InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Smoke Forecast Outlook issued September 15, 2017 at 09:55 AM EDTOutlook for MainSmoke: Smoke settled into valleys overnight. Inversions generally have been lifting mid-late morning allowing some clearing. Light terrain driven winds will carry the smoke upslope once the inversion lifts. Saturday should be similar to today.Fire: Fire activity Tue. and Wed. evenings increased due to higher winds out of the west after the passage of the thermal trough. Yesterday, fire activity was reduced, although burn out operation on the east flank produced a good amount of smoke. Today will be drier and warmer than yesterday, winds again will be light so expect fire activity only slightly greater than yesterday.Other: We are currently assessing additional monitoring

Whitewater Fire - including Little Devil, Scorpion, Clagett Lake, Slideout, French, Fire #196 and Potato Hill FiresSeptember 15, 2017 Daily Update Fire Information Line: 541-719-8371, willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Location: Willamette National Forest Willamette National Forest Closures: 541-225-6350, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices Inciweb Websites: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5565 Size: 13,865 acres (total for reported fires) Containment: 35% Resources Assigned: 334 personnel (total for reported fires) Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 11 (NWIMT11), Nathan Rabe, Incident Commander, assumed command of the Whitewater Fires on September 15, 2017 at 7 a.m.General Information: Firefighters continue direct and indirect suppression activities on the Little Devil, Whitewater, and Scorpion Fires utilizing handline crews, hose lays and heavy equipment to maintain containment lines. Evacuation levels were...

Fire Info: 509-996-4040 (NEW) Facebook: diamondcreekfire2017 Website: https://inciweb/nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail.com Automated updates: diamondcreekfire.blogpost.com Fire Info: 509-996-4040 Facebook: diamondcreekfire2017 Website: https://inciweb/nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail.com Automated updates: diamondcreekfire.blogpost.com Canada: http://bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=673 Location: 11 miles NNW of Mazama, WA Total Personnel: 160 Acres: 98,390 U.S; 23,610 (9,555 hectares) Canada Cause: Believed to be Human Containment: 30% Start Date: July 23, 2017 Houseman’s NIMO Team assumes command of Diamond Creek Fire Update: The strong north winds forecasted for Thursday did not occur to push the Diamond Creek Fire substantially to the south. The fire continued to throw up smoke in the Monument Creek...

This will be the last update for the weekend unless conditions change Central Oregon – The Desolation Fire experienced moderate growth yesterday evening, all within Mill Creek Wilderness and within planned containment lines, for an updated total acreage of 1,916 acres. The fire is still 0 percent contained. Crews completed line construction and burnout operations along Highway 26 yesterday, between mileposts 45 and 50 and up to Forest Road 27, protecting private property east of the fire. Crook County lowered the evacuation notice for about 30 private homes in the Mark’s Creek area to a Level 1 (Get Ready) as of this morning. Unless the fire moves toward the east, there are no more burnouts planned along Highway 26. Firefighters continue prepping the northern containment line along Forest Road 27 with feller bunchers and other heavy equipment to form a "catcher’s mitt" with containment lines along the highway, should the fire grow toward the northeast. Crews also...

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /· Style Definitions ·/ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} https://www.facebook.com/EagleCreekandIndianCreekFires2017/videos/124275578229958/Good morning, Rick Miller with your operations update. Yesterday was a really good day for us. I'll start over on the west end of the fire. All the firefighters did really good work on the south side of it,...

Whitewater Fire - including Little Devil, Scorpion, Clagett Lake, Slideout, French and Potato Hill Fires September 15, 2017 Daily Update Fire Information Line: 541-719-8371, willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Location: Willamette National Forest Willamette National Forest Closures: 541-225-6350, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices Inciweb Websites: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5565 Size: 13,865 acres (total for reported fires) Containment: 35% Resources Assigned: 334 personnel (total for reported fires) Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 11 (NWIMT11), Nathan Rabe, Incident Commander, assumed command of the Whitewater Fires on September 15, 2017 at 7 a.m. General Information: Firefighters continue direct and indirect suppression activities on the Little Devil, Whitewater, and Scorpion Fires utilizing handline crews, hose lays and heavy equipment to maintain containment lines. Evacuation levels were updated...

