InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Smoke: With the approaching storm front, it is expected that smoke conditions will improve throughout the area over the next couple of days. The smoke within the Columbia Basin should clear and smoke in the area will be mainly from local

SW Oregon—Ongoing firefighting efforts on the Blanket Creek Fire have resulted in the need to close the Sky Lakes Wilderness to public entry, both for the health and safety of the public, as well as for the safety of firefighters and fire personnel. This latest closure further extends closures already in place to include the entirety of the Wilderness, which is co-managed by both the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Fremont-Winema National Forests. The closure is effective immediately, and will remain in place through December 31, 2017, unless sooner rescinded. Areas already closed via earlier Forest Orders remain closed, including the OHV trail system near Prospect. The full text of the order, including a list of trails, and a map, can be viewed on the RRSNF’s website. People are encouraged to follow the Forest on both Twitter and Facebook for updates as they become available. Additionally, the High Cascades Complex posts daily fire updates to the incident’s Inciweb page, and the Joint...

Please visit the Willamette National Forest Closure page to view current fire related

There is a slight chance of showers today. The cooler temperatures and higher humidities will dampen fire behavior. With the lower burning potential, if there are any fire starts from recent lightning, it may be a few days before they are large enough to be detected. Smoke from the Horse Creek Complex will continue to impact the area. The communities of Oakridge, McKenzie Bridge, Cascade Lakes, La Pine, and Bend will see improved conditions. Black Butte Ranch, Sisters, and Redmond will see moderated smoke. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) areas remain in effect. knowbeforeyoufly.org Wildfires start in two ways - lightning and people. In Oregon, 70 percent of wildland fires are human caused. Be Aware, Be Smart, Be Careful. Keep Oregon Green This morning, the management of the WHITEWATER, LITTLE DEVIL, SCORPION, and POTATO HILL fires was assumed by Northwest Interagency Type 2 Incident Management Team #8. The management of...

There is a slight chance of showers today. The cooler temperatures and higher humidities will dampen fire behavior. With the lower burning potential, if there are any fire starts from recent lightning, it may be a few days before they are large enough to be detected. Smoke from the Horse Creek Complex will continue to impact the area. The communities of Oakridge, McKenzie Bridge, Cascade Lakes, La Pine, and Bend will see improved conditions. Black Butte Ranch, Sisters, and Redmond will see moderated smoke. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) areas remain in effect. knowbeforeyoufly.org Wildfires start in two ways - lightning and people. In Oregon, 70 percent of wildland fires are human caused. Be Aware, Be Smart, Be Careful. Keep Oregon Green This morning, the management of the WHITEWATER, LITTLE DEVIL, SCORPION, and POTATO HILL fires was assumed by Northwest Interagency Type 2 Incident Management Team #8. The management of...

Fire Information: (541) 316-7711 Containment: 60% Size: 24,079 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5517/ Milli Fire September 8, 2017 Daily Update Thunderstorms passed through Central Oregon yesterday and blanketed the area with lightning and rain. The Milli Fire area likely received between .03 and .10 of an inch of rain yesterday which will help the finer fuels like grass and shrubs retain moisture. Humidity recoveries were good over the fire area, which generally makes fuel less receptive to ignition but this will likely only last for the next few days until a drying and warming trend returns. The area closure in place for the Milli Fire has been reduced. While the western, southern and eastern boundaries of the closure remain the same, the northern border has decreased to open access around Black Butte Ranch and Cold Springs Campground. More information on this closure can be found at the Forest Closures link below. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect through...

There is a slight chance of showers today. The cooler temperatures and higher humidities will dampen fire behavior. With the lower burning potential, if there are any fire starts from recent lightning, it may be a few days before they are large enough to be detected. Smoke from the Horse Creek Complex will continue to impact the area. The communities of Oakridge, McKenzie Bridge, Cascade Lakes, La Pine, and Bend will see improved conditions. Black Butte Ranch, Sisters, and Redmond will see moderated smoke. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) areas remain in effect. knowbeforeyoufly.org Wildfires start in two ways - lightning and people. In Oregon, 70 percent of wildland fires are human caused. Be Aware, Be Smart, Be Careful. Keep Oregon Green This morning, the management of the WHITEWATER, LITTLE DEVIL, SCORPION, and POTATO HILL fires was assumed by Northwest Interagency Type 2 Incident Management Team #8. The management of...

Whitewater Fire Including Little Devil, Scorpion, French and Potato Hill Fires September 8, 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: 13,339 acres (total acres of all of the above fires) https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5565/ Resources Assigned: 605 personnel (total resources of all of the above fires) Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8 (NWIIMT8) Doug Johnson, incident commander, assumed management of the Whitewater, Little Devil, Scorpion, French and Potato Hill Fires at 6:00 am this morning. NWIIMT8 would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to the Southwest Area Team 1, Bea Day, incident commander, for their hard work and smooth transition of management. Evacuation Levels: For additional...

