InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Location: Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA Start Date: August 11, 2017 Cause: Lightning Size: 638 Acres Percent Contained: 0% Vegetation: Timber between rock stringers and ridge tops Resources Assigned: 301 personnel Incident Commander: Alan Sinclair with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3 Summary: Yesterday the fire was actively backing and making short uphill runs. This is expected to continue as the temperatures increase and relative humidity decreases over the next few days. As the fire moves through the beetle kill timber, an increase in smoke will be visible from the local communities. Construction of indirect fire control lines continues along the southwest and southeast side of the fire. Work with the masticators, chippers, feller bunchers and hand crews is nearing completion. Dozers are being utilized to finish prepping and connecting roads between Middle and West Fork...

On Sunday firefighters achieved their goal of burning out 4.5 miles of forest fuels along the Summit Trail fire line all the way down to Bridge Creek Road. One spot fire outside the line has kept firefighters busy through the night and into the morning. Three helicopters and five “Fire Boss” water scooping airplanes on loan from Omak and Deer Park were supporting the burnout operation. In addition to work on the Bridge Creek Fire, firefighters and a helicopter also responded to a fire 20 miles to the southeast north of Wilmont Bay and near Roger’s Bar Campground on Sunday evening. Initial attack remains a top priority for the team. Sunday afternoon the Type 2 helicopter that made a precautionary landing on Saturday near Summit Road was repaired and put back into service. The overnight inversion caused smoke to concentrate near Bridge Creek Road during the night, so commuting this morning may be more hazardous than usual. Law Enforcement will continue to monitor the situation...

Diamond Creek Fire August 21Fire Information: (503) 765-5724 - 8 am – 8 pmEmail: diamondcreek@gmail.comWebsite: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/5409/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondCreekFire2017Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.comLocation: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA.Summary: A hotshot crew today will continue extending and improving handline along a ridge above the Pat Creek drainage. On Sunday in the Eightmile drainage, handcrews completed mop-up along the handline on the southern tip of the fire. This portion of the fire will move into monitoring status. Crews and equipment will continue to improve roads and contingency lines south of the fire. Aviation assets will continue to monitor the fire and helicopter bucket drops may be used to work hot spots. Firefighters continue to make progress on the fire. However, managers expect this to be a long-term event, continuing until season-ending...

See Photographs for PDF copy of Quarry Fire Closure

En estos informes, les explicaré algunas frases y términos que se usan frecuentemente durante la temporada de incendios en los estados de Oregón y Washington. En este segmento, les platicaré de los niveles de evacuación en ambos estados. Existen tres niveles de evacuación en Oregón y Washington. Los tres niveles se pueden pensar igual que una carrera. El primer nivel es “en sus marcas”, el segundo, “listos” y el tercero, “fuera”.Si se anuncia el primer nivel de evacuación en su área, hay que estar “en sus marcas”. Esto significa que los residentes deben estar conscientes del peligro que existe en su área. Los residentes deben monitorear los medios de comunicación y los sitios de internet de los servicios de emergencia locales con la finalidad de obtener la información más actualizada. Este es el tiempo apropiado para preparar a personas con movilidad limitada, y pensar en cómo transportar sus mascotas y ganado fuera del área de peligro inmediato. Prepare...

Actualizacion del Fuego Norse Peak. August 20, 2017 9:00 am. El Norse Peak Fire es actualmente 1.540 acres y el American Fire es 122 acres. Los incendios continúan progresando lentamente; El cambio en acres se debe a un mejor mapeo con imágenes infrarrojas. Hay 219 personas (1 Equipo de Bomberos de Tipo 1, 5 Equipos de Bomberos de Tipo 2, 10 Camiones de Bomberos, 2 Camareros de agua y 2 helicópteros) trabajando actualmente en estos incendios. Logros del Sábado: Los bomberos fueron capaces de caer árboles muertos y mejorar la línea de fuego a lo largo de la 999 Trail. También fueron capaces de preparar estructuras en esta área. Siguen vigilando los rayos más pequeños causados por incendios en la zona, que no han tenido ningún crecimiento significativo. Hoy: Hwy 410 permanece cerrado desde Chinook Pass (milla puesto 69) para el Cruce de Hell (millas puesto 84). Los bomberos continuarán trabajando a lo largo del corredor Hwy 410 eliminando árboles muertos...

