InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Link to Video Briefing on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/EagleCreekandIndianCreekFires2017/videos/124897824834400/Good morning, Rick Miller with your operations update today. Today I'm going to start with the Archer Fire over here. I've been remiss in giving you much information on that. So, the Archer fire on the Washington side in the last several days, that fire has not grown, has not shown any smoke and we have been working on suppression repair efforts. And what that means: any of our dozer lines, hand lines that we put in, we're trying to make sure that we put water bars and such in there so that we do not lose soil. And so that's what suppression repair has been looking like for us. So that fire is looking really good. Coming around to the Eagle Creek Fire, starting over here on the west end, yesterday we had clear skies and no rain for most of the day, so until the rain started we continued to strengthen our lines, mop up and do suppression repair on our dozer lines and hand...

Summary: Great Basin Incident Management Team 4 took control of the High Cascade Complex East Zone, Sunday, September 17 at 6:00 p.m. The East Zone includes the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, and North Pelican fires. Scattered heat continued to produce smoke, but higher relative humidity limited fire progression Sunday. Crews monitored fire activity and improved contingency line. Preparation of hand and dozer line work will continue today, weather permitting. Spruce Lake Fire: (15,826 acres and 22% contained) Smoke cleared yesterday allowing the fire to be viewed from the air. Minimal change in fire perimeter was observed. Little growth is expected today with cooler and wetter weather moving in. Blanket Creek Fire: (33,322 acres and 28% contained) Growth occurred on the western perimeter at the edge of the Sky Lakes Wilderness near Bessie Cabin. The cabin was wrapped for protection. Containment lines on the west are being evaluated and strengthened. Crews continue to hold and...

Diamond Creek Fire slows spread while crews near completion of firelinesLocation: 11 miles NNW of Mazama, WA Total Personnel: 294Acres: 129,000 total acres in US and Canada Cause: Under InvestigationContainment: 30% Start Date: July 23, 2017 Update: The Diamond Creek Fire saw little acreage growth yesterday as mild weather conditions moved into the region. Helicopter bucket drops that have continually checked fire spread in the Pat Creek area were not needed as fire behavior has moderated throughout the southern perimeter of the 129,000 acre wildfire. Firefighting resources are finishing up primary and secondary line construction throughout the ridgeline areas connecting Yellowjacket Sno Park eastward to Eightmile Peak. These are the primary and contingency network of firelines combined to protect values at risk along the southern perimeter of the wildfire. Firefighters will use these lines to defend the communities along the Methow River should the fire advance into these areas....

Smoke: Light westerly winds and continued showers will limit smoke movement across SW Oregon. Coastal communities and Agness will experience good conditions today. Inland, Cave Junction, Grants Pass, Medford and other Rogue Valley communities will vary from moderate to USG throughout the day.Fire: Low fire behavior, with smoldering, expected today on fires. Chetco Fire Information:The Chetco Bar Fire is 189,787 and 53% contained. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5385/ Miller Complex:Miller Complex is 34,500 acres, and 59% contained.

·New West Side Information Line: 541-412-8531· New Hours: 7AM – 9PMYesterday’s precipitation event sets the stage for this week’s activity across the Chetco Bar Fire area. We can expect light wetting rains to continue to dampen fire activity through Wednesday. Fire containment is now at 53%, up from 43% yesterday. Smoke impacts will remain light to moderate in communities near the fire perimeter, and smoke will remain visible from within the fire perimeter until there is a major, season ending event. Crews continue to strengthen control lines along the northwest perimeter near Snow Camp Mountain. Hand line rehabilitation proceeds in the Snow Camp meadows, and crews continue to remove reflective fire wrap from structures, lookouts and campground signs along the northern perimeter. Patrol and mop up operations continue along the western side of the fire. The focus of operations in these areas is shifting from fire suppression to suppression rehabilitation. Crews...

