InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Whitewater Fire Including Little Devil, Scorpion, Clagett Lake, Slideout, French and Potato Hill Fires September 14, 2017 Daily Update Fire Information Line: 541-719-8371 Location: Willamette National Forest willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Willamette National Forest Closures: 541-225-6350, Inciweb Websites: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420 Size: 13,865 acres (total for reported fires) Containment: 35% https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5565/ Resources Assigned: 334 personnel (total for reported fires) This will be the last update from the Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8 (NWIIMT8). NWIIMT8 would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to the community, cooperators, agency staff, and firefighters for the unwavering support during our management of the Whitewater Fires. Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 11, Nathan Rabe, Incident Commander, will assume command on September 15,...

Whitewater Fire Including Little Devil, Scorpion, Clagett Lake, Slideout, French and Potato Hill Fires September 14, 2017 Daily Update Fire Information Line: 541-719-8371 Location: Willamette National Forest willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Willamette National Forest Closures: 541-225-6350, Inciweb Websites: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5420 Size: 13,865 acres (total for reported fires) Containment: 35% https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5565/ Resources Assigned: 334 personnel (total for reported fires) This will be the last update from the Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8 (NWIIMT8). NWIIMT8 would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to the community, cooperators, agency staff, and firefighters for the unwavering support during our management of the Whitewater Fires. Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 11, Nathan Rabe, Incident Commander, will assume command on September 15,...

Chetco Bar grew a few hundred acres to 186,365 acres with 12% containment. Miller Complex is at 34,535 acres with 40% containment. On Chetco Bar: Slightly cooler temperatures again today with morning inversions. A dry cold front is expected this afternoon and winds may be gust in the 15-20 mph range from the NW. Upslope/upvalley winds will be more common through morning/early afternoon before gusty NW winds pick up. On Miller Complex: A fairly strong but mainly dry cold front will move through the complex today. We may have light rain or drizzle this morning, then the afternoon will bring some sun with breezy northwest winds over the exposed areas along with cooler and more humid conditions to all areas. Tonight will be chilly with lows possibly dipping into the upper 30s in some places. Very dry air will once again lower down over the area above the inversion tonight. Smoke: Cooling weather over the fires will reduce smoke, although other areas north and east of the fires are...

There will be a community fire briefing at the Winchuck Fire Station at 363 Winchuck River Rd on Friday, September 15th, 2017. Fire managers will provide an operational update about the Chetco Bar

Central Oregon – The Desolation fire stayed within planned containment lines through yesterday evening’s gusty winds 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 infrared flight mapped the fire at 1,568 acres and showed that most of yesterday’s fire growth occurred to the north and still within Mill Creek Wilderness. The fire is still 0 percent contained. A Level 2 evacuation notice remains in effect for residents in the Mark’s Creek area. The Level 2 evacuation urges residents to stay alert and be prepared to leave if the need arises. Around 195 firefighters are assigned to the fire and will continue working today on completing burnout operations along Forest Road 200, between the fire and private homes along Highway 26, with plans to continue northeast along Forest Roads 250 and 300 toward Cortez Creek. Crews with logging equipment will also continue working along...

Date Started: August 11, 2017Cause: LightningSize: 40,856 acresTotal Personnel: 842Structures Destroyed: 0Firefighter injuries to date: 1Total Complex Containment: 38%Fire Resources: 16 crews, 45 engines, 5 helicopters, 4 bulldozers, and 19 water tenders Current Information: There has been little change in the perimeter of the fires during the past few days. Eagle Rock, Devil and Brokentooth Fires have active fire burning near the edge and firefighters are monitoring these areas closely. The weather is expected to moderate fire activity which will assist fire personnel in the next few days. Last night’s shift reported little to no fire activity. Temperatures were low and humidities were high, leading to a quiet shift. Today, crews will continue the work in the Soda Springs and Eagle Rock Campground areas. Weather permitting, helicopters will also be working along the Highway 138 East Corridor, dropping buckets of water on hot spots. Firefighters will start mopping up around...

An Army strike team of 70 infantry personnel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (WA) is adding its muscle to the prep work being done along forest roads around the Broken Lookout Fire. Work to be performed includes brushing, chipping and extending water lines to prepare for a more direct attack on the fire’s east-facing flank. To prepare soldiers for this type of assignment, the Devils Canyon (WY) Type 2 Initial Attack Crew was embedded in the unit earlier in the season. Helicopters will continue focusing their efforts in the Squaw Creek drainage, where northwest winds are pushing the fire southward toward Donegan Creek. The primary carrier of fire in this area has been “goat’s beard” lichen, which hangs from evergreens and is easily spread by light winds. On the Pup Fire, ground crews are working to reinforce Forest Road 6520 where a finger of the fire is moving south/southeast toward the Douglas-Jackson County line. Low humidity at higher elevations could affect...

