InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Soap Lake Fire Incident Update June 12, 2018 8:00 PM Grant County – The Soap Lake Fire started yesterday at 4:30 PM along State Route 17 four miles north of Soap Lake. Grant County Fire District 7 responded and quickly requested mutual aid from surrounding communities as the fire grew rapidly with the strong winds that were present at the time. Firefighters from numerous state, federal and local agencies battled the fire through the night and into the early morning hours. Their efforts saved numerous homes and outbuildings that were threatened. Level 2 & 3 evacuation orders were issued for approximately 50 residents in the area. Today at 12:45 AM, Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized state fire mobilization at the request of Fire Chief Kirk Sheppard, Grant County Fire District 7. State mobilization resources from around the state arrived early this morning and relieved the local firefighters. Crews continued to work to strengthen containment lines in moderate...

This week fire crews completed 20 acres of underburning in Face Thin Unit 3, marking another effective burn in reducing wildfire risk to the community of Westfir as part of the Oakridge/Westfir Thinning and Fuels Reduction Project. A two acre spotfire did develop on adjacent private land, which was aggressively suppressed. Additional firefighting resources that were brought in also helped with several hotspots that became active in Face Thin Unit 2, which was underburned a few weeks ago. Mop up work to cool remaining hot spots in the burn areas and monitoring of the burn sites will occur today and through the weekend; there will be no new ignitions. Some residents or visitors to the area may smell smoke or see lingering smoke over the weekend. Overall, smoke impacts are expected to be minimal. You can check the local air quality rating at http://www.lrapa.org/. Please continue to use caution if traveling on Aufderheide Road (Forest Road 19) as fire crews and equipment will be...

Crews from the Emigrant Creek Ranger District, Malheur National Forest, will conduct approximately 100 acres of prescribed fire operations on the Marshall Devine unit today. Crews will be applying prescribed fire in the area of the Highway 395 south and Forest Road 31 junction, located approximately 18 miles northeast of Burns.Smoke may temporarily reduce visibility on roadways near the burning operations. Signs will be posted notifying drivers they are entering an area of prescribed fire activity. Please exercise care when driving in smoky, lower-visibility conditions. When planning and carrying out prescribed fires, the most important consideration is for the safety of firefighters and public.Using low intensity prescribed fire, under specific and controlled conditions, fire management can recreate the beneficial effects of natural fire. After a prescribed fire, fire-dependent vegetation thrives, competition among species is reduced, destructive insect populations and diseases are...

As a follow up to the update that we sent out on Tuesday, we wanted to share that new ignitions will only occur through Friday morning in observance of graduation festivities. Mop up work to cool remaining hot spots in the burn areas and monitoring of the burn sites will occur Friday afternoon through Sunday. Prescribed burning may then begin again on Monday or Tuesday of next week. Some residents or visitors to the area may smell smoke or see lingering smoke over the weekend. Overall, smoke impacts are expected to be minimal. As always, feel free to let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you! Jennifer Velez Public Information Officer (541)222-9241

Crews from the Blue Mountain Ranger District on the northern half of the Malheur National Forest will begin approximately 100 acres of black-lining in the Galena project area, units 10 and 20, today and tomorrow, with anticipation of completing about 2,000 acres total by aerial ignitions in the later part of the week. Burning operations may have some short-term impacts on air quality levels to the Austin/Bates and Galena areas of Grant County. Fire personnel will work closely with the Oregon Department of Forestry in accordance with State Smoke Management Plans to insure that smoke impacts on the local communities are minimized. As compared to wildfires, prescribed fires are shorter in duration and are conducted under weather conditions to minimize the impacts of smoke on the public. Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing health conditions and those who are particularly sensitive to smoke. Those that fall into either category should limit their exposure to the...