Horse Creek Complex and Rebel FireUpdate for Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, 9 a.m.Fire Information: (541) 719-8371Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/3860https//facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017 Willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Rebel Fire: 8,653 acres Horse Creek Complex: Olallie Lookout Fire, 1,572 acres; Roney Fire, 3,548 acres; Avenue Fire, 2,962 acres; Separation Fire, 17,747 acres; Nash Fire, 6,738 acres. Total all fires: 41,220 acres (An IR flight was unable to be conducted last night so no change in acreage could be measured.) Current Resources: Personnel, 375; Crews, 10; Helicopters, 4; Engines, 19; Dozers, 2; Water Tenders, 3; Skidgens, 2. Current Situation: Weather: A definite change of weather pattern is underway today. The forecast calls for southwest winds gusting up to 35 mph along ridges. A prolonged wetting rain event continues with accumulation of up to 1” by Tuesday morning. Weather will be the deciding factor on field operations today. Avenue Fire: The fire continues to...

Eagle Creek Fire Size: 48,387 acres Eagle Creek Fire Containment: 32% Archer Fire Size: 260 acres Archer Fire Containment: 100% Summary Rain began falling across the fire late Sunday afternoon, reducing fire activity. Earlier in the day gusty west winds did increase fire behavior in some areas, especially on the east side of Shellrock Mountain where bucket drops were used to cool hot spots. A column of smoke was also visible as fire burned slowly south in the Herman Creek drainage.Firefighters were ready to engage where necessary, but spent most of the day preparing fire lines for rains predicted this week. Work included removing unneeded equipment and building water bars to mitigate erosion along fire lines. Lines are well secured on the southwest corner and along the I-84 corridor to Wyeth. All contingency lines along the south and east sides remains in place, though no significant additional growth is expected on the fire given predicted weather. Even with rain, smoldering...

Smoke: The strong cold front yesterday pushed the smoke back toward communities to the east, producing AQ to be USG for most areas in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Then last evening an extended period of rain began, greatly decreasing smoke production. The Dalles areas areas around Government Camp still show USG levels this morning. But with the rain showers forecasted for the next few days, all areas should expect moderate to good air quality for at least the next few days. Localized effects where there is a great deal of smoldering heavy fuels may cause higher impacts at times. Fire: No significant fire spread is expected due to the rain event. However, heavy fuels and stumps will continue to smolder for at least the next couple days. Other: Given the current weather and likely end of active fire spread on the Eagle Creek Fire, we will be evaluating the level of Air Resource Advisor support and future Smoke Forecast Outlooks needs.

Jones Fire / Kelsey Fire 9/18/2017 - 8 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 937-5219 jonesfire2017@gmail.com Jones Fire - Size: 10,514 acres Containment: 53% Cause: Lightning Kelsey Fire - Size: 527 acres Containment: 0% Cause: Lightning Starting today Northwest Incident Management Team 7 will be managing both the Kelsey and Jones Fires. Because of the increased traffic from firefighting efforts, the public is advised to use caution while driving along Highway 58 from Dexter to Oakridge. Yesterday’s Activity – A Pacific storm front moved into the area bringing cool and wet conditions. As a result, there was minimal fire behavior and spread yesterday. On the Jones Fire plans for the repair of impacts from the suppression efforts are being finalized. Crews continued to remove fire hose from contained sections of fireline on the west, north, and east flanks. Indirect fireline construction continued on FR 18 and FR 1839 to the east, and south on FR 1825 to...

Jones Fire / Kelsey Fire 9/18/2017 - 8 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 937-5219 jonesfire2017@gmail.com Jones Fire - Size: 10,514 acres Containment: 53% Cause: Lightning Kelsey Fire - Size: 527 acres Containment: 0% Cause: Lightning Starting today Northwest Incident Management Team 7 will be managing both the Kelsey and Jones Fires. Because of the increased traffic from firefighting efforts, the public is advised to use caution while driving along Highway 58 from Dexter to Oakridge. Yesterday’s Activity – A Pacific storm front moved into the area bringing cool and wet conditions. As a result, there was minimal fire behavior and spread yesterday. On the Jones Fire plans for the repair of impacts from the suppression efforts are being finalized. Crews continued to remove fire hose from contained sections of fireline on the west, north, and east flanks. Indirect fireline construction continued on FR 18 and FR 1839 to the east, and south on FR 1825 to...