Se anticipa que vientos que causaron un aumento en la actividad a través del área de Nick Eaton Ridge en la parte noreste del incendio se calmaron en la noche y se mantendrán ligeras hoy. Se espera que aumente el tamaño del incendio principalmente en la parte sur, y de menor grado en la parte este, pero de manera mas lenta. Puede ser que se usen recursos aéreos para moderar el crecimiento del incendio. Lineas de control se han establecido en el corredor I-84 desde Herman Creek hasta Mitchell Point . Si condiciones permiten, bomberos realizaran operaciones de quema para reforzar esa línea. Equipos siguen apagando áreas calientes en el corredor I-84 desde Bridal Veil a Warrendale. Cuando terminen ahí, el enfoque se dirigirá hacia Cascade Locks. En el perímetro sudoeste y sudeste, línea de contingencia que corre por el corredor de líneas eléctricas esta a punto de ser completada. Se espera que el incendio sigua creciendo con baja intensidad en Tanner y Big Cedar Springs....

https://www.facebook.com/EagleCreekandIndianCreekFires2017/videos/123400471650802/Video Briefing TranscriptGood morning, Rick Miller here with your operational update for the day. Yesterday was a pretty active fire day. And I'll start with the fire activity and where the fire ended up after yesterday's burn period and last night's, and then go into what we've done. The majority of the growth that transpired was out here on the east end, all within the kind of gorge steep sloped area yesterday. So the fire has made it into Lindsey Creek pm the east side and is perched up right above Shell Rock and was very active all day, most of the night, as well as it is backing down the slope toward Wyeth, if you're aware of where that's at. Fire has reached the power lines right above Wyeth as of about an hour ago [6:30 a.m.] and so the majority of the growth yesterday was all that country burning. Coming around to the south there continued to be some growth up by Wahtum Lake, pretty slow moving...

Date Started: Aug. 11, 2017 Cause: Lightning Total acres: 55,448· Containment: 12% Structures Damaged/Destroyed: None; Injuries to date: 3 (minor); Total Personnel: 660; Fire Resources: 20 crews, 19 engines, 4 helicopters, 2 bulldozers, 10 water tenders, 1 masticator, 4 skidgeons.·combined acreage of Norse Peak and American FiresFire Summary: Overnight, fire activity was minimal along State Route (SR) 410, exhibiting a slow creeping that continues to consume dead understory and ground fuels. High cloud cover this morning will dissipate this afternoon. Shifting north-northeasterly winds will occur in the morning and westerly winds will kick-up this afternoon.The low pressure system that moved into the region will linger but push east on Friday, maintaining current cool, dry conditions. A storm system is expected to move into the area Sunday night and Monday and will bring a chance of precipitation to the region for the first time in over 90 days. SR 410 remains closed...

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: 50,557 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: 932 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...

Yesterday: Firefighters finished preparing and plumbing a pump and sprinkler system on the dozer-constructed line south of Salmon la Sac Creek. Crews patrolling the fire’s western and southern containment lines continued mop-up operations. To the east, firefighters were successful in ensuring protection of cabins on the North Fork Teanaway River as the fire backed down to containment lines. Aerial firing operations continued in the Jungle Creek drainage to reduce unburned interior fuels. Two SEATs (single engine air tankers), in combination with a Type 1 helicopter, delivered water drops to cool active fire behavior on the northern perimeter near Johnson Creek. Today’s Activities: Aerial resources will assist crews with firing operations initiated last night from Salmon la Sac south to Howson Creek. To further reduce fire intensity and limit spread, aerial ignition operations will continue in the Little Salmon la Sac drainage. Along the western perimeter near Morgan Creek,...

Evacuation orders in Curry County were re-evaluated on September 13th, 2017. The following areas are under a Level 1 Evacuation: • Southern Curry County line at the sea front, north to the Pistol River area, including:  Carpenterville Road and all intersecting roads east and west;  Gardner Ridge Road from the intersection of North Bank to Palmer View Road;  North Bank Chetco Road to Loeb Park, and South Bank Chetco Road to the Salmon Run Golf Course The following areas are under a Level 2 Evacuation: • East above Peavine Road in the Winchuck Drainage • South Bank of the Chetco above Salmon Run Golf Course • North Bank of the Chetco above Loeb Park to include Wilderness Retreat • Gardner Ridge Road above Palmer Butte to include Cate and Hazel Camp Areas There are no Level 3 Evacuation orders currently in effect in Curry County. Residents in the affected areas will see changes in location and staffing of traffic control points operated by the National...

