InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Chetco East Zone Fire Update. Saturday, September 16, 2017 - 9:00 a.m. Evacuation levels have been reduced in Josephine County effective 6 p.m. Friday, September 15, 2017. The Level 3 “GO!” evacuation notice issued for all residents on Illinois River Road within the US Forest Service boundary, including the Oak Flat Community, has been reduced to Level 2. A Level 2 evacuation notice means “BE SET” to evacuate. You must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Only residents with proper identification may travel in and out of this area and only at night, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Level 1 “BE READY” evacuation notice for the residents of the Illinois Valley, west of Highway 199 from Hayes Hill to the California state line has been removed. Residents should always be prepared for changing fire conditions. People can view maps of the current evacuation notification area at http://arcg.is/1LmzPe. The Indigo Fire (784 Fire) was active again...

Smoke: The weak ridge kept smoke in the vicinity of the fire locked in place yesterday. Smoke impacts in The Dalles and Hood Creek were greater than expected. Rather than clearing, smoke settled in all day at unhealthy or worse levels. This morning AQ is observed to be USG or worse for most areas near the fire. Later today the ridge shifts east, expect better mixing, the easterly flow will push smoke down the Gorge and west.Fire: Yesterday, as the smoke stayed in place over the fire, activity was somewhat suppressed. Today will be drier and warmer than yesterday, with better ventilation with the weak shifting east. Winds again will be light, but easterly, so the most like area for significant smoke production will be the southern edge of the western flank.Other: We plan to setup another smoke monitor at Bonneville Dam today. We also continue to evaluate the need to add additional monitors to this forecast series for areas in the vicinity that are impacted by this, and other fires in...

Location: High Cascades Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Klamath Ranger District, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Crater Lake National Park Start Date: North Pelican August 10, 2017, Spruce Lake July 29, 2017, Blanket Creek July 26, 2017 Cause: Lightning Size: 51,010 Acres Percent Contained: 16% (% encompasses total of both East and West zone of the complex excluding Spruce Lake fire from the Complex) Vegetation: timber, brush, heavy logging slash Resources Assigned: 845 personnel (Personnel for the entire complex) Incident Commander: Steve Millert/Dave Gesser with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3 Closure Information: As a result of the fires in the High Cascades Complex, a number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. More road and trail closures may go into effect as the fires progress. For specific closure...

Eagle Creek Fire Size: 45,579 acres Eagle Creek Fire Containment: 32% Archer Fire Size: 260 acresArcher Fire Containment: 100% A community meeting is scheduled for 12 PM on Saturday, September 16 at the Hood River Valley High School to share information on the Eagle Creek Fire. Summary: Firefighter control efforts focus on the outer perimeter of the fire. Smoke and flames may be visible as pockets of unburned fuel are consumed within the interior of the fire. Temperatures remain seasonable with a high of 72 degrees with east, northeast winds at 15-25 mph. The relative humidity remains low ranging from 20-30 percent. Saturday evening into Sunday winds are expected to begin shifting to the southwest, as a cold front moves into the area bringing cloudy conditions, a chance of precipitation, higher humidity and lower temperatures. Active fire behavior is expected primarily on the southern and western edge of the fire with dry conditions and east, northeast winds. Firefighters...

Last night a community meeting was held at the Winchuck Fire Station on the Winchuck River Road. Unified Incident Commanders Beth Lund of Great Basin Team 1, and Tom Savage of the Coos Forest Protective Association presented a briefing on Chetco Bar Fire suppression efforts to members of the community. The Incident Commanders then participated in a question and answer session, where residents concerns were addressed. The meeting was well attended. This morning Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and General Joseph Lengyel, National Guard Bureau Chief, along with several guests and staff members visited firefighters at the Chetco Bar Fire Camp in Brookings. Senator Merkley and General Lengyel attended the 6:00 am operational briefing, and spoke with firefighters. After the camp tour, the group traveled to the Brookings Emergency Operations Center where they met with city and county officials and received an update on the effects of the fire on the community. This will be followed by a...

Evacuation Advisory To Be Reduced from Bear Creek to Night Sky Drive on Saturday Kittitas County, WA - 09/15/2017 - Effective at 8:00 AM Saturday morning (9/16), the Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center will officially reduce the Evacuation Level 3 Advisory to a Level 2 Advisory from Bear Creek to Night Sky Drive, allowing more residents affected by the Jolly Mountain Fire to return home. This advisory change affects all residences north of Bear Creek, including the Bell Creek community, Morgan Creek community, and the Timber Ridge community. Residents returning home are asked to leave all gates open and to use extra caution on the roads, as fire personnel and equipment are still actively working and moving through the area. The Kittitas County Fire Marshal also advises that all propane tanks were shut off and technicians placed a “lock out-tag out” lock on each tank. Residents will be responsible for contacting their propane provider for removal of these locks. Residences...