Date Started: August 11, 2017Cause: LightningSize: 41,441 acresTotal Personnel: 773Structures Destroyed: 0Firefighter injuries to date: 1Total Complex Containment: 38%Fire Resources: 14 crews, 39 engines, 5 helicopters, 4 bulldozers, and 1 water tenders Current Information: After the predicted cold front passed through the complex on Thursday, fire activity increased in the afternoon with single tree torching, active backing and short runs through the surface fuels. The most active areas were the east side of the Happy Dog Fire, the northwest area of the Brokentooth Fire, and the northern most tip of the Ragged Ridge Fire. All five helicopters assigned to the incident supported the firefighters on the ground with water drops. The fires were active last night as well, despite the high relative humidities. Flames could be seen in the area around Eagle Rock from the Highway 138 East corridor. Crews are working day and night shifts to keep the fire within the existing perimeter....

The Crook County Sheriff’s office has continued to coordinate with fire managers on the Desolation Fire as well as the Ochoco National Forest. Due to current and expected conditions on the Desolation Fire, we are lowering the evacuation levels as follows: Level 2 (Set) to Level 1 (Ready) Level 1: Means "BE READY" for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. This is the time for preparation and precautionary movements of persons with special needs, mobile property and (under certain circumstances) pets and livestock. If conditions worsen, emergency services personnel may contact you via an emergency notification system. The Desolation fire stayed within planned containment lines through yesterday evening as firefighters worked through the day and into the night to keep the fire north of Highway 26 and protect adjacent private residences. An overnight...

Date Started: Aug. 11, 2017, Cause: Lightning; Acreage: 52,502 (Norse Peak), 3,739 (American), 56,241 (Total); Containment: 12%, Structures Damaged or Destroyed: None; Injuries: 3 (Minor); Total Personnel: 635; Fire Resources: 16 Crews, 34 Engines, 4 Helicopters, 2 Bulldozers, 10 water tenders.Fire Summary: Today marks five weeks since the Norse Peak and American Fires started. They have grown in starts and stops and now Norse Peak is over 50,000 acres and the American is close to 4,000 acres.In those five weeks:The suppression progress has been steady; brush has been removed and chipped around structures and roadways; downed and dead trees have been removed as part of our fuel reduction effort.In preparation for the fire’s approach, over 87 miles of water hose has been laid; the fire has over 100 water pumps connected to these hoses; line has been dug. This is all part of the indirect attack on the fire.The north side of State Route 410 is in mop up stage along the roadway. The...

Smoke: The majority of smoke is emitted from the Indigo Fire at about 400 acres, just NE of Chetco Bar, which is burning in drier, more active brush fuels east of Agness. Chetco Bar smoke impacts are expected to be low to moderate today with low fire behavior. Winds from the north/northeast will again push smoke into Agness and lesser amounts into coastal areas including Gold Beach, Brookings and south into northern California. Periods of unhealthy air may affect Agness this morning, clearing as inversions lift. Inland, the Miller Complex, Indigo and Chetco Bar fires' smoke will moderately influence Cave Junction, Grants Pass, Medford and other Rogue Valley communities this morning. This is expected to lessen through the day, as heating breaks inversions and northeast transport winds have more influence later in the day. Fire: A generally low to moderate fire behavior trend is expected today on Chetco Bar with more active fire behavior on the Miller Complex and Indigo fire,...

