InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

SIZE: 6,983 acresCONTAINMENT: 45%PERSONNEL: 652CAUSE: LightningRESOURCES:3 CAMP CREW19 HAND CREW25 ENGINES21 WATER TENDERSAIRCRAFT:1 TYPE 2 HELICOPTER1 TYPE 3 HELICOPTER Yesterday’s operations: Yesterday, crews continued to improve containment lines on the fire’s western edge. Firefighters tightened and reinforced lines where the fire had previously jumped. Spotting increased slightly last night. Night crews successfully contained all but one of the spots which was inaccessible in the dark. Day crews anticipate controlling the spot. Firefighters continued firing operations and vegetation removal to improve the 1830 road, extending and deepening containment lines. Mop-up continued on the western and southern parts of the fire with excellent results. Today’s operations: Today, crews will keep the focus on conducting burnout operations from the 1830 road on the eastern perimeter toward the fire’s western interior. Snags and rolling debris continue to present a constant...

Weather, Fire Behavior, and Air QualityHigher humidity and light west northwest winds may bring favorablefirefighting conditions today. A high pressure system is anticipated to buildtonight with warmer temperatures and drier conditions returning Friday.Yesterday's afternoon winds brought clearer conditions to the westernCascade region. Fires continue to produce smoke and haze impactingBreitenbush Detroit, Oakridge and McKenzie Bridge.MCKENZIE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT FIRESThe Horse Creek Complex includes the Avenue Fire, burning three milessoutheast of McKenzie Bridge, and nearby wilderness fires Olallie Lookout,Separation, Roney, and Nash. Firefighters began structure protection in theFoley Ridge area yesterday and will continue to evaluate values at risktoday. Aerial resources will be utilized as needed. Crews and equipment willbe used to construct line to Highway 242.Due to the Nash Fire, the areas surrounding Elk Lake and Hosmer Lakehave been elevated to Level 2 evacuation status...

Weather and Fire Behavior: Gusty, offshore winds will continue into Thursday night and Friday morning while relative humidity falls to very low levels. This will be followed by a prolonged hot and dry spell with poor relative humidity recovery.The weekend weather forecast indicates critical fire weather and the potential for extreme fire behavior. Significant perimeter growth and smoke column development are possible. Winds have the potential to carry embers seven tenths of a mile. Yesterday: Several areas of the fire were active on the north, south and east perimeter. The fire pushed eastward toward the Kalmiopsis Wilderness boundary into brushy vegetation north of Pearsoll Peak, in a portion of the area previously burned during the 2002 Biscuit Fire. Favorable visibility provided opportunities for aerial support as firefighters completed significant work along the northwest and south flanks of the fire. Crews connected old dozer lines and strengthened fire lines directly along the...

The Bridge Creek Fire is located 13 miles north of Keller, Washington on the Colville Indian Reservation. The fire is burning within the primary containment lines built by firefighters. Secondary contingency firelines are being completed in the northwest portion. Fire behavior has been moderate over the last few days with occasional flare-ups and torching in areas with heavier surface fuels. The Bridge Creek Fire is currently burning in tall grass, timber, dead and downed debris. Yesterday, a single tree torching resulted in four spot fires outside the western perimeter. Firefighter lookouts, strategically placed in a narrow canyon, located the spot fires. All four fires were contained, mopped up and are now in patrol status. Good progress continues on the Bridge Creek Fire with the western portion of the perimeter now complete. Fire crews working to open up roads and build trails in the interior of the fire off the Upper Bridge Creek Road are staging hose and porta-tanks which...

DIAMOND CREEK FIRE INFORMATIONThursday, August 31Information: (503)765-5724 - 8 am – 6 pm Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail.com Websites: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondcreekfire2017 Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com Location: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA Summary: On Wednesday the fire continued to move north, burning over Whistler Basin and the west side of Sheep Mountain, and further into British Columbia. Cathedral Provincial Park has been closed. Coordination with the British Columbia Ministry of Forest Land and Natural Resource Operations is ongoing. Helicopter water drops are still being used to hold the fire in Drake Creek and keep it from moving into Pat Creek, with a large Type 1 helicopter in addition to a Type 2 and a Type 3. Chippers are continuing to treat slash created as part of the preparation work on the indirect fire line. Work on...