Horse Creek Complex and Rebel Fire Update for Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, 9 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 719-8371 Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/3860 https//facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017 Willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Rebel Fire: 8,653 acres Horse Creek Complex: Olallie Lookout Fire, 1,572 acres; Roney Fire, 3,548 acres; Avenue Fire, 2,962 acres; Separation Fire, 17,747 acres; Nash Fire, 6,738 acres. Total all fires: 41,220 acres (An IR flight was unable to be conducted last night so no change in acreage could be measured.) Current Resources: Personnel, 375; Crews, 10; Helicopters, 4; Engines, 19; Dozers, 2; Water Tenders, 3; Skidgens, 2. Current Situation: Weather: A definite change of weather pattern is underway today. The forecast calls for southwest winds gusting up to 35 mph along ridges. A prolonged wetting rain event continues with accumulation of up to 1” by Tuesday morning. Weather will be the deciding factor on field operations today. Avenue Fire: The...

Enumclaw Washington, September 18, 2017 - The Sawmill Creek Fire is currently 1061 acres with 0% containment. No structures have been damaged or destroyed. In areas receiving precipitation, the Sawmill Creek Fire’s growth will continue to be minimal as it continues creeping, smoldering, and backing. The fire will persist and continue to slowly work towards a roadless area in the watershed. Forecasted significant precipitation is expected to halt fire spread for several operational periods. Fire activity will be kept to smoldering. Firefighters remain on the line today, making their way towards the fires edge and building direct containment lines. Divisions continue to focus efforts on The Dalles, Crystal Mountain Communities, and Alta Crystal Resort areas; they have completed control lines and have placed sprinkler systems to assist in structure defense. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol the fire perimeter. As the fire backs down slopes in the area firefighters are...

Nash/Horse Creek Complex and Rebel Fire Update for Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, 9 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 719-8371 Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/3860 https//facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017 Willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Rebel Fire: 8,653 acres Horse Creek Complex: Olallie Lookout Fire, 1,572 acres; Roney Fire, 3,548 acres; Avenue Fire, 2,962 acres; Separation Fire, 17,747 acres; Nash Fire, 6,738 acres. Total all fires: 41,220 acres (An IR flight was unable to be conducted last night so no change in acreage could be measured.) Current Resources: Personnel, 375; Crews, 10; Helicopters, 4; Engines, 19; Dozers, 2; Water Tenders, 3; Skidgens, 2. Current Situation: Weather: A definite change of weather pattern is underway today. The forecast calls for southwest winds gusting up to 35 mph along ridges. A prolonged wetting rain event continues with accumulation of up to 1” by Tuesday morning. Weather will be the deciding factor on field operations today. Avenue Fire:...

Smoke: The first of a series of fronts hit Oregon Sunday afternoon and evening. Significant rain and W/ SW wind will continue to impact the Horse Complex, Rebel Fire, and Whitewater Complex fires through Wednesday. Less rain is expected Thursday. Air quality has improved and good conditions are expected through the end of the week. Expect minimal smoke from smoldering logs to drain into valleys. Fire: Fire activity is expected to be minimal on all fires in the forecast area. Large logs will continue to smolder. Horse Creek Complex is 32,567 acres, Rebel Fire is 8,653 acres, Nash Fire is 6,738 and Whitewater Complex is 14,416 acres. Other: Whitewater Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420/ Rebel Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5473/ Horse Creek Complex Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5523/ Separate smoke forecast will be issued for communities west of the Cascade Crest.

