InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Daily Update Eagle Creek Fire October 7, 2017 - 9:00 a.m. Fire Information: 541-392-1632 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) eaglecreekfire2017@gmail.com Approximate Fire Size: 48,831 acres Approximate Fire Containment: 47% Summary:Fire suppression repair continues today. Crews and heavy equipment are involved in chipping operations taking place primarily on the western side of the fire and grading and repairing roads. A cold front entered the area today, bringing precipitation and within the fire area. Gusty west winds and intermittent showers are expected through Saturday before giving way once again to a warmer, dryer start to next week. The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team has released the Eagle Creek Fire Burned Soil Severity map and preliminary findings. BAER Team members and other fire personnel have continued to report falling rocks and debris dislodging within the fire closure area. The area closure is in place in order to protect firefighters, the public, and emergency responders...

The Chetco Bar Fire remains 98% contained with a few isolated areas of light to moderate fire activity. The recent warming and drying trend has caused backing, creeping, and smoldering in an area of concern within the Wheeler Creek drainage. Fire personnel scouted the area yesterday and observed minimal fire behavior but heavy smoke due to thick leaf litter on the forest floor. This area is currently well within the containment line but with hot and dry weather fire personnel are developing plans for taking action both in the air and on the ground. Crews have finished chipping operations along the northwest perimeter and south of the Chetco River. Grading and seeding operations along Forest Road 070 near Mt. Emily will continue for the next few days.Firefighters continue to patrol the fire perimeter, mop-up any potential areas of heat, and work on suppression repair.Weather and Fire Behavior: A weak cold front will push through the area, bringing increased winds and scattered showers...

Update for Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, 9 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 719-8371 Online: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5523/ https://www.facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017/ Willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Attention: The removal of hazardous trees on Forest Service Road 19 is complete and there is no longer a need to keep the northern portion of the Aufderheide Scenic Byway (FSR 19) closed. This will allow access to Tewilliger “Cougar” Hot Springs. FSR 19 will remain closed from Cougar Crossing to Frissell Crossing as crews complete repair work in that area of the Rebel Fire. Recreation sites and trailheads along the closed portion of FSR 19 will remain inaccessible. Areas, roads and trails in the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest are open. The trails in the southern portion of the Mount Washington Wilderness have reopened. Horse Creek Road, FSR 2638 is open along with East Fork and Wapiti, FSR 1993. The Three Sisters Wilderness area in the...

A revised set of closures for the Umpqua National Forest has been released and is effective immediately. Forest Road 38 (Steamboat Road) is open to public travel. Forest Roads 3816 and 3810 are also reopened to the public. The burned area between Forest Road 38 and Highway 138 remains closed to entry....Forest Road 4720 (Panther Creek Road) is open from its junction with Forest Road 4714 about a half-mile southwest of Apple Creek Campground and State Highway 138 (milepost 43.6).Forest Road 34 (Toketee Road) and Forest Roads 3400-100 and 3400-072 are open to the public.The area east of the Boulder Creek Trail No. 1552 within the Boulder Creek Wilderness is open to public entry with the exception of the Bradley Trail No. 1491 and the Soda Springs Trail No. 1493, which remain closed.Two well-known roads through the burned area remain closed: Forest Road 4750 (Calf Road) and northern portion of Forest Road 28 (Copeland Creek Road). Roads along Rough Creek and around Skookum Lake in the...

Umpqua North Complex Fact Sheet Update October 7th, 2017 – 9:00 a.m. Fire Information: 541-378-6944 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Inciweb address: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov Start Date: August 11, 2017 Cause: Lightning Fuels: Timber, forest litter, grass & shrubs Acres: 43,158 Percent Completed: 79% Current Situation: Fire suppression repair continues with hazard tree mitigation within the Fall Creek Fire area. On the 4711/550, 4770, 4760 and the 28 Roads snagging/hazard tree falling and clearing efforts continue. Last Saturday members of the Umpqua National Forest Fire Crew entered the area and began flagging hazard trees in advance of a team of now 11 local area contract Fallers under the supervision of a Falling Boss and a Safety Officer. The Task Force which includes a Fire-Line Paramedic for crew safety along with a Skidder to clear the dropped trees off of the road is making slow but steady progress. On Forest Road 3811 & 3817, the Horizontal Grinder (Tub Grinder) has been...

