InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Malheur National Forest fire crews, plan to conduct additional prescribed fire operations, starting as early as today, Monday, May 14. Blue Mountain Ranger District crews will be working on approximately 600 acres in the Damon project area, located in the vicinity of Seneca. Crews on Emigrant Creek Ranger District will continue in the Silvies project area, located north of Burns, where crews anticipate accomplishing about 900 acres of treatment. Burning operations may have some short-term impacts on air quality levels. 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...

On the northern half of the forest, fire officials are currently holding and monitoring prescribed ignitions from earlier this week. Crews will begin to prepare for the next window for ignitions. Active project areas include Damon, Starr, Galena, Knox and 16 Road. On the south half, crews are preparing the Silvies project area for plans to ignite next week, followed by the George project area. The specific dates of each burn is dependent on many variables including resource availability, current and predicted weather, and smoke management constraints.

The Malheur National Forest fire staff will evaluate conditions to initiate prescription fire operations in the Damon project area, located on the Blue Mountain Ranger District, as soon as today, Thursday, May 10. If conditions meet criteria for prescribed fire, crews will start ignitions on 1,000 acres in the Damon Unit 10, located near Swick Old Growth. Crews continue with operations in the Marshall Devine project area on the south half of the forest, and area near completion of 1,300 acres. The Baker River Interagency Hotshot Crew from Washington State will be on forest assisting with the operations. The community of John Day may notice increased activity of Forest Service vehicles in the area for the next 10 days, as crews travel to and from the Forest and are in town resupplying and purchasing fuel. The increased use of prescribed fire, implemented under conditions that pose minimal ecological and social risk, is an important tool in helping the Malheur National Forest...

Knox Project Area Today, May 8, 2018, the Prairie City Ranger District will begin aerial ignitions prescribed burn in the Knox project area with goals of completing up to 700 acres. Silvies and 16 Road Project Area Over the weekend, the Emigrant Creek Ranger District successfully conducted a prescribed burn in the Silvies project area. Crews were able to achieve approximately 500 acres on Friday; efforts on Saturday produced an additional 300 acres of successful treatment. Crews on the Prairie City Ranger District were able to accomplish 125 acres of treatment using prescribed fire. Marshal Devine Project Area On Monday May 7, fire crews were able to complete 800 acres of prescribed fire treatment in the Marshal Devine project area, near Forest Road 31 and Hwy 395 south, on the Emigrant Creek District. Crews hope to complete an additional 500 acres on Tuesday, May 8. Smoke may have a temporary impact, reducing visibility on local roadways, including Highway 395, near the burning...

The Prairie City Ranger District is planning to initiate prescribed fire operations today on 120 acres just south of Crane Prairie Guard Station. If weather conditions hold on Saturday, crews will work to complete operations on an additional 100 plus acres in the same area. The Emigrant Creek Ranger District plans to conduct a prescribed burn in the Silvies Unit starting as early as today. The planned prescribed fire operations are located northeast of Burns. After many years of fire exclusion, an ecosystem that needs periodic fire becomes unhealthy. Trees are stressed by overcrowding; fire-dependent species disappear; and flammable fuels build up and become hazardous. The right fire at the right place at the right time: • Reduces hazardous fuels, protecting human communities from extreme fires; • Minimizes the spread of pest insects and disease; • Removes unwanted species that threaten species native to an ecosystem; • Provides forage for game; • Improves habitat for...

Fire staff on the Prairie City Ranger District initiated Prescribed Fire operations on Wednesday, April 26, in the Dads WUI Project Area. Crews were able to effectively treat 35 acres, another 15 acres will be completed on Thursday, April 26. A wet cold front is expected to move into the area on Friday, April 27, operations will be halted until on the ground conditions improve after the cool and damp weather changes.

PENDLETON, Ore. - Fire management officials on the Heppner Ranger District are preparing to implement a 250-acre prescribed burn as early as Thursday, April 26 near Sunflower Flat, approximately 20 miles south of Heppner. The activities are anticipated to produce localized smoke impacts for approximately two to three days, after ignitions are complete. The objective of the prescribed burn operation is to reduce hazardous fuel loads by using controlled fire to reduce the amount of dead and down fuels and selectively thin understory trees in dense forested stands. Prescribed burning will also help stimulate fire tolerant plant species, enhance forage and browse, and reduce the risk of large stand-replacing wildfires. If conditions are right, the district will continue burning into next week. Frequent, low-intensity fire is essential for healthy forests and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire caused by excessive fuel buildup. Prescribed burning is an effective tool for...