The Newell Grade Fire is 19 miles east of Goldendale in Klickitat County, near Bickelton, WA. As of 1900 on the 28th, the fire is now being managed by the Southeast Washington All Hazard Type 3 Interagency Team.Tony Gilmore is the Team’s Incident Commander. The Incident Command Post (ICP) is located at the Bickelton Elementary and High School.The Newell Grade Fire started on June 28th at approximately 1800. The wildfire is at 228 acres and is burning in mainly grass and sage with scrub Oregon white oak in the draws. It is located about 40 minutes SSW of Bickelton.The home unit did a remarkable job with the initial fire suppression effort.The fire’s containment as of Saturday is at 95%. Saturday, the crews will be in mop up mode continuing to meet the established turn back standards. The crews will be returning to their respective home units beginning on the afternoon of the 30th.The fire incident is scheduled to be turned back to the local DNR unit on Sunday July

Blue Mountain Ranger District Fire Crews begun black-lining in the Galena Project Area in efforts to reduce fuels on the edges of the units. This supports secure conditions for prescribed aviation

Hood River, Ore. —May 29, 2018—Forest Service firefighters responded this morning to a small hotspot reported near Herman Creek. The glow from the flare-up was reported around 2:00 a.m. on May 29. Firefighters located the hotspot early this morning, about a half mile east of Herman Creek Trailhead, north of the Gorge 400 trail. Two engines and a hand crew from Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area are on scene suppressing the fire, which was found smoldering in heavy downed timber with few ground fuels. Eagle Creek Fire, contained in late November 2017, has not yet been declared out and the hotspot is not unexpected. Heavy fuels and organic material known as duff can hold heat underground over winter and flare back up after a period of warm dry weather. Hotspots are among the known post-fire hazards that have caused area trails to remain closed in the wake of Eagle Creek Fire. Other hazards include fire-weakened trees and loose boulders that can fall on trails at unpredictable...

Last week, fire crews completed underburning in Sidewalk Thin Unit 15, located near the Huckleberry OHV Area. It was another effective burn, reducing wildfire risk as part of the Oakridge and Westfir Thinning and Fuels Reduction Project. Fuels, particularly larger logs and branches, may continue to smolder and produce some lingering smoke through the weekend. Area residents and visitors may also, at times, smell smoke. You can check the local air quality rating at http://www.lrapa.org/. The District plans to continue burning near High Prairie after the holiday weekend. There are two units to complete in the project area by early July, Face Thin 1 which is 25 acres and Face Thin 3, a 20 acre unit, as part of the larger project to reduce wildfire risk to the communities of Oakridge and Westfir.

Over the past weekend, fire crews successfully underburned 125 acres within and near Face Thin Unit 2. Today, crews are underburning the 20 acre Sidewalk Unit further away from Westfir, near the Huckleberry OHV area. Crews will continue to mop up, and monitor the burns through the Memorial Day weekend. Fuels conditions have been optimal this week, leading to the effective consumption of surface fuels and logging debris left from recent thinnings in these areas, overall meeting the goal to reduce wildfire risk. No active ignitions will occur from Friday morning through Monday for the Memorial Day weekend. Based on weather conditions, burning could resume on Tuesday. Anyone traveling along Aufderheide Road, Forest Road 19 and Forest Road 1928, as well as the OHV trails at Huckleberry OHV Park should continue to use caution as firefighters and equipment will still be working in the

Fire crews will move forward with prescribed burning in Blue Mountain Ranger District's Starr Project Area today with goals of approximately 127 acres in Unit 30, off of Forest Road 24. Today's prescribed ignitions will include jackpot burning, a form of underburn or broadcast burn where the target fuels to be ignited are the concentrations (or jackpots) of vegetative fuel. Fire will creep between concentrations of slash, increasing as conditions begin to dry from the past few days of heavy rain.

OKANOGAN FLOODING 2018 Final Incident Update – May 21, 2018 10 A.M. Okanogan County – With levees built to withstand expected river flows and sandbags stockpiled throughout Okanogan County, the Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team (IMT) has completed its mission to solidify flood protection along the Okanogan River. Monitoring efforts will now be managed by the county’s Department of Emergency Management and cities along the river valley. Thanks to the help of dedicated community volunteers, the IMT made of firefighters from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the Washington Fire Service, the Washington Conservation Corps and the Washington State Patrol was able to fill and lay more than 220,000 sandbags along the river’s banks, resulting in 6,623 feet of additional protection along levees from Oroville to Okanogan. “We’re glad we were able to come in here quickly and help our neighbors and colleagues in Okanogan County,” said Ed...

