Fire Community Meetings next week. Details will be announced in upcoming updates. Saturday will continue to be cool with late afternoon and evening smoke as nearby fires continue to produce smoke. Low temperatures will be between 45-55 degrees. There will be better humidity recovery in the morning at 65-80%. High temperatures will be 68-72 degrees. Minimum relative humidity will be 27-35%. Generally expect northwest wind 8-13 mph on the ridges in and near the fire in the afternoon. The fire’s containment date remains difficult to fully project. Firefighters have reviewed conditions on the ground and determined that the containment date should be readjusted to August 31. This is due to many factors including steep and inaccessible terrain and fire activity in an unburned section near the southern perimeter. Additionally, the fire has backed-down a steep drainage in the southeast corner. Due to hazards and high risk exposure, firefighters...

The Florida Forest Service Red Type 1 Incident Management Team assumed leadership of fire operations today at noon. Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 1 has been reassigned to the Sugarpine Fire in Jackson County. Other Oregon Department of Forestry staff assigned to the Garner Complex Fire continue with support, mop up and restoration on the fire. Night shift crews are locating and marking hot spots while engines patrol and monitor the fire perimeter. Daytime crews will continue mop up activities and post-suppression repair. Beginning Saturday, 8/4/18, only morning updates will be provided due to decreasing fire activity. Southwestern Oregon Fire Information: Contact the Joint Information Center (JIC) for info on incidents across the southwest Oregon region between the hours of 7 a.m-10 p.m. (541) 474-5305 The BLM roads, lands and recreation sites along the West Fork of Evans Creek previously closed due to the Grave Creek and Pleasant Creek Fires are now...