Eagle Creek and Archer Fires Eagle Creek Fire Size: 45,579 acres Eagle Creek Fire Containment: 31% Archer Fire Size: 260 acres Archer Fire Containment: 100% A community meeting has been scheduled for noon on Saturday, September 16 at the Hood River Valley High School to share information on the Eagle Creek Fire. Due to reduced fire behavior and forecasted rain, this will be the final evening update. Morning Updates will be released daily. Summary: Today officials determined that fire lines are secure enough to relax evacuation levels on the west end of the Eagle Creek Fire. At noon, the Multnomah County Sheriff Office (MCSO) downgraded all Level 3 orders to Level 2. More details are available at the MCSO Website: http://www.flashalert.net/id/MCSO.Smoke over the fire today made it difficult to use air resources, but the inversion did help reduce fire activity. Little fire growth was observed. Firefighters continued hand lighting to complete the burn outs along the I-84...

The Level 3 evacuation “GO!” notice issued for all residents on Illinois River Road within the US Forest Service boundary, including the Oak Flat Community, is being reduced to Level 2 (Effective 6 PM on Friday, September 15, 2017). A Level 2 evacuation notice means “BE SET” to evacuate. You must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. The US Forest Service has closed Illinois River Road and is turning back public traffic along this road. We strongly advise travelers to avoid this area so the appropriate wildland firefighter resources can accomplish their work and respond to this emergency. Residents with proper identification may travel in and out of this area only at night, between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM. The daytime closure is to allow heavy equipment to continue work on Illinois River Road developing a firebreak. Also, the Level 1 “BE READY” evacuation notice for the residents of the Illinois Valley, west of Highway 199 from Hayes Hill to the...

The Level 3 evacuation “GO!” notice issued for all residents on Illinois River Road within the US Forest Service boundary, including the Oak Flat Community, is being reduced to Level 2 (Effective 6 PM on Friday, September 15, 2017). A Level 2 evacuation notice means “BE SET” to evacuate. You must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. The US Forest Service has closed Illinois River Road and is turning back public traffic along this road. We strongly advise travelers to avoid this area so the appropriate wildland firefighter resources can accomplish their work and respond to this emergency. Residents with proper identification may travel in and out of this area only at night, between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM. The daytime closure is to allow heavy equipment to continue work on Illinois River Road developing a firebreak. Also, the Level 1 “BE READY” evacuation notice for the residents of the Illinois Valley, west of Highway 199 from Hayes Hill to the...

EQUIPO #10 DE DIRECCIÓN DE INCIDENTES DEL NOROESTE Al Lawson - Comandante de incidentes Los bomberos avanzan a buen ritmo a medida que las condiciones climáticas son más frías Viernes, 15 de septiembre de 2017 Incendio: Uno Peak Completado: 10% Acres: 8455 Fecha de inicio: 30 de agosto de 2017 Causa: a ser determinada Ubicación: 15 millas al NO de Manson, WA Personal total: 317 Carburantes/topografía: madera, pasto, terreño escarpado Ayer: gran parte del incendio activo permaneció en el drenaje de Lone Fir Creek, del lado noroeste del incendio, desde donde se desplazó colina abajo. Sin embargo, gracias a las condiciones climáticas más frescas, la propagación del incendio fue mínima. Otras secciones del incendio tuvieron un comportamiento moderado. Continuaron las operaciones de quema prescrita cerca del campamento de South Navarre en la carretera Forest Service 8200, para contribuir a...

Crater Lake National Park - North Entrance Road and West Rim Drive is now open.

North Pelican Fire information is now available on the High Cascade Complex Incident Page.

Con el objetivo de reducir la dispersion del Incendio, los helicopteros derramaran el agua que sea necesaria para este fin. La mayor actividad en la Zona Este del Incendio de Chetco Bar se dio en la curva de la herradura del rio Illinois (Illinois river). En esta zona tambien se observaron quemas lentas de vegetacion (sin llamas), llamas con alta velocidad moviendose cuesta arriba asi como la quema de ciertos grupos de arboles. El Incendio continua dispersandose de una manera lenta hacia el Noreste. Actualmente, el Incendio de Chetco Bar alcanzo los 188,284 acres el cual ha sido contenido en un 38%. El dia de ayer, dos batallones completaron la construccion de lineas a mano que cruzan areas rocosas a lo largo del eje Oeste de la cabecera del riachuelo Parker (Parker Creek). El batallon regreso al campamento Central despues de haberse quedado dos noches en el campamento temporal. Cerca del area de Woodcock Peak, el batallon tambien ha completado lineas a mano. Lineas de contencion...

Miller Complex Fire Update Sept. 15, 2017 NW Incident Management Team (IMT) 9, Brian Goff, Incident Commander Current Situation: As of this morning, the Miller Complex is reporting 54% overall containment with no growth. Yesterday, additional smoke was visible over the Miller Complex due to increased fire activity coming from the within the interior, on the west side of the Abney Fire. Increased activity was a result of low fuel moistures and a dry, cool front over the complex. Firefighters continue to work hard to meet objectives using the resources available with safety as top priority. Today, crews are expecting warmer temperatures and drier conditions with the potential for increased fire activity within the perimeter that could result in increased smoke within the Abney Fire area. Fire behavior remains consistent with weather and environmental conditions and is expected to creep, burn and in some instances, torch within the interior of the fire. On the Abney Fire,...

