InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON ORDER NO. 06-17-07-17-05 EMERGENCY ROAD & TRAIL CLOSURES Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited upon National Forest Roads and Trails on the Wenatchee River Ranger District within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit “A”. This Order will be effective beginning July 9, 2018 until rescinded. PROHIBITION: 1. USE BY ANY TYPE OF TRAFFIC ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM ROADS listed below and shown on Exhibit “A” [36 CFR 261.54(b)] 2. BEING ON ANY NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM TRAILS listed below and shown on Exhibit “A” [36CFR261.55(a)] For the purposes of this order, any type of travel is prohibited on the following Forest Service Roads (FSR) and Forest Service System Trails due to fire · Forest Service Road (FSR) 7200 beginning at the Junction with FSR...

Little Camas Fire Update7/9/2018 8:3Fire Information: (541) 499-2862 littlecamas2018@gmail.com Current strategies for the Little Camas Fire are focused on minimizing acres burned in order to protect commercial timber and sensitive plant habitat. In anticipation of expected critical weather conditions, operations will concentrate on reinforcing fire line construction and securing burning operations from yesterday. The team will also identify contingency options to address the potential for rolling debris on steep terrain within the fire area. Smoke has been minimal over the past couple of days and is anticipated to remain light today. As the fire’s edge is secured with hand-line and water, firefighters are patrolling for hot areas and rolling debris. Along the northeast and southeast portions of the fire, burning debris rolling out of the fire area have caused some additional fire growth. Yesterday, firefighters contained these “roll-outs” and continue to secure...

Little Camas Fire Update 7/8/2018 9:00 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 499-2862 littlecamas2018@gmail.com Northwest Type 2 Incident Management Team 7 led by Incident Commander Eric Knerr assumed command of the Little Camas Fire today at 6:00 am. Local firefighters and the community would like to express thanks and appreciation to the Type 3 Northwest Washington Team led by Incident Commander Don Melton for their outstanding work. Today, firefighters intend to seize the opportunity which today’s favorable weather is predicted to provide. Winds are expected to be relatively calm with occasional gusts of 10 miles per hour, relative humidity 20-28%, and temperatures reaching the low 80s. Fire managers’ strategy is to minimize acres burned and impacts to commercial timber and sensitive plant habitat. Type 1 hot shot crews plan to build fire line directly against the northern and southern edges of the fire. Tomorrow, weather is again expected to become unfavorable with higher...

Last night, the fire stayed within its established footprint despite the passing of a dry cold front accompanied by gusty winds. A strike team of engines patrolled the fire during last night’s shift. Active fire continues to burn in heavy timber and slash. Today, firefighters continue to directly attack the fire where appropriate and safe. Hand crews are working to contain the fire on steep rugged terrain. Lack of road access on portions of the fire also present challenges to the fire suppression effort. Aerial resources will be used to support the ground crews as needed with helicopter water bucket drops and retardant drops. Firefighters are expected to experience more favorable weather today. Winds are forecast to be calm with gusts to seven miles per hour and temperature highs in the 70s. The current size of the fire is estimated to be 338 acres and is 5% contained. 270 personnel are assigned to the fire. Resources committed to the fire include: · Three Type 1 hot shot hand...

Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 July 7, 2018 News Release Lobster Creek Fire Final Update ODF Incident Management Team 3 (ODF IMT 3) will hand responsibility for the Lobster Creek Fire back to Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA) Sunday at 12:00 pm. After four days with no additional growth and well-established control lines, fire managers are handing off the fire confident it poses no additional threat to life or property. Containment is estimated at 75 percent. “History will judge us by what we leave behind. The fire team did excellent work and I’m confident our efforts to suppress this fire will withstand the summer,” said Link Smith Team 3 Incident Commander. Control lines around the fire’s perimeter have been mopped up to at least 100 feet and deeper in areas with more potential to reignite. However, occasional smoke from unburnt fuel smoldering in the fire’s interior may be visible. CFPA will manage the fire...