Whitewater Fire Including Little Devil, Scorpion, French and Potato Hill Fires September 8, 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: 13,339 acres (total acres of all of the above fires) https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5565/ Resources Assigned: 605 personnel (total resources of all of the above fires) Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8 (NWIIMT8) Doug Johnson, incident commander, assumed management of the Whitewater, Little Devil, Scorpion, French and Potato Hill Fires at 6:00 am this morning. NWIIMT8 would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to the Southwest Area Team 1, Bea Day, incident commander, for their hard work and smooth transition of management. Evacuation Levels: For additional...

Areas of the upper McKenzie River Valley that have been on a Level 2 evacuation advisory, including zones 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, with the exception of Foley Hot Springs and Camp Melakwa, are being downgraded to a Level 1, “Be Ready”, advisory. This is the lowest level of evacuation advisory. Residents should still be prepared and continue to monitor local news channels and emergency notification websites for information. Zone 10, including Foley Hot Springs and Camp Melakwa will remain on a Level 3, or “Go” now, advisory. Zones 3 and 4 on the attached map will remain on a Level 1, “Be Ready”, advisory. Zones 1 and 2 on the attached map are not on an evacuation advisory. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office has a public hotline set up to help residents and visitors with evacuation information inquires at

Chetco Bar Fire Evacuation Area Re‐Entry Plan September 8, 2017 11:00 am Evacuation Area Re-entry Plan: Based upon current fire behavior and in coordination with the Chetco Bar Incident Management Team, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office is reducing the Level 3 Evacuation to a Level 2 Evacuation outside of the established fire perimeter within Curry County only. Only residents and land owners are allowed to enter the previous Level 3 Evacuation Areas. These Areas include: -Pistol River Road - Carpenterville Road - North Bank Chetco River Road to the established fire perimeter - Gardner Ridge Road to the established fire perimeter - South Bank Chetco River Road All residents that live in these geographic areas must present their picture identification to Curry County Sheriff’s Office Staff to receive re-entry materials. Residents can pick up the re-entry materials from 11am to 4pm at Ray’s Market 906 Chetco Ave in Brookings, Oregon. Residents and land owners will present...

Fire Update – Friday, September 8, 2017 – 10:30 a.m. Favorable weather helped minimize fire activity on the Eagle Creek Fire overnight. Relative humidity reached 100% in many areas as low clouds moved in as far as the Pacific Crest Trail on Benson Plateau above Cascade Locks. Night crews reported, however, that there was some unmeasured fire growth on the ridge above Cascade Locks. No Infrared imagery was available overnight. Today, crews will continue with structure protection and will focus efforts on the western, eastern and southern flanks of the fire. As weather allows, more burnout operations are planned to secure fire line near the Bridge of the Gods. This will bring an increase in smoky conditions, but will help in securing the fire’s edge. Fire crews will be working today to remove brush from Forest Road 2030 around the perimeter of the Bull Run watershed as a fire break to protect the drainage. Yesterday, after the smoke dispersed near the river, helicopters were...

EQUIPO #10 DE DIRECCIÓN DE INCIDENTES DEL NOROESTE Al Lawson- Comandante de incidentes Condiciones climáticas favorables para los bomberos Viernes, 8 de septiembre de 2017 Incendio: Uno Peak Completado: 1% Acres: 6.900 Fecha de inicio: 30 de agosto de 2017 Causa: a ser determinada Ubicación: 15 millas al NO de Manson, WA Personal total: 243 Carburantes/topografía: madera, pasto, terreño escarpado Ayer: el humo continuó en el área y mantuvo controlado el comportamiento y la propagación del incendio. No se realizaron operaciones aéreas debido a la poca visibilidad. Se completó la línea de contención de 6 millas de largo desde Coyote Ridge hasta Lake Chelan, incluyendo la distribución de mangueras y agua. Los equipos también instalaron una línea de buldóceres al sur de Nelson Butte, a una milla por debajo de la línea de la cresta. La zona de Canoe Creek al oeste y la de Llama Ranch al sureste permanecen bajo Nivel 1 de evacuación...

Additional resources added; Forecasted weather improvementsLocation: 12 miles N of Mazama, WA Total Personnel: 59Acres: 90,000 U.S; 14,000 Canada Cause: Believed to be HumanContainment: 35% Start Date: July 23, 2017Start Date: July 23, 2017 Yesterday: An infrared detection flight was completed on Thursday. These flights identify and map areas of heat and showed a small section of activity in the upper reaches of the Monument Creek drainage. An earlier aerial reconnaissance had shown some movement into the top of Pat Creek but this was not confirmed by the infrared. Otherwise the fire made very little progression towards the south. The fire area continues to burn into steep, rugged terrain in the Pasaytan Wilderness and is being managed using a confine strategy that combines containment by natural features and full suppression to control the spread toward the town of Mazama. Personnel constructed hand-line in the Yellowjacket Creek area while a dozer was able to open up the FR100...