Size: 9,462 acres Containment: 55% Cause: Lightning Resources: 283 Personnel The Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Team appreciates the public support for the firefighting efforts including the partnership with the Oregon Parks and Recreation and the surrounding communities. Please use caution around the entrance to Dexter State Park due to increased fire traffic and congestion in the area. Actions yesterday included numerous helicopter water drops on the active fire areas in the southeast corner. Firefighters worked to contain a slop-over on the dozer line near road 1835. No burnout operations were initiated yesterday. Today and tomorrow are forecasted to be warm and dry before a strong cold front arrives. Portions of the fire on the south and west side are in patrol and monitor status. Operations today will consist of monitoring, patrolling and removal of fire hoses and other equipment which are not needed on the fireline. Prep work will continue on Forest Road 18 for holding operations...

High Cascades Complex West Zone 9/15/2017 9:00 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 316‐8352 blanketcreekfireinfo@gmail.com Yesterday’s Activity On the north end of the Broken Lookout fire, crews continued line prep, chipping and brushing. Ground personnel on the south end continued mop up, while crews on the western portion of the fire prepped lines to prepare for burnout. Firefighters initiated burnout operations on the eastern flank of the Pup Fire to direct fire growth back into the wilderness. Today’s Planned Activity On the Broken Lookout Fire, regional Forest Service blasting specialists will be detonating snags in areas too dense hazardous to fall with chainsaws. Crews, alongside an Army Strike Team will continue road preparation for use as containment lines, while strengthening existing fire perimeters. Aviation resources will be used to monitor spread in all areas of the fire, while dropping water in key locations to support ground work, particularly in Squaw...

Location: High Cascades Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Klamath Ranger District, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Crater Lake National Park Start Date: North Pelican August 10, 2017, Spruce Lake July 29, 2017, Blanket Creek July 26, 2017 Cause: Lightning Size: 51,010 Acres Percent Contained: 16% (% encompasses total of both East and West zone of the complex excluding Spruce Lake fire from the Complex) Vegetation: timber, brush, heavy logging slash Resources Assigned: 845 personnel (Personnel for the entire complex) Incident Commander: Steve Millert/Dave Gesser with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3 Closure Information: As a result of the fires in the High Cascades Complex, a number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. More road and trail closures may go into effect as the fires progress. For specific closure information,...

El Comando Unificado de Chetco estara organizando una reunion de la Comunidad para los residentes de el area de Winchuck, esta noche a las 6:00 pm. La reunion estara auspiciada por el Departamento de Bomberos de Winchuck, en la Estacion de Bomberos en 363 Winchuck River Rd. Los Oficiales a cargo estaran dando informacion referente a la situacion del Incendio seguido por un periodo de preguntas y respuestas de parte de los interesados. El perimetro del Incendio ha sido contenido, al Sur moviendose hacia el Este, dentro de el Distrito Bosquero de Gold Beach, en las tierras virgenes de Kalmiopsis y desde el Oeste del riachuelo Hawk (Hawk Creek) hasta el Lago Chetco (Chetco Lake). Operaciones de quema fueron utilizadas para construir lineas en el perimetro Sur-Este a lo largo de la carretera forestal 1205, al suroeste del area de Wheeler Creek. La tripulacion esta recuperando las lineas de mangueras y el equipo a lo largo del perimetro suroeste y mas alla hacia el perimetro Oeste desde...

Enumclaw Washington, September 15, 2017 - The Sawmill Creek Fire is currently 996 acres with 0% containment. The fire is anticipated to grow less than 50 acres today. No structures have been damaged or destroyed. Firefighters continue their efforts to improve roads, remove fuel in and around the fire, and build indirect line. Today’s objectives are to work their way towards the fires edge and build direct containment lines. Firefighters working near The Dalles, Crystal Mountain Communities and Alta Crystal Resort area have completed control lines and have placed sprinkler systems to assist in structure defense. The fire continues to threaten the watershed for the City of Tacoma, industrial timberland, DNR protected lands, and the United States Forest Service lands. State Highway 410 remains closed at SR 123, east of Cayuse Pass; the closure includes Bumping River Road and its associated trails. Weak northerly flow will be over the area today bringing another day of cool and...

FIRE UPDATE: Friday, September 15, 2017 at 10:00 am EAST CRATER FIRE INFORMATION: 509 395-3360 East Crater Fire (Indian Heaven Wilderness), Mount Adams Ranger District, Gifford Pinchot National Forest Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5589/ EAST CRATER FIRE: Yesterday helicopters, on loan from the Eagle Creek Fire, dropped water on the south eastern flank of the fire cooling hot spots and checking the easterly movement of the fire. To minimize the spread of fire outside of the wilderness area fallers continued to cut down snags and heavy equipment removed brush and small trees along Forest Road 6035. This work is being done to prepare Forest Road 6035 as a fire line. In addition, a 20 person hand crew constructed a narrow containment line around the more active south eastern portion of the fire. An infrared flight overnight showed the current size of the fire to be 483 acres. A shift to an easterly wind pattern predicted today is expected to push the fire back into...