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFOREST SERVICEUMPQUA NATIONAL FORESTRoseburg, ORORDER NO. 06-15-00-17-383Emergency Fire ClosurePursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited upon roads,trails, developed recreation sites, rivers and general forest areas in the Umpqua National Forest asdescribed below and shown in Exhibit A. This Order will be effective beginning onOctober 6, 2017 and ending December 31, 2017.PROHIBITIONS:1. Being upon a closed road. [36 CFR § 261.54 (e)] 2. Going into or being upon a closed area. [36 CFR § 261.52 (e)] 3. Being on a trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)] 4. Entering or using a developed recreation site or portion thereof. [36 CFR § 261.58(b)] AREA CLOSURE DESCRIPTIONS:Cougar Bluffs Closure:Beginning at the intersection of Hwy 138 and Trail No. 1507 (T26S, R1W, Sec 10); heading South onTrail No. 1507 to the junction of Trail No. 1525; heading South on 1525 to the junction of NFS Rd. 4711-630; heading South...

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFOREST SERVICEUMPQUA NATIONAL FORESTRoseburg, ORORDER NO. 06-15-00-17-383Emergency Fire ClosurePursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited upon roads, trails, developed recreation sites, rivers and general forest areas in the Umpqua National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit A. This Order will be effective beginning onOctober 6, 2017 and ending December 31, 2017.PROHIBITIONS:1. Being upon a closed road. [36 CFR § 261.54 (e)]2. Going into or being upon a closed area. [36 CFR § 261.52 (e)]3. Being on a trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)]4. Entering or using a developed recreation site or portion thereof. [36 CFR § 261.58(b)]AREA CLOSURE DESCRIPTIONS:Cougar Bluffs Closure:Beginning at the intersection of Hwy 138 and Trail No. 1507 (T26S, R1W, Sec 10); heading South on Trail No. 1507 to the junction of Trail No. 1525; heading South on 1525 to the junction of NFS Rd. 4711-630; heading South on...

Fire-Related Closures Reduced on the Umpqua National ForestMultiple Roads and Areas Formerly Closed for Fire Suppression are Now OpenROSEBURG, OR- October 6, 2017 – A revised set of closures for the Umpqua National Forest was released, effective October 6, 2017.Forest Road 38 (Steamboat Road) is open to public travel. Forest Roads 3816 and 3810 are also reopened to the public. The burned area between Forest Road 38 and Highway 138 remains closed to entry.Forest Road 4720 (Panther Creek Road) is open from its junction with Forest Road 4714 about a half-mile southwest of Apple Creek Campground and State Highway 138 (milepost 43.6).Forest Road 34 (Toketee Road) and Forest Roads 3400-100 and 3400-072 are open to the public.The area east of the Boulder Creek Trail No. 1552 within the Boulder Creek Wilderness is open to public entry with the exception of the Bradley Trail No. 1491 and the Soda Springs Trail No. 1493, which remain closed.Two well-known roads through the burned area remain...

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST Roseburg, OR ORDER NO. 06-15-00-17-383 Emergency Fire Closure Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited upon roads, trails, developed recreation sites, rivers and general forest areas in the Umpqua National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit A. This Order will be effective beginning on October 6, 2017 and ending December 31, 2017. PROHIBITIONS: 1. Being upon a closed road. [36 CFR § 261.54 (e)] 2. Going into or being upon a closed area. [36 CFR § 261.52 (e)] 3. Being on a trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)] 4. Entering or using a developed recreation site or portion thereof. [36 CFR § 261.58(b)] AREA CLOSURE DESCRIPTIONS: Cougar Bluffs Closure: Beginning at the intersection of Hwy 138 and Trail No. 1507 (T26S, R1W, Sec 10); heading South on Trail No. 1507 to the junction of Trail No. 1525; heading South on 1525 to the junction of NFS Rd. 4711- 630;...