Little Camas Fire Information update as of 3:00pm July 6, 2018 Little Camas Fire started on July 5th and was reported to be 100 acres. It is located on Weyerhaeuser land and is currently about 400 acres.It is in steep and rugged terrain making the attack by ground crews difficult.6 Rotor-wing and 2 fixed wing aircraft are attacking the fire today. This includes heavy tankers dropping fire retardant. Firefighting aircraft will be taking water from the Bible Camp pond. Please avoid this area for everyone’s safety. ~270 firefighters and 4 dozers are involved in ground fire attack. Because of the complexity of the firefighting effort, the DNR is bringing in a Type 2 Incident Management team to manage the fire. The Camas Meadows Bible Camp and three adjacent homes are currently under a level 1 evacuation notice. Due to fire activity in the area, Forest Service Trail Red Hill #1223 and Tronsen Ridge Trail #1204 from Ruby Creek Trail to the 5 Miles Road junction are closed to public...

Oregon Department of ForestryIncident Management Team 3 News Release July 6, 2018 Lobster Creek Fire Update GOLD BEACH, Ore. – With containment on the Lobster Creek Fire reaching 55 percent and the fire perimeter stable at 397 acres, fire managers are planning to transition control of the fire back to the Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA). ODF IMT 3 plans to transfer command of the fire back to CFPA Sunday. Fire crews remain focused on mopping up the fire’s perimeter. Mop up is slow, dirty and hazardous work that involves methodically digging out residual heat which often lurks in stumps and roots. Modern technology aids the hunt for hot spots. Night-shift crews use hand-held infrared scanners to find and identify residual heat sources. Fallers have been identifying and knocking down fire-weakened trees that could pose a hazard to firefighters working below. Removing hazard trees near the perimeter also eliminates the potential of those falling trees...

News Release July 5, 2018 Oregon Department of Forestry Inicident Management Team 3 Lobster Creek Fire Update GOLD BEACH, Ore. – The Lobster Creek Fire is shrinking. Due to more accurate mapping, the fire size is now 397 acres. As the edge of the fire cools, allowing closer access, firefighters are able to utilize handheld global positioning system (GPS) devices to trace the perimeter more closely and move from an estimate fire size to a more precise calculation. Containment has reached 30 percent.Mop up operations will continue over the next few days until the fire is in a state that the fire team is comfortable handing the incident back to the Coos Forest Protective Association. There are currently over 700 personnel assigned to the fire that includes 27 hand crews. The demobilization process begins today with crews and other resources heading home or to other fires over the next few days.Through July 4th, total suppression costs for the Lobster Creek Fire are just over...

El perímetro del incendio se ha mantenido relativamente sin cambios en los últimos días. Las cuadrillas han estado limpiando sistemáticamente desde el perímetro exterior. Este es un trabajo sucio. Cada pulgada cuadrada se revisa para detectar cualquier calor. Esto se hace a mano con el miembro de los bomberos revisando el perímetro tocando el suelo con las manos desnudas. Si se detecta un punto caliente, es desenterrado, volcado y rociado con agua. El terreno es muy empinado y rocoso, ha hecho el trabajo muy difícil. El incendio está en él huella del Tyee Fire de 1994 con sus escombros, árboles quemados, y árboles caídos. El perímetro aumenta a medida que se eliminan estos puntos calientes. Cuanto más ancho sea el perímetro, más seguro será el incendio, y poco probabilidades de que el incendio se escape. Hoy el perímetro está a un mínimo de 50 pies y hasta 100 pies de ancho. El interior del incendio consumirá combustibles y eventualmente se apagará. A partir del...

While the Lobster Creek Fire is burning on private industrial timberlands, the map viewer on inciweb uses a base layer that does not accurately reflect current ownership (shows fire on USFS). Inciweb is working with its map service provider and cooperators to correct the discrepancy.

Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 News Release July 4, 2018 Lobster Creek Fire Update Gold Beach, OR – Firefighters on the Lobster Creek Fire and fires across the nation are wishing everyone a happy 4th of July. On this anniversary of independence, firefighters are encouraging everyone to act responsibly with fireworks and other spark emitting activities that could to lead to another devastating wildland fire. Wildland firefighters cherish our country’s beauty and work hard every day to preserve it. Their message is simple, “only you can prevent wildfires”. Acres burned on the Lobster Creek Fire remain unchanged at 446. Containment has reached 15 percent. Personnel on the fire has grown to over 700, which typically means that the fire is growing. In this fire’s case, with much of the fire season still remaining, reinforcements were brought in to eliminate any chance of the fire rekindling and escaping in the future. Crews...

Se ha hecho un gran progreso! Ha habido personal de bomberos trabajando dos turnos diarios desde que el incendio de Stormy Creek comenzó el domingo 1 °. Los equipos nocturnos patrullaban y monitorean la actividad del fuego con dos camiones de contra incendios. El perímetro del incendio se ha mantenido relativamente sin cambios en los últimos días. Las cuadrillas han estado limpiando sistemáticamente desde el perímetro exterior. Este es un trabajo sucio. Cada pulgada cuadrada se revisa para detectar cualquier calor. Esto se hace a mano con el miembro los bomberos tocando el suelo con las manos desnudas. Si se detecta un punto caliente, es desenterrado, volcado y rociado con agua. El terreno es muy empinado y rocoso, ha hecho el trabajo muy difícil. El incendio está en él huella del Tyee Fire de 1994 con sus escombros, árboles quemados, y árboles caídos. El perímetro aumenta a medida que se eliminan estos puntos calientes. Cuanto más ancho sea el...

Lobster Creek Fire Update Gold Beach, OR – Firefighters gained considerable ground overnight on the Lobster Creek Fire 12 miles northeast of Gold Beach. The wind driven fire, that started Sunday afternoon on private industrial timberlands, quickly grew to an estimated 450 acres by Monday morning. Since that time, fire crews have nearly completed hand and bulldozer lines around the fire’s perimeter. Current containment stands at 10 percent. Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team (IMT), led by Incident Commander Link Smith, arrived Monday afternoon to relieve Coos Forest Protective Association crews and allow them to return to initial attack responsibilities on the district. The IMT, comprised of 33 overhead positions, quickly assessed the needs and began ordering additional resources. About 450 firefighters will be working round the clock, split between a day and night shift. Ground forces are being supported with 6 helicopters, 3 retardant dropping Single...

Firefighters made considerable progress today on the Lobster Creek Fire 12 miles northeast of Gold Beach. The wind driven fire, that started Sunday afternoon on private industrial timberlands, quickly grew to an estimated 450 acres by Monday morning. Since that time, fire crews have stopped the fire's progress and continue to reinforce containment lines. The fire is currently 10 percent contained.

The Wasco County Sheriff has lifted all Level 1 Notifications on the Boxcar and Jack Knife Fires as of Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Although the imminent risk from these fires has passed, residents are encouraged to continue to be thoughtful and prepared for other emergencies and natural disasters. Local residents may still see occasional smoke from pockets of unburned fuel smoldering within the perimeter of the burned areas. This is not a great concern if it’s well interior to the fire perimeters, but if you see flames or spot fires near the edge of a burned area, call 911. The Deschutes and John Day Rivers, boat launch sites, camping areas and highways are open for recreation. Visitors should use caution while driving as rocks may dislodge and become a hazard along the roads. If precipitation occurs, flash flooding can move large amounts of soil and debris. Always be aware of potential hazards when moving through recently burned areas. For additional Fire Information,...