Norse Peak Fires Update. Sunday, August 20, 2017 - 9:00 a.m. The Norse Peak Fire is currently 1,540 acres and the American Fire is 122 acres. The fires continue to progress slowly; the change in acres is due to better mapping with infrared imagery. There are 219 personnel (1 Type 1 crew; 5 Type 2 crews, 10 engines, 2 water tenders, and 2 helicopters) currently working on these fires. Saturday: Firefighters were able to fell dead trees and improve the fire line along the 999 Trail. They also prepped structures in this area. They continue to monitor other smaller lightning caused fires in the area, which haven’t had any significant growth. Today: Hwy 410 remains closed from Chinook Pass (mile post 69) to Hell’s Crossing (mile post 84). Firefighters continue to work along the Hwy 410 corridor removing dead trees using a feller-buncher. They will continue to triage structures along the Hwy 410 corridor and create defensible space where needed. The objective...

Diamond Creek Fire UpdateAugust 20 Fire Information: (503) 765-5724 - 8 am – 8 pmEmail: diamondcreekfire@gmail.comWebsite: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondCreekFire2017Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.comLocation: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA. Summary: Yesterday, Smokejumpers and an Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) were inserted on the ridge above Pat Creek to assess fire activity in the area.Today, in Pat Creek, Smokejumpers and the IHC will continue to assess fire activity and scout for possible handline locations. In Eightmile drainage, handcrews will continue to hold existing lines, mop-up, and reinforce fire contingency lines to lessen the threat of fire growth further south. Aviation assets will continue to monitor the fire and helicopter bucket drops may be used to keep the fire from spreading.Crews were able to access the Billy Goat Trailhead area...

Burnout continued on Summit Trail on the east side of the Bridge Creek Fire and along the southern side of the fire on Saturday. Operations were suspended when the wind picked up and small spot fires were found outside the primary fire line. The night shift worked all night on searching out and extinguishing spot fires. One of the Type 2 helicopters assigned to the fire had a small mechanical issue on Saturday, and set down at the nearest helipad, which was next to Summit Trail about a mile north of Bridge Creek Road. It will likely be out of service during the day today as the mechanic attempts to find and fix the problem. Smoke from the burnout operation may cause hazardous driving on Bridge Creek Road and may result in the road being closed intermittently. Plans for aerial ignition between the burnout operation and the main fire have been approved. Field Operations Chief Marc Crain said, “We have the right plan, the right people, and the right equipment – now it’s all...

Homeowners Embrace Firewise Sunday, August 20, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Location: Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA Start Date: August 11, 2017 Cause: Lightning Size: 585 Acres Percent Contained: 0% Vegetation: Timber between rock stringers and ridge tops Resources Assigned: 281 personnel Incident Commander: Alan Sinclair with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3 Summary: With the higher humidity yesterday, the fire showed minimal intensity and is slowly backing to the south. No significant movement is expected today however growth will continue to pick up later in the week as temperatures rise and conditions become drier. Construction of indirect fire control lines along the southwest and southeast side of the fire continues with the assistance of masticators, chippers, and hand crews. Dozers are being utilized to finish prepping and connecting roads between Middle and West Fork Teanaway...

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Location: Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA Start Date: August 11, 2017 Cause: Lightning Size: 548 Acres Percent Contained: 0% Vegetation: Timber between rock stringers and ridge tops Resources Assigned: 261 personnel Incident Commander: Alan Sinclair with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3 Summary: Overcast skies and higher relative humidity resulted in minimal fire behavior yesterday. Insignificant fire spread is expected again today as it continues backing slowly downslope to the west. Construction of indirect fire control lines along the southwest and southeast side of the fire continues with the assistance of hand crews and heavy equipment. The presence of the heavy equipment, falling trees and fire personnel conducting chainsaw work can be dangerous to the public. For this reason and for the safety of firefighters, area and road closures continue to remain in effect. Posted photos of indirect fire line...

There are now 15 large uncontained fires in Oregon and Washington and some of the aerial resources that have been supporting the Bridge Creek Fire have been called to other fires. The burnout operation continued well into the night last night. Conditions were excellent for burning, and firefighters kept working toward joining the south and east sides together at the Summit Trail/Bridge Creek Road junction. No burning occurred along the northern line, as their resources were engaged in assisting the eastern firing operation. Nor did burning occur on the west side. A contingency line west of Upper Bridge Creek Road is being constructed. There was active fire behavior Friday as fire progressed downhill from the burnout operations. There was isolated torching in heavier fuels with short uphill runs in the interior. Overall results indicated some potential mortality where the heat was more intense, but overall a low- to moderate-intensity burn, leaving much of the over-story intact. ...