With widespread rain received over the weekend, Prairie City and Emigrant Creek Ranger Districts will be evaluating conditions to determine the next possible prescribed burn window. Blue Mountain Ranger District crews will be conducting black line operations in the Starr project area, off Forest Road 24, south of John Day.For further information on planned prescribed burning, visit R6 Malheur N.F. Potential Prescribed Fire Projects Interactive Map.The data in this interactive map represents the recently completed, active, upcoming, and out-year prescribed fire planning for the Malheur National Forest. All units have been analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Burning typically takes place once all other activities described in the project analysis have been completed. Prescribed burning is highly dependent on precise weather and fuel conditions, and managers coordinate with the Oregon Department of Forestry to minimize air quality impacts to local communities....

OKANOGAN FLOODING 2018 Incident Update – May 18, 2018 11 A.M. Okanogan County – Flood mitigation efforts along the Okanogan River are moving into defense mode as crews finish shoring up protection efforts. Crews working with community volunteers have filled and laid approximately 200,000 sandbags along the river throughout Okanogan County to protect critical infrastructure and homes. Work will now focus on strengthening those barriers and responding to leaks as they arise. Although water levels are not as high as earlier forecasted, the ground is extremely saturated and may become unstable in areas. All citizens should be prepared and take appropriate actions to protect lives and property as necessary. A flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service Thursday remains in effect. Citizens should be aware of the potential for flash floods especially over recent burn scars, as well as the possibility of rapidly rising tributary systems feeding into the Okanogan River. The...

OKANOGAN FLOODING 2018 Incident Update – May 17, 2018 12 P.M. Okanogan County – The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch due to severe thunderstorms that are predicted for later today. These storms will produce the potential for flash floods especially over recent burn scars, as well as the possibility of rapidly rising tributary systems feeding into the Okanogan River. All citizens should be prepared for rising water and take appropriate actions to protect lives and property as necessary. Flooding began last week when warm temperatures melted a record Canadian snowpack into the Okanogan, Similkameen and Methow rivers and their tributaries. Incident Commanders are working closely with the National Weather Service to monitor water levels, which are expected to continue to rise through the weekend. Residents living near these rivers should continue to monitor high water levels and be prepared to move to higher ground if necessary. Colville Tribes Emergency...

Road closure information for Okanogan County can be found at

OKANOGAN FLOODING 2018 Incident Update – May 16, 2018 10:00 AM Okanogan County – More than 200 responders from around the state are continuing efforts to solidify protection of critical infrastructure throughout Okanogan County against flooding that began last week and is expected to intensify through this weekend. We want all citizens to be prepared for rivers rising and take appropriate actions to protect lives and property as necessary. These efforts are being organized by the Okanogan County Department of Emergency Management and the Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team. Crews from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Conservation Corps are working closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers, local officials and countless community volunteers and contractors to assess and strengthen flood protections. Flooding began last week when warm temperatures melted a record Canadian snowpack into the Okanogan, Similkameen and...

The Willow Springs Fire was contained May 15 at 3:56pm. The wildfire cause is undetermined, but a managed fire approach was used to control the fire. Terrain and weather allowed fire managers to utilize the wildfire to reduce dangerous fuels and improve forest heath, just like with a prescribed

All districts are on hold with prescribed ignitions for the remainder of this week due to weather and local area considerations (Oyster Feed in Seneca, Ore. this weekend) until early to mid-next week. Ignitions are complete in unit 10 of the Damon South project area, with approximately 500 acres accomplished Tuesday using helicopter and hand ignition, totaling 630 acres in two days. Crews on the Emigrant Creek Ranger District accomplished 940 acres in Silvies project area on Monday.

Blue Mountain Ranger District crews will continue with Damon south prescribed ignitions again today. They may also be conduction some black line in Galena project area should conditions line up. Prairie City Ranger District will not be conducting any prescribed burning today. To the south, Emigrant Creek Ranger District crews will hold the Silvies 8 unit that went as planned yesterday, accomplishing 940 acres of low intensity fire within the unit. Crews will monitor the prescribed burns until they are called out.Smoke may settle into valleys, but should clear out as the day progresses. The weather forecast is calling for rain and wind in the area tonight and tomorrow which will disperse smoke and dampen any residual fire