Willamette National Forest Fire Closure Update for October 6, 2017Some Trails, Roads to Reopen (Springfield, OR) As fire crews transition from active fire suppression, firefighters are working diligently to repair impacts to the land and mitigate hazards to make roads and trails safe again. Recent successes with ongoing suppression repair work have enabled several closures to be modified, providing greater public access to forest lands. Visitors to reopened lands may encounter areas burned by recent and past wildfires and are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings as trees can fall without warning. Detroit Ranger District, Whitewater Complex FiresThe closure areas for Whitewater and Scorpion Fires have been replaced with specific road and trail closures. Some trails in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness have reopened. However, the following trails and roads will likely remain closed until spring due to repair needs and public safety concerns:Trails Closed• Cheat Creek Trail...

Willamette National Forest Fire Closure Update for October 6, 2017Some Trails, Roads to Reopen (Springfield, OR) As fire crews transition from active fire suppression, firefighters are working diligently to repair impacts to the land and mitigate hazards to make roads and trails safe again. Recent successes with ongoing suppression repair work have enabled several closures to be modified, providing greater public access to forest lands. Visitors to reopened lands may encounter areas burned by recent and past wildfires and are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings as trees can fall without warning. Detroit Ranger District, Whitewater Complex FiresThe closure areas for Whitewater and Scorpion Fires have been replaced with specific road and trail closures. Some trails in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness have reopened. However, the following trails and roads will likely remain closed until spring due to repair needs and public safety concerns:Trails Closed• Cheat Creek Trail...

Miller Complex Fire UpdateOctober 6, 2017 – 10:00 a.m. Acres: 37,587 Percent Contained: 85% Start Date: August 14, 2017 Cause: Lightning Total Personnel: 100 Location: Private land and federal land on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 20 miles west of Ashland, OR. Fire Information: 541-838-0770 Email address: millercomplex2017@gmail.com Crews today will focus primarily on fire growth on the east side of Dutch Creek. The Abney Fire has remained active in this area, aided by warm temperatures and low relative humidity recoveries over the past week. This growth is still within a larger perimeter of established dozer lines and is exhibiting moderate smoldering and creeping with isolated single tree torching. Yesterday, crews were able to dig additional hand line that ties in with the road system in order to create a larger contingency block around this section of fire. Two helicopters delivered water throughout the day to limit spread. Helicopters will continue water drops...

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – A successful day of prescribed fire was accomplished yesterday on the Lakeview Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest with 405 acres treated in the Burnt Willow project area located 6 miles east of Lakeview. Fire managers are preparing to continue the prescribed burning operation tomorrow in the Burnt Creek area if weather conditions permit, with a plan for 157 acres of accomplishment for the day. Smoke may be visible to residents and visitors in the Lakeview area. Prescribed fires on are public lands is part of the continued commitment to protect communities and natural resources from wildfires. This type of fuels treatment is conducted during very specific conditions, factoring in fuel moisture, temperature, wind speed and direction, and a favorable weather forecast over several days. The prescribed fire is applied along unit boundaries and creeps along the forest floor, removing brush and wood debris to help reduce the risk of wildfire. ...

Wildfire increases the potential for flooding, mud and debris flows that could affect campgrounds, fish habitat, homes, structures, roads, and other infrastructure within, adjacent to, and downstream from the burned area. Fall weather events in Central Washington can bring heavy rain storms or rain-on-snow events. Residents and visitors should remain alert to possible flooding when traveling along roads downstream from the burned areas of the recent Central Washington wildfires. Central Washington Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is working with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest to assess the condition of watersheds that were burned in the throughout the summer. The BAER assessment team identifies potential emergency threats to critical values-atrisk, and recommends emergency stabilization response actions that are implemented on federal lands to reduce potential threats. One of the BAER strategies is interagency coordination with local cooperators who assist affected...

It is important that residents and visitors take steps to protect themselves and their property from potential flooding and debris flows. Residents need to monitor local weather reports and public safety bulletins, local road closures, emergency notifications, weather alerts, follow local county and city advisories, and act accordingly. Use a “weather radio” or smart phone “weather app” that monitors “all hazards” alerts issued by the NOAA-National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ Be proactive for predicated rainstorms by being prepared to evacuate if county or city emergency officials determine that flooding and debris flows are expected which could pose an increased threat to human life, safety, and property. Practice evacuations before real events occur. Know and be alert to environmental signs of dangerous weather conditions and be prepared to take action that can save lives. Understand that all drainages within and downstream of the burned area may...