Norse Peak Fires Update Thursday, August 31, 2017 – 9:00 a.m. After painstaking consideration for public safety, fire managers have proposed closing Forest Road 1900 (aka: “Road 19” and “Little Naches”). An official forest order has been requested. Continued hot, dry conditions, significant fire spread potential, and lack of safe extraction routes for Forest visitors is prompting the proposed closure. Forest Service leaders and incident personnel will work to re-open this popular hunting and recreation area as soon as it is safe to do so. Crow Creek Campground is closed. Kaner Flat and Little Naches campgrounds remain open, as is the Little Naches Cabin Tract. There is no dispersed camping allowed in the area. An area closure south and west of Road 19 is also proposed. Law enforcement will be enforcing the closure. A Level 1 evacuation notice is being recommended to the Yakima County Sheriff for the Little Naches area. A Level 1 evacuation means you need to “BE READY”...

Carretera en Rogue River-siskiyou National Forest, senderos y zonas prohibidas – Incendio Chetco BarDESCRIPCION DE LA ZONA PROHIBIDA:La zona prohibida en el area del Incendio Chetco Bar se ha dirigido hacia el Norte en la carretera 3300 de la siguiente manera:al Este donde se unen la carretera de la ciudad No. 450, al Sur a lo largo de la carretera del sendero del Rio Illinois, conocido como Illinois River Trail (FST 1161) extendiendose hacia la frontera entre el area silvestre de Kalmiopsis (Kalmiopsis Wilderness) y siguiendo al Sur hasta alcanzar la parte mas Sureste de la zona silvestre de Kalmiopsis. Despues de esto, se continua en la frontera Sur del Distrito de Gold Beach hasta la frontera de Oregon-California. La parte mas sureste esta prohibida por la frontera de Oregon-California hacia el Oeste donde se dirige al Norte a lo largo de la zona prohibida en el bosque Nacional hasta la union con la carretera del Servicio Forestal No. 3300 (FSR...

The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) area has seen multiple new fire starts over the last 24 hours as a result of a lightning storm that moved through the eastern portion of the zone on Monday, for more information on these local fires visit https://scofmp.blogspot.com/ The heavy area smoke continues to linger within the basin leading to air quality advisories but has contributed to the lessening of fire activity due to the shading effect of the smoke. The weather forecast is predicting warmer temperatures, lower relative humidity and a Red Flag Warning in effect for gusty winds through the weekend. Solid progress has made holding the perimeter around the North Pelican fire. Infrared mapping shows the current fire size as 1,825 acres and containment holding at 18%. Tree trimming and line construction has been initiated on the snowmobile trail between Cold Springs trailhead and Rock Creek which. Work in that area will increase fire traffic on the Cold...

The Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest has expanded the area closure west of Hwy 62 and 230 around the Broken Lookout, Windy Gap, Paradise and Pup fires. The area generally runs from Woodruff Bridge on the south to the junction of the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forest boundaries on the north. The new Closure also closes all OHV trails on the High Cascades Ranger District. For specific information visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. Closures are enacted for public and firefighter safety.

Chetco Bar Fire - Air Quality Update - August 31 Smoke: Smoke production is expected to increase significantly today with active fire behavior. Winds from the North and Northeast will drift smoke toward coastal areas over Brookings and further South into NW California. Highway 101 may see reduced visibility near theOregon/California boarder. Smoke impacts are expected to increase to Unhealthy/Very Unhealthy in Brookings by this evening. Although Gold Beach and Agness are upstream of the Chetco Bar smoke, smoke from Horse Prairie is expected to drift into these areas increasing conditions to USG (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). In the Cave Junction and Grants Pass regions, Unhealthy conditions are expected to remain as smoke from several regional fires impact this zone. Fire: Very active to extreme fire behavior is expected today. A fire weather warning is in effect. The fire is currently at 131,197 acres burned and is 5% contained. Other: A smoke monitor in Gold Beach has been...