John Day, Prairie City, and Hines, Ore. – The Malheur National Forest is preparing to implement early season prescribed burning activities and planning for late season burning. Spring prescribed burning may begin as early as this week in the Knox unit on the Prairie City Ranger District, if conditions are favorable. Early season burning starts as snow melts and runs through the beginning of fire season typically, as early as March through typically June. Late season burning can begin as fire season is winding down, typically September and run as late as November. Prescribed burning is done to achieve a variety of objectives including reducing hazardous fuels, reducing activity slash to facilitate planting, reducing the risk of large-scale wildfires, enhancing wildlife habitat, and restoring fire as a disturbance factor on landscapes. An estimated 10,000 acres are planned for burning in the early season and 14,000 acres in the late season, but that figure could increase if...

This spring, the Middle Fork Ranger District plans to underburn the recently thinned area that is closest to town (Unit 17), and potentially underburn 150 acres outside of Westfir, along Aufderheide Drive (Forest Service Road 19.) Fire crews will conduct prescribed burns in the area that was recently thinned to clear the ground of the majority of downed tree tops and limbs The underburn outside of Oakridge is expected to take two days to complete and would cause a temporary closure or delay of a section of High Prairie Road. The underburn outside of Westfir is expected to take several days to complete and also cause a delay on Aufderheide Drive. “This area has seen wildfires many times before, and eventually will again,” said Jose Mercado, Fire Management Officer for the Middle Fork Ranger District. “The combination of thinning and prescribed fire is the best method to protect the community from an intense and unstoppable crown fire.” While this project will produce smoke...

noscript-98kowhk0ufeacijt4.gif"> Fire can be an important part of maintaining diverse and healthy ecosystems. Here’s why. Over time, litter (mostly in the form of needles, leaves and dead vegetation) collects along the forest floor. New shrubs and small trees begin to grow, obscuring necessary sunlight and choking other native species. Seed germination of many plants is hindered as dense litter prohibits seeds from reaching the fertile mineral soil underneath top soil. Litter = fuel for fire. When a prescribed fire is introduced to an ecosystem before excessive fuel has built up, a low-intensity burn results, removing litter and exposing the soil just enough for native species to germinate and flourish. After a prescribed fire, fire-dependent vegetation thrives, competition among species is reduced, destructive insect populations and diseases are controlled, and excessive fuel build-up is eliminated.

Fire has always been part of the environment, and as one of the most important natural agents of change, fire plays a vital role in maintaining certain ecosystems. Native Americans understood this and used fire to run game, maintain prairies and keep ecosystems healthy. Prescribed fires, also known as prescribed burns or controlled burns, refer to the controlled application of fire by a team of fire experts under specified weather conditions that helps restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire.Prescribed fires help reduce the catastrophic damage of wildfire on our lands and surrounding communities by:Safely reducing excessive amounts of brush, shrubs and treesEncouraging the new growth of native vegetationMaintaining the many plant and animal species whose habitats depend on periodic firePrescribed fire is one of the most effective tools we have in preventing wildfires and managing the intensity and spread of wildfires. However, a prescribed fire is still fire, thus...

North Fork John Day Ranger District to implement prescribed burn this week PENDLETON, Ore. – The Umatilla National Forest is preparing to implement early season prescribed burning activities as soon as Thursday across portions of the Forest. Fire management officials on the North Fork John Day Ranger District will begin implementing a prescribed burn plan on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, three miles south of Dale along the west side of Highway 395. The District’s upcoming prescribed burn operations consist of approximately 200 acres of grass within a 600 acre burn unit. The objective of the burn is to reduce the spread of invasive grasses, such as Ventenata and Medusahead, by burning the first germination of grass following the recent snow melt. Implementing these burn operations will help encourage the growth of native vegetation. Smoke from the burn operations will be visible along the highway, but the activities are not anticipated to produce significant or long-lasting smoke....

North Fork John Day Ranger District to implement prescribed burn this week PENDLETON, Ore. – The Umatilla National Forest is preparing to implement early season prescribed burning activities as soon as Thursday across portions of the Forest. Fire management officials on the North Fork John Day Ranger District will begin implementing a prescribed burn plan on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, three miles south of Dale along the west side of Highway 395. The District’s upcoming prescribed burn operations consist of approximately 200 acres of grass within a 600 acre burn unit. The objective of the burn is to reduce the spread of invasive grasses, such as Ventenata and Medusahead, by burning the first germination of grass following the recent snow melt. Implementing these burn operations will help encourage the growth of native vegetation. Smoke from the burn operations will be visible along the highway, but the activities are not anticipated to produce significant or long-lasting smoke....