Smoke: The first of a series of fronts hit Oregon Sunday afternoon and evening. Significant rain and W/ SW wind will continue to impact the Horse Complex, Rebel Fire, and Whitewater Complex fires through Wednesday. Less rain is expected Thursday. Air quality has improved and good conditions are expected through the end of the week. Expect minimal smoke from smoldering logs to drain into valleys.Fire: Fire activity is expected to be minimal on all fires in the forecast area. Large logs will continue to smolder. Horse Creek Complex is 32,567 acres, Rebel Fire is 8,653 acres, Nash Fire is 6,738 and Whitewater Complex is 14,416 acres. Other: Whitewater Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420/Rebel Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5473/Horse Creek Complex Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5523/Separate smoke forecast will be issued for communities west of the Cascade Crest.

Smoke: Rain overnight has improved air quality significantly. Expect patchy smoke and haze to occur in valley bottoms. With the continued stormy pattern, smoke production from fires should decrease and air sheds should ventilate over the next several days leading to improved air

Chetco East Zone Fire Update. Monday, September 18, 2017. 9:00 a.m. With just a few patches of fuel noticeably burning due to cooler, wetter weather, yesterday’s fire activity in the Indigo Fire (784 Fire) was minimal. It is 578 acres and has not crossed the West Fork of Indigo Creek into Josephine County. Fire crews have nearly finished indirect containment lines to the east of the fire by widening and removing brush along forest roads 055 and 510. Crews have also progressed with similar work to the west of the fire on the 2308 and 076 roads between Bear Camp and the Fish Hook Peak area. The Chetco Bar Fire is currently 53% contained at 189,787 acres. Fire activity in the East Zone was relatively quiet due to the weather. However, there were some small areas of active fire north of Pearsol Peak and near the Illinois River south of Deadman Bar east of the horseshoe bend in the river. Yesterday, fire crews finished work to improve the completed fire containment...

Smoke: The first of a series of fronts hit Oregon Sunday afternoon and evening. Significant rain and W/ SW wind will continue to impact the Horse Complex, Rebel Fire, and Whitewater Complex fires through Wednesday. Less rain is expected Thursday. Air quality has improved and good conditions are expected through the end of the week. Expect minimal smoke from smoldering logs to drain into valleys. Fire: Fire activity is expected to be minimal on all fires in the forecast area. Large logs will continue to smolder. Horse Creek Complex is 32,567 acres, Rebel Fire is 8,653 acres, Nash Fire is 6,738 and Whitewater Complex is 14,416 acres. Other: Whitewater Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420/ Rebel Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5473/ Horse Creek Complex Fire Information- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5523/ Separate smoke forecast will be issued for communities west of the Cascade Crest.

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM #10 Al Lawson-Incident Commander Light precipitation occurs over the fire area Monday, September 18, 2017 Fire: Uno Peak Completion: 20% Acres: 8,726 Start Date: August 30, 2017 Cause: Under Investigation Location: 15 miles NW of Manson, WA Total Personnel: 240 Fuels/Topography: Timber, grass, rugged terrain Yesterday: Fire suppression line repair continued along Coyote Ridge and portions of the Nelson Butte containment lines. All the hose along both containment lines have been fully retrieved.The most active fire behavior continues to be contained in the Lone Fir Creek drainage on the eastside of the fire area within the Sawtooth Wilderness area. Other areas of the fire showed minimal activity.The structure protection group continued to assess structures in the Canoe Creek and Llama Ranch areas. Canoe Creek and the Llama Ranch areas remain under a Level 1 evacuation (get ready). No structures are threatened.Today: Fire...

The Umpqua North Complex of 10 fires is only one of over 80 major fires or complexes burning across the Northwest US. Firefighting resources are at a premium and stretched thin. On several fires including the UNC military resources have been brought in to assist the firefighting efforts. Captain Tony Sagastizado, Public Affairs Officer for Task Force Spearhead of the 23rd Brigade Engineering Battalion discusses United States Army assistance to wildland firefighting efforts on the Umpqua and Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forests in Oregon in September 2017.Link to video interview _Task Force