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM #10 Al Lawson-Incident Commander Firefighters make good progress as weather conditions cool Friday, September 15, 2017 Fire: Uno Peak Completion: 10% Acres: 8455 Start Date: August 30, 2017 Cause: Under Investigation Location: 15 miles NW of Manson, WA Total Personnel: 317 Fuels/Topography: Timber, grass, rugged terrain Yesterday: Most of the active fire continued to be in the Lone Fir Creek drainage on the northwest side of the fire, where it backed down the hill. However, with cooler conditions fire growth overall was minimal. Other portions of the fire had moderate fire behavior. Burn operations continued near South Navarre campground along Forest Service 8200 road to help secure the containment line. Because of this, a night shift was established to help patrol and monitor the fire. The structure protection group assisted in developing a fire adapted preparedness...

Chetco Unified Command will be conducting a community meeting for the residents of the Winchuck area tonight at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be hosted by the Winchuck Fire Department and will be held at the fire station at 363 Winchuck River Road. Officials will report on the fire, followed by a brief question and answer period. The southeastern perimeter within the Gold Beach Ranger District of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness from Hawk Creek west to Chetco Lake has been contained. Burning operations were utilized to construct lines on the southern perimeter along the 1205 Road, southwest to the Wheeler Creek area. Crews are retrieving hose lines and equipment along the southwest and western perimeter from Miller Bar to north of Palmer Butte and north, just south of Bosley Butte. The fire is still active in the northwest perimeter near Snow Camp Mountain, and crews continue to construct and strengthen control lines along this perimeter. Dozers have been deployed in the southernmost portion...

Smoke: Smoke is settling in the valley floors in the overnight hours. Communities closest to the fires and in the same or adjacent drainages are being effected the most. Areas of smoke early in the day will turn to hazy conditions in the afternoon and evening. Expect smoke to settle in the valleys again tonight. Fire: The Jolly fire is at 34,222 acres an increase of 272 acres. Fire behavior was moderate with group torching spotting and backing. The Norse Peak fire is at 52,502 acres with no increase in acreage. Moderate fire behavior with isolated torching and backing fire observed. The Uno Peak fire is at 8,455 acres an increase of 405 acres and exhibited moderate fire behavior with group torching, backing and creeping. Other: The longer-term forecast is for similar smoke conditions through Saturday. An approaching storm system will begin to bring higher winds ahead of the front, beginning to move the smoke out of the area. A wet cold front will arrive on Sunday and should...

Yesterday: Favorable weather conditions helped firefighters increase containment to 30% on the Jolly Mountain Fire. Hotshot crews utilized strategic firing operations to reduce unburned fuels between the containment lines and the fire south of Salmon la Sac. North of Morgan Creek on the western perimeter, firefighters patrolled to ensure the fire remained within containment lines. Mop-up operations continued on the southern perimeter and east to Teanaway River. Crews and helicopters conducted holding operations from Jungle Creek north to Beverly Campground. Today’s Activities: Aerial resources will continue to assist crews with firing operations from Salmon la Sac south to Howson Creek. Along the western perimeter north of Morgan Creek, firefighters are patrolling to ensure the fire stays within control lines. Mop up and patrol operations will continue from Morgan Creek east along the southern perimeter to the Teanaway River. Along the North Fork Teanaway Road, firing ...

Horse Creek Complex and Rebel FireUpdate for Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, 9 a.m.Fire Information: (541) 719-8371Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/3860https//facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017 Rebel Fire: 8,437 acres Horse Creek Complex: Olallie Lookout Fire, 1,500 acres; Roney Fire, 3,349 acres; Avenue Fire, 2,570 acres; Separation Fire, 17,636 acres; Nash Fire, 6,680 acres.Current Resources: Personnel, 525; Crews, 12; Helicopters, 2; Engines, 21; Dozers, 5; Water Tenders, 7; Masticators, 5; Skidgens, 4.Current Situation: Avenue Fire: The Avenue Fire continues to actively move west on the ridge top south of Horse Creek and towards King Creek. A smoke column appeared in the southeastern portion of the fire late yesterday afternoon. The Oregon Department of Forestry has provided resources to assist with work on the private lands in the Foley Springs area. Continued air support was provided to wildland fire crews on the ground as they implemented tactics to hold the fire south of the 300 Road....