Following an official review of Eagle Creek Fire status on November 30, 2017, the fire has been declared 100% contained. The change reflects a determination made that the fire is not expected to grow beyond its perimeter, and is not the same as officially declaring the fire “out.” At this stage of the fire, no further growth is expected, but “fuels” (timber and other flammable natural materials) may still be smoldering within the fire perimeter. An incident commander with the U.S. Forest Service is still assigned to the fire and will continue to apprise the situation. Current personnel on the fire are focused on protecting public safety in the closed areas. The Eagle Creek Fire Closure, which includes numerous recreation sites in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood National Forest, remains unchanged except for Multnomah Falls Lodge and front plaza, which opened yesterday. More information about the fire closure and post-fire response can be found on the...

Following an official review of Eagle Creek Fire status on November 30, 2017, the fire has been declared 100% contained. The change reflects a determination made that the fire is not expected to grow beyond its perimeter, and is not the same as officially declaring the fire “out.” At this stage of the fire, no further growth is expected, but “fuels” (timber and other flammable natural materials) may still be smoldering within the fire perimeter. An incident commander with the U.S. Forest Service is still assigned to the fire and will continue to apprise the situation. Current personnel on the fire are focused on protecting public safety in the closed areas. The Eagle Creek Fire Closure, which includes numerous recreation sites in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood National Forest, remains unchanged except for Multnomah Falls Lodge and front plaza, which opened yesterday. More information about the fire closure and post-fire response can be found on the...

Burned Area Report Summaries and Values at Risk Matrix and Treatments [Along with JPG and PDF Treatment Maps below, KMZ map files are also available to view maps in greater detail in Google Earth (and many other mapping programs). Download the KMZ file (links at right) and save to your computer. Open the Google Earth program. [ If you don’t already have Google Earth, you can download and install it for free HERE. ] Drag the KMZ file onto the Google Earth program icon or main screen (or in Google Earth, click File, Import and select the KMZ file). After the KMZ file loads, you can zoom way in for more detail, change the angle of view, show or hide layers, and adjust transparency of layers.]Diamond Creek Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and TreatmentsTreatments Map JPG and PDF format Jack Creek Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and Treatments Treatments Map JPG and PDF format Uno Peak Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and Treatments Treatments...

Burned Area Report Summaries and Values at Risk Matrix and Treatments [Along with JPG and PDF Treatment Maps below, KMZ map files are also available to view maps in greater detail in Google Earth (and many other mapping programs). Download the KMZ file (links at right) and save to your computer. Open the Google Earth program. [ If you don’t already have Google Earth, you can download and install it for free HERE. ] Drag the KMZ file onto the Google Earth program icon or main screen (or in Google Earth, click File, Import and select the KMZ file). After the KMZ file loads, you can zoom way in for more detail, change the angle of view, show or hide layers, and adjust transparency of layers.]Diamond Creek Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and TreatmentsTreatments Map JPG and PDF format Jack Creek Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and Treatments Treatments Map JPG and PDF format Uno Peak Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and Treatments Treatments...

Contact: Chamise Kramer, Public Affairs Specialist (541) 618-2051 SW Oregon—The Chetco Bar Fire has been declared 100% contained, effective November 2, 2017. The announcement comes as more wet weather moves into the southwest Oregon area, bringing rain and, at higher elevations, snow. Additionally, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has made documents related to the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) effort available to the public via the RRSNF’s website. People can now access both the full BAER report, and the Specialist Reports that informed that document. (The public should be aware that the Specialist Reports document is a 163-page PDF document, and may take some time to download on slower internet connections.) For up-to-date information regarding the Chetco Bar Fire BAER efforts, follow the RRSNF on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact: Chamise Kramer, Public Affairs Specialist (541) 618-2051 SW Oregon—The Chetco Bar Fire has been declared 100% contained, effective November 2, 2017. The announcement comes as more wet weather moves into the southwest Oregon area, bringing rain and, at higher elevations, snow. Additionally, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has made documents related to the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) effort available to the public via the RRSNF’s website. People can now access both the full BAER report, and the Specialist Reports that informed that document. (The public should be aware that the Specialist Reports document is a 163-page PDF document, and may take some time to download on slower internet connections.) For up-to-date information regarding the Chetco Bar Fire BAER efforts, follow the RRSNF on Twitter and Facebook.

Numerous hazards brought on by the Norse Peak Fire on the Snoqualmie Ranger District has required the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to close down sections of the affected area to provide for public safety. The closure order can be viewed here. Click on Exhibit A and Exhibit B to view the closure map and a list of closed roads and trails.