On Wednesday, the most significant fire activity in the Chetco Bar East Zone was in the north end of the fire perimeter. Smoldering, creeping, short uphill runs and single tree torching were observed near the horseshoe of the Illinois River. Fire crews and masticators are working on completing reopened Biscuit fireline to the east. The 784 Fire (Indigo Fire), on the West Fork of Indigo Creek was also active yesterday. This fire is approximately 182 acres. It was detected on Monday, September 11th and is located approximately 10 miles north of the Chetco Bar Fire. Helicopters dropped water through the day to reduce its spread. Hand crews, dozers and a masticator continue to prepare the 055 and 510 roads to create a fireline to its east side. Crews on the 784 Fire/Indigo Fire will spend the next two nights in a spike camp near their work area to reduce exposure from driving long distances to the main fire camp. Today, two crews will complete handline construction in spiny, rocky...

The Hart’s Pass Road is now closed at the Forest Boundary beyond the Lost River Airport. The PCT is still open, but the access is now Rainy Pass trailhead or Canyon Creek trailhead. The trailheads of Robinson Creek and Rattlesnake are also closed. The Ballard and River Bend campgrounds are now also

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM #10 Al Lawson-Incident Commander Weather allows line to be strengthened with burning operations Thursday, September 14, 2017 Fire: Uno Peak Completion: 10% Acres: 8060 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: Continuous dry fuels in Lone Fir Creek drainage kept the fire burning actively with an added growth of less than 200 acres. The Big Goat Mountain area also put up a large column of smoke that was visible. Other portions of the fire had moderate fire behavior. As crews completed cold trailing near South Navarre campground, burning operations were initiated to improve the line south of the campground towards Nelson Butte. Crews were staffed last night to patrol and monitor the fire. The structure protection group remains ready to protect structures if needed. The...

Smoke: Winds have decreased overnight and areas of patchy smoke have developed. Areas Closest to the fire will continue to see pockets of smoke and haze throughout the period. The inversion should lift around 1200 and air quality should improve to good or moderate levels. Fire: The Jolly Mountain fire is currently burning north of Cle Elum, WA. The current fire size is 33,950 acres an increase of 1,441 acres. Active fire behavior with backing, group torching and spotting. The Uno Peak fire is currently burning north of Lake Chelan with a current size of 8,060 acres an increase of 181 acres. Active fire behavior with group torching, uphill runs and flanking. The Norse Peak fire is burning northwest of Yakima. The current size is 52,502 acres an increase of 0 acres. Moderate fire behavior, group torching, backing and creeping. Other: Transitioning to cooler temperatures and breezy conditions over the next few days should improve the quality of the air due to smoke from wildfires. Longer...

Smoke: Winds have decreased overnight and areas of patchy smoke have developed. Areas Closest to the fire will continue to see pockets of smoke and haze throughout the period. The inversion should lift around 1200 and air quality should improve to good or moderate

Enumclaw Washington, September 14, 2017 - The Sawmill Creek Fire is currently 915 acres with 0% containment and has increased 64 acres over the last few days. On the North Zone of the Norse Peak Fire, firefighters continue their efforts to improve roads, remove fuel around the fire and build indirect line. Crews continue to work their way into the fire to build direct containment lines. Firefighters working in Division’s “G” and “E” near The Dalles, Crystal Mountain Communities and Alta Vista Resort area continue working on structure protection building control lines and adding sprinkler systems. Crews continue to reduce fuels around homes in preparation for 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. On the Sawmill Creek Fire, the fire continues to slowly burn down to Highway 410, representatives from Incident Command, Pierce County...

Winds, which pushed the fire beyond Nick Eaton Ridge in the northeast corner yesterday, calmed overnight and are anticipated to remain light today. The fire still is expected to continue growing, mainly to the south and to a lesser extent the east, but at a slower rate. Air resources may also be used to help slow the fire’s spread. Line is in place along the I-84 corridor from Herman Creek east to Mitchell Point and if conditions permit, firefighters will conduct burn out operations to strengthen that line. Mop-up is almost complete along the I-84 corridor from Bridal Veil to Warrendale. Crews will now begin focusing their mop-up efforts east toward Cascade Locks. On the southwest and southeast perimeters, contingency line, which primarily follows powerline corridors and roads, is nearly complete. The fire is expected to continue its low intensity burn in Tanner and Big Cedar Springs. Powerlines serving Cascade Locks from the west have been re-energized following operations to...