Milli Fire - August 31st Daily Update 8:00am Location of Origin: 9 miles west of Sisters, OR Start date: August 11, 2017, 2:42 pm Size: Approximately 22,190 acres Percent Contained: 44% Cause: Lightning Resources Assigned: 451 personnel Fire Information number: 541-719-8135 Fire Activity The private land within the perimeter once again became active late yesterday afternoon. Crews patrolled the eastern fireline and found one small spot fire, 20 feet by 20 feet in size. The spot was contained. Firefighters worked through the night to complete a low-intensity burnout on the private land which will strengthen the eastern fire line. Fuels continue to burn within the fire perimeter which will produce some smoke. Fire behavior consists mostly of creeping and smoldering with a few isolated pockets of unburned trees potentially torching. Firefighters have found minimal hotspots within contained areas of the fire. They will continue to patrol, mop up, and rehab contained areas of the fire....

On August 31, the Pacific Crest Trail has reopened for hiking between White Pass and Chinook Pass. Rapid spread of the Norse Peak Fires and persistent fire weather caused it to be closed from White Pass to Government Meadow on Tuesday, August 29. The portion from Chinook Pass to Government Meadow remains closed. The Norse Peak Fire is burning near the Trail and has crossed it in places. Through-hikers avoiding the closed area should consider planning how to rejoin the trail north of Government Meadow when they reach White Pass, as there is little cell phone connectivity at Chinook Pass, Hwy 410 is intermittently closed, and the eastern access to Government Meadow (Forest Road 19, “Little Naches Road”) is also closed.

August 31, 2017, 9:00 a.m. Umpqua North Complex Update Fire Information Line (541) 378-6944 UmpquaNorthComplex17@gmail.com Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Recorded Information: (855) 419-2349 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5505/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UmpquaNationalForest/ Incident: Lightning started dozens of fires across the northern Umpqua National Forest along both sides of Highway 138 East during the week of Aug. 9, 2017. There are currently 14 active fires in the complex, which is located 50 miles east of Roseburg in Douglas County, Ore. Incident Command: Unified Command – Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team; Tom Kurth, Incident Commander, Douglas Forest Protective Association; Dan Thorpe, Incident Commander. The California Interagency Incident Management Team, Jay Kurth, Incident Commander, will take over managing the complex at 7:00 a.m. Friday. Current Size: 25,358 acres estimated total of complex based on...

Start Date 8/11 Cause Lightning Size 9,386 acres Percent Containment 0% Crews 6 Helicopters 4 Engines 24 Total Personnel 379 Fire Progression Map More photos: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/photographs/5496/Fire Perimeter Map Fire Information Phone: (509)596-2423 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Pre-recorded line: (505)585-5048 Email: JollyMountainFireInfo@gmail.com Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/5496/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jollymountainfireinfo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jolly_mountain Location: Cle Elum Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WASummary: Fire activity increased significantly on the Jolly Mountain Fire yesterday as westerly winds were stronger than predicted. Firefighters are preparing for another busy day with potential for more fire growth. On the western perimeter, in places along Sasse Ridge, the fire will continue to...

News Release August 31, 2017 Area around fire remains closed; Thirty Mile Road, Hall Creek, Lynx Creek remain open KELLER, WA The Northwest Incident Management Team 11 (NW IMT 11) fighting the Bridge Creek Fire has asked community members and travelers passing by the Bridge Creek Fire to travel safe over the Labor Day weekend. With potential for increased traffic due to the holiday weekend, a start to the Colville Tribes’ archery elk season, and the Ferry County Fair, NW IMT anticipates increased traffic. Fire traffic, which includes large equipment, water tenders, hand crew buggies, and other vehicles will be traveling to and from the incident command post at the Keller Community Center. While the Colville Tribes lowered the Industrial Fire Protection Level and lifted a closure of roads on the reservation, the tribe has announced the area around the fire is closed and roads around the fire are closed to motorized vehicles. Road closure signs have been installed at the following...