The Wasco County Sheriff has lifted all Level 1 Notifications on the Boxcar and Jack Knife Fires as of Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Although the imminent risk from these fires has passed, residents are encouraged to continue to be thoughtful and prepared for other emergencies and natural disasters. Local residents may still see occasional smoke from pockets of unburned fuel smoldering within the perimeter of the burned areas. This is not a great concern if it’s well interior to the fire perimeters, but if you see flames or spot fires near the edge of a burned area, call 911. The Deschutes and John Day Rivers, boat launch sites, camping areas and highways are open for recreation. Visitors should use caution while driving as rocks may dislodge and become a hazard along the roads. If precipitation occurs, flash flooding can move large amounts of soil and debris. Always be aware of potential hazards when moving through recently burned areas. For additional Fire Information,...

Maupin, Oregon – Despite gusty winds and low relative humidity yesterday, firefighters continued to improve containment lines and mop up. Estimated containment of the Boxcar Fire has increased to 85%, with 95% containment accomplished for the Jack Knife Fire. There was no significant growth of the fires yesterday. The small increase in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. Crews and air resources are targeting any remaining hotspots near firelines, but mopping-up and patrolling are the major activities occurring today. Many resources are being released to support fire suppression efforts throughout the nation. A local Type 3 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Shannon Prather will shadow NWIMT #13 and begin managing the Boxcar Fire tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. The Jack Knife fire will enter patrol status. Unless conditions change, this will be the final daily Update specific to these fires. Fire information will continue to be available through the Central Oregon Fire...

Maupin, Oregon – Despite gusty winds and low relative humidity yesterday, firefighters continued to improve containment lines and mop up. Estimated containment of the Boxcar Fire has increased to 85%, with 95% containment accomplished for the Jack Knife Fire. There was no significant growth of the fires yesterday. The small increase in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. Crews and air resources are targeting any remaining hotspots near firelines, but mopping-up and patrolling are the major activities occurring today. Many resources are being released to support fire suppression efforts throughout the nation. A local Type 3 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Shannon Prather will shadow NWIMT #13 and begin managing the Boxcar Fire tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. The Jack Knife fire will enter patrol status. Unless conditions change, this will be the final daily Update specific to these fires. Fire information will continue to be available through the Central Oregon Fire...

Maupin, Oregon – Despite gusty winds yesterday, cooler weather helped firefighters continue to build and improve containment lines. Estimated containment for the Boxcar Fire has increased to 60% and for the Jack Knife Fire to 80%. The Boxcar Fire is now 99,500 acres. More than 100 miles of containment line on the fire are being monitored by firefighters who mop-up hotspots as they are found. Emphasis is still being directed in the Deschutes River Canyon where heat can persist under juniper trees and sage brush. Steep, rocky, inaccessible terrain is a challenge for firefighters in this area. A BLM jet boat transported firefighters up river yesterday to assess structures and develop contingency plans, should fire activity increase. Yesterday afternoon, as firefighters were completing fireline on the East flank of the Boxcar Fire, some active fire between Highway 197 and Bakeoven Road was suppressed with helicopter water drops. Overall, smoke in the fire area was minimal in...

Maupin, Oregon – Despite gusty winds yesterday, cooler weather helped firefighters continue to build and improve containment lines. Estimated containment for the Boxcar Fire has increased to 60% and for the Jack Knife Fire to 80%. The Boxcar Fire is now 99,500 acres. More than 100 miles of containment line on the fire are being monitored by firefighters who mop-up hotspots as they are found. Emphasis is still being directed in the Deschutes River Canyon where heat can persist under juniper trees and sage brush. Steep, rocky, inaccessible terrain is a challenge for firefighters in this area. A BLM jet boat transported firefighters up river yesterday to assess structures and develop contingency plans, should fire activity increase. Yesterday afternoon, as firefighters were completing fireline on the East flank of the Boxcar Fire, some active fire between Highway 197 and Bakeoven Road was suppressed with helicopter water drops. Overall, smoke in the fire area was minimal in...