Horse Creek Complex and Rebel FireUpdate for Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, 9 a.m.Fire Information: (541) 719-8371Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/3860https//facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017 Rebel Fire: 8,437 acres Horse Creek Complex: Olallie Lookout Fire, 1,500 acres; Roney Fire, 3,349 acres; Avenue Fire, 2,570 acres; Separation Fire, 17,636 acres; Nash Fire, 6,680 acres.Current Resources: Personnel, 525; Crews, 12; Helicopters, 2; Engines, 21; Dozers, 5; Water Tenders, 7; Masticators, 5; Skidgens, 4.Current Situation: Avenue Fire: The Avenue Fire continues to actively move west on the ridge top south of Horse Creek and towards King Creek. A smoke column appeared in the southeastern portion of the fire late yesterday afternoon. The Oregon Department of Forestry has provided resources to assist with work on the private lands in the Foley Springs area. Continued air support was provided to wildland fire crews on the ground as they implemented tactics to hold the fire south of the 300 Road....

Horse Creek Complex and Rebel Fire Update for Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, 9 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 719-8371 Online: inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/3860 https//facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017 Rebel Fire: 8,437 acres Horse Creek Complex: Olallie Lookout Fire, 1,500 acres; Roney Fire, 3,349 acres; Avenue Fire, 2,570 acres; Separation Fire, 17,636 acres; Nash Fire, 6,680 acres.Current Resources: Personnel, 525; Crews, 12; Helicopters, 2; Engines, 21; Dozers, 5; Water Tenders, 7; Masticators, 5; Skidgens, 4.Current Situation: Avenue Fire: The Avenue Fire continues to actively move west on the ridge top south of Horse Creek and towards King Creek. A smoke column appeared in the southeastern portion of the fire late yesterday afternoon. The Oregon Department of Forestry has provided resources to assist with work on the private lands in the Foley Springs area. Continued air support was provided to wildland fire crews on the ground as they implemented tactics to hold the fire south of the 300...

On Thursday, the most significant fire activity was on the Indigo Fire (784 Fire). Smoldering, creeping, short uphill runs and group tree torching were observed on its northeast perimeter. The fire grew to 360 acres yesterday evening and developed a smoke column and cloud. Fire spread to the northeast but did not cross the West Fork of Indigo Creek into Josephine County. The Indigo Fire is located away from the road system in the area, and has not yet led to road closures. Three crews established a spike camp near the fire and will continue to brush out the 055 and 510 roads. Rock scree has kept the fire in check on its west side. Helicopters will drop water on the fire as needed to reduce spread. The most activity in the East Zone of the Chetco Bar Fire was in the horseshoe bend of the Illinois River. Smoldering, creeping, short uphill runs and group tree torching were observed. The fire continues to slowly spread northeast. The Chetco Bar Fire is currently 188,284 acres and 38%...

Smoke: Smoke is settling in the valley floors in the overnight hours. Communities closest to the fires and in the same or adjacent drainages are being effected the most. Areas of smoke early in the day will turn to hazy conditions in the afternoon and evening. Expect smoke to settle in the valleys again

Eagle Creek Fire Size: 41,550 acres Eagle Creek Fire Containment: 28% (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. Summary: Interstate 84 opened to westbound traffic last night. Crews have worked hard for more than a week to reinforce fire line, remove hazard trees, and address other public safety concerns. Fire line has been completed along I-84 from Bridal Veil to Cascade Locks. Drivers are reminded to obey posted speed limits, be aware of changing visibility and watch out for other hazards. All exits between Hood River and Troutdale will remain closed. Drivers are not to stop along the highway. Yesterday, aircraft dropped nearly 100,000 gallons of water on the fire. Today, resources will be focused on the northeast corner of the fire to help protect the communities, infrastructure, and other values at...