Staley and Tumble Bug 2 Fire UpdateThursday, August 31, 2017 8 a.m. Fire information phone: 503-867-7705Email: StaleyFire17@gmail.comNW Incident Management Team (IMT) 9, Brian Goff, Incident CommanderStart date: Aug. 9, 2017 Current Size: Staley is 2,153 acres; Tumble Bug 2 is 87 acresPercent Containment: 61% Location: Willamette National Forest Cause: Lightning Good progress has been made on the suppression of the Staley and Tumble Bug 2 Fires. Tumble Bug 2 will soon be in patrol status and the Staley Fire has stayed within all primary control lines planned by the Incident Management Team. Weather and Smoke: Skies should be clear on Thursday and relatively smoke-free in the Oakridge area. Winds will be breezy out of the north with temperatures slightly warmer from the mid 70s to the low 80s. The day and nighttime humidity will be falling. The hot and dry Labor Day Weekend may see smoke returning from other fires in the region. Current and predicted smoke conditions can be found at:...

Start Date 8/11 Cause Lightning Size estimated 8,000 acres Percent Containment 0% Crews 7 Helicopters 4 Engines 4 Total 22Personnel 372 Summary: Fire activity increased significantly on the Jolly Mountain Fire today as westerly winds were stronger than predicted. On the northeast portion of the fire, activity was minimal. On the western perimeter, along Sasse Ridge, the fire continued to slowly back down the slope in places towards the Cle Elum River. On the southern edge, the fire flanked across the face of the mountains. The southeastern corner, where spot fires have been slowly growing together for the past week, was the most active. The fire moved approximately 3 miles to the east, prompting the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office to issue Level 3 evacuation notices for residents and recreationalists in the Teanaway River corridor. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest extended its closure area all the way to Highway 97 to the east.The fire will be visible from area...

UPDATED CLOSURES IN EFFECT AS OF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30Road Closures: Eightmile Creek Road #5130 is closed one mile past Honeymoon Campground. The Ortell Road #5220 is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with the Sweetgrass Butte 5220-100 Road, to the Eightmile Road #5130. Sweetgrass Butte Road #5220-100 is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with Ortell Road #5220, to Sweetgrass Butte. The entire Falls Creek 5140 Road is closed. Trails Closed - FS trail 511 - Goat Creek FS trail 518 - Falls Creek FS trail 519 - Copper Glance FS trail 523 - Eightmile Ridge FS trail 477 – Ptarmigan Creek beyond the Dot Creek crossing FS trail 500 – Lake Creek beyond Black Lake FS trail 502 – Sand Ridge FS trail 533 – Boundary Trail, between Andrews Creek Trail #504 and Robinson Creek Trail #478.Monument Creek Trail #484Tatoosh Buttes Trail #485Eureka Creek Trail #474Ferguson Lake Trail #474A

UNITED STATES OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE OKANOGAN WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST CLE ELUM RANGER DISTRICT ORDER NO. 06-17-03-17-1011 JOLLY MOUNTAIN FIRE CLOSURE Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System (NFS) Lands, Roads, and Trails within the Cle Elum Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit A.. This Order is effective beginning August 25, 2017 until October 15 , 2017 , unless rescinded. PROHIBITION: 1. Entering into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Closure Area which are closed for public health and safety as described below, and displayed in Exhibit A. [36 CFR § 261.53(e)] 2. Being on any National Forest System road, as described below , and displayed in Exhibit A. [36 CFR § 261.54(e)] 3. Being on any National Forest System Trail, as described below, and displayed in...

Jolly Mountain Fire Information Phone: (509)596-2423 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Pre-recorded line: (505)585-5048 Email: JollyMountainFireInfo@gmail.com Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/5496/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jollymountainfireinfo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jolly_mountain Start Date: 8/11Cause: LightningSize: 5,164 acresPercent Containment: 0%Crews: 7Helicopters: 4Engines: 22Total Personnel: 372Location: Cle Elum Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA Summary: Smoke from regional fires heavily impacted the area again yesterday. The Jolly Mountain Fire was most active in the northwest and southwest corners but did not experience significant growth. It has now burned onto the western side of Sasse Ridge. The fire is very visible from the Cle Elum River. Trees are likely to torch, but western winds should blow most embers back into the burned fire area. The fire is expected to back slowly down the...