Pacific Northwest Type 1 Team 2 transferred command of the Chetco Bar Fire to a Type 3 team at 8:00 PM on Thursday, October 5th. The Type 3 team has established an Incident Command Post (ICP) at the Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest, Gold Beach Ranger District Office. The previous ICP on Shopping Center Avenue in Brookings is now closed. The Chetco Bar Fire remains 98% contained with minimal fire activity. Crews have finished chipping operations along the northwest perimeter and south of the Chetco River. Grading and seeding operations along Forest Road 070 near Mt. Emily will continue for the next 2-4 days. Firefighters continue to patrol the fire perimeter, mop-up any potential areas of heat, work on suppression repair, and backhaul equipment and supplies from the field. Weather and Fire Behavior: The warming and drying trend will continue through today. Light east ridge winds through tomorrow night. On the southern edge, a weak front is expected to brush past over the weekend,...

Wildfire increases the potential for flooding, mud and debris flows that could affect campgrounds, fish habitat, homes, structures, roads, and other infrastructure within, adjacent to, and downstream from the burned area. Fall weather events in Central Washington can bring heavy rain storms or rain-on-snow events. Residents and visitors should remain alert to possible flooding when traveling along roads downstream from the burned areas of the recent Central Washington wildfires. Central Washington Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is working with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest to assess the condition of watersheds that were burned in the throughout the summer. The BAER assessment team identifies potential emergency threats to critical values-atrisk, and recommends emergency stabilization response actions that are implemented on federal lands to reduce potential threats. One of the BAER strategies is interagency coordination with local cooperators who assist affected...

Update for Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, 9 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 719-8371 Online: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5523/ https://www.facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017/ Willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Attention: Heavy equipment is operating on Highway 242, Old McKenzie Highway, removing hazardous trees. This operation is underway for the Separation Fire on the west side of the Cascade Crest and the Milli Fire to the east of the crest. The wood product is hauled over the road from each site to be sorted for firewood, fish habitat restoration, and merchantable materials. For the safety of the public and the crews doing the work, the road is closed to all traffic including hikers, bicyclists and skateboarders. Forest Service Road 19 and access to Terwilliger “Cougar” Hot Springs remains closed. Current Situation: Thursday was another good day for progress on the Separation, Avenue and Rebel fires. Work is nearing an end on Forest Service Road 19 where heavy equipment is...

Daily UpdateEagle Creek FireOctober 6, 2017 - 9:00 a.m.Fire Information: 541-392-1632 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.)eaglecreekfire2017@gmail.comApproximate Fire Size: 48,831 acresApproximate Fire Containment: 47%Summary: Fire suppression repair continues today. Crews and heavy equipment are involved in chipping operations taking place primarily in the western side of the fire. The clear sunny days may produce isolated smoke in some parts of the fire. This is activity is likely due to stumps and large wood debris continuing to burn themselves out. This isolated smoke is in the interior of the fire line and produces minimal risk to homes and transportation corridors that are open to the public. The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team released the Eagle Creek Fire Burned Soil Severity map earlier this week and will release a summary of their preliminary findings later today. BAER Team members and other fire personnel have continued to report falling rocks and debris dislodging within the fire...

It is important that residents and visitors take steps to protect themselves and their property from potential flooding and debris flows. Residents need to monitor local weather reports and public safety bulletins, local road closures, emergency notifications, weather alerts, follow local county and city advisories, and act accordingly. Use a “weather radio” or smart phone “weather app” that monitors “all hazards” alerts issued by the NOAA-National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ Be proactive for predicated rainstorms by being prepared to evacuate if county or city emergency officials determine that flooding and debris flows are expected which could pose an increased threat to human life, safety, and property. Practice evacuations before real events occur. Know and be alert to environmental signs of dangerous weather conditions and be prepared to take action that can save lives. Understand that all drainages within and downstream of the burned area may...