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM #10 Al Lawson-Incident Commander Favorable weather conditions for firefighters Friday, September 8, 2017 Fire: Uno Peak Completion: 1% Acres: 6,900 Start Date: August 30, 2017 Cause: Under Investigation Location: 15 miles NW of Manson, WA Total Personnel: 243 Fuels/Topography: Timber, grass, rugged terrain Yesterday: Smoke persisted in the area and kept fire behavior and fire growth subdued. Air operations were grounded due to smoky skies. The 6-mile long containment line along Coyote Ridge down to Lake Chelan was completed, including distribution of fire hose and water. Crews also have constructed dozer line from Nelson Butte south one mile down the ridge line. The Canoe Creek area to the west and the Llama Ranch area to the southeast remain under a Level 1 evacuation (get ready). Today: With favorable fire and weather conditions, crews are now working on a containment line closer to the...

Outlook for Chetco Bar Air QualitySmoke: Smoke impacts improved dramatically in allcommunities surrounding the Chetco Bar fire overnight.Rainfall and wind have helped to clear the air, however,lingering smoke remains in many areas. Inlandcommunities such as Cave Junction, Grants Pass and theRogue River Valley cleared out overnight but conditions areexpected to degrade, possibly reaching the Unhealthyrange later today. Coastal areas South of the fire, such asBrookings, that were mostly free of smoke overnight, areseeing smoke drain down valley and fill back in thismorning. These areas may see periods of Unhealthyconditions with overall impact in the Unhealthy forSensitive Groups range. With warmer and drier weathertomorrow, smoke impacts are likely to increase with aforecast increase in fire activity.Fire: Low/Moderate fire behavior is expected as cool andwet weather moved through. The fire is 177,301 acresburned and is 5% contained.Other: A replacement monitor for Brookings is...

East Crater Fire (Indian Heaven Wilderness) and Bear Creek Fire (Bear Creek Watershed), Mount Adams Ranger District, Gifford Pinchot National Forest East Crater Fire: Fire growth was minimal with active burning within the fire perimeter in some areas and minimal fire activity in others. Current fire size remains at 467-acres. In the days ahead, personnel and equipment will be working to prepare nearby roads as fireline to minimize fire spread outside the wilderness. The fire has been burning in the Indian Heaven Wilderness since September 3rd. FIRE CLOSURES: Hikers are advised that the Indian Heaven Wilderness and a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail are closed due to the fire. Campsites around the Indian Heaven Wilderness are also closed. For details visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices Bear Creek Fire: On Thursday, crews completed initial fire line and established hose lays around the fire. In the days ahead, crews will work to improve the line...

Cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and wetting rains from passing thunderstorms provided relief again to firefighters yesterday in the complex. Precipitation was highest on Broken Lookout and Pup fires with up to 0.25” compared to Spruce Lake and Blanket Creek fires with as little as 0.05”. Decreased fire behavior and growth were the norm as a result of the moderated weather.Agency administrators have decided to split management of the fires in the High Cascade Complex assigning suppression responsibility of the Broken Lookout and Pup Fires to the current NW Incident Management Team 7 and the Spruce Lake and Blanket Lake fires to Southwest (SW) Team 3. SW Team 3 will also take over management of the North Pelican Fire. Transfer of command is set to take place at 7 a.m. on September 9th. Yesterday’s Activity: Fire crews on the Spruce Lake Fire (14,411 ac) continued chipping and hauling away material along the west side of the North Entrance Road. Fire managers...

FIRE SUMMARY Today, Van Arroyo’s Central Coast Incident Management Team assumed command of the Norse Peak and American fires from the Florida Red Team as that team heads home to prepare for the impact of Hurricane Irma. Cooler, moist air has moved into the fire area today with west to northwest winds. The change in wind direction will help slow the spread of the fire on the Pierce County side and allow firefighters to make progress along the western edge of the Norse Peak Fire. In addition to favorable weather, the arrival of crews from the Washington National Guard is aiding firefighting efforts. They are in place providing security in and around the fire area and are being used on the line to help bolster the hand crews and engine teams already in place. In addition to ground resources, the Guard is providing helicopter support out of Ellensburg. NORSE PEAK FIRE (45,433 acres): Crews worked to establish handlines in Goat Creek and Silver Creek areas to provide better...

Press Release Public Health FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Indoor air monitoring at Ellensburg & Kittitas schools shows poor air quality Kittitas County, WA - 09/07/2017 - Upon request of Ellensburg School District and Kittitas School District, the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) conducted indoor air monitoring at all Ellensburg and Kittitas school buildings yesterday. Indoor air readings ranged from “unhealthy” (red) to “hazardous” (dark red) leading to the districts’ decision to close schools until at least Monday, September 11th. Indoor air monitoring is conducted with two E-Sampler monitors that were purchased with federal grant funds in 2015. The monitors are owned by Kittitas County but are available for use within the public health emergency preparedness region 7 which includes Grant, Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan Counties. Kittitas County currently has priority use because of the declaration of emergency that is in place. The monitors are for...