Norse Peak Fires Update. Saturday August 19, 2017 - 9:00 a.m. Norse Peak Fire: 1250 acres. American Ridge Fire: 150 acres. Friday’s accomplishments: Firefighters focused on two priority areas around the Norse Peak Fire on Friday. On the west end of the fire, the priority was securing the area around the six cabins in the Union Creek Tract. Firing operations were utilized to create defensible space around the structures. The other priority was improving safety along the closed portion of Highway 410. A mechanical feller-buncher was used to remove standing dead trees where firefighters need to work. Once these hazards are removed, firefighters will be able to carefully burn the area between the main fire and the road, to create a more secure containment line. Late in the afternoon, several small spot fires occurred south of the main Norse Peak fire. Crews were able to put lines around them and stop the spread of these spot fires, keeping them to approximately 20...

Diamond Creek Fire Update August 19 Fire Information: (503) 765-5724 - 8 am – 8 pmEmail: diamondcreekfire@gmailWebsite: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondCreekFireSmoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.comLocation: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA. Summary: Today, on the second anniversary of the Twisp River Fire, we honor and remember Andrew Zajac, Tom Zbyszewski, and Richard Wheeler, who lost their lives while fighting the fire. We also remember and honor Daniel Lyon, who was severely burned and continues to work through surgeries and physical therapy.Handlines in Eightmile held again yesterday despite strong gusty winds. High relative humidity helped keep fire activity moderate. Handcrews will continue to hold lines, mop-up, and reinforce fire contingency lines to lessen the threat of fire growth further south in the Eightmile drainage. Pat Creek, west of the...

To provide for public and firefighter safety, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests has closed an area in the vicinity of the Norse Peak and American Ridge Fires. See the attached notice and map for the specific boundaries. Several trails, two campgrounds, a group camp site, and a trailhead are also closed, as follow: - #956 Union Creek Trail - #953 Crow Lake Way Trail - #954 Fife's Ridge Trail - #951A Cougar Valley Trail - #953A Sheepherder Lake Trail - #999 Pleasant Valley Trail - #957 Kettle Creek Trail - #958B Pleasant Valley Lake Trail - #958 American Ridge Trail - #958C Goat Peak Trail - #972 Goose Prairie Trail - #959 Goat Creek Trail Salmon Cove Group Site Pleasant Valley Campground Union Creek Trailhead Crow Lake Way Trailhead (Fife's Peak Overlook). Thank you for your respectful compliance with these necessary Closures. Excluded from the closure are Bumping Lake Marina, Bumping Lake Summer Home Tract, and Chinook Pass Outfitter & Guide staging

Quick Facts Fire size: 4,000 acres Location: East of Sullivan Lake near Metaline Falls, WA Containment: 65% Cause: Lightning on 7/15/17 Resources: 2 Type II Initial Attack Crew, 2 Type II Crew, 1 Type II Helicopter, 3 Type 6 Engines, 2 Water Tenders, 1 Ambulance Personnel: 141 Email: noisycreekfire@gmail.com Metaline Falls, WA - Though there has been a reduction in the number of crews as a result of demobilizations and reassignments to other fires, firefighters remain vigilant, keeping the Noisy Creek fire well within its containment lines. Along the north end of the fire, there has been no major movement on backing fires moving into Sullivan Creek. Pumps and hoses around structures will remain in place until deemed safe to remove. To the south, along Noisy Creek, the fire burned very “dirty,” meaning that there are areas where standing, half-burned fuel, susceptible to re-burning, remains. Sprinklers continue to be deployed to keep the fuels wet and fire intensity low....

Yesterday there was a lot of activity as aviation assisted fire fighters by dropping water extinguishing hot spots and pretreating fuels on the outer edge of the fire line to protect valuable resources. A burnout operation was initiated along Summit Trail at a point 6 miles due east of North Twin Lake, and proceeded for approximately 1 mile to the south. The fire backed slowly against the wind and downhill to the west, moving about 800 feet down the hill toward the fire. Four very small spot fires above the road (but below the contingency back-up fire line) were extinguished and mopped up. Plans call for the burnout operation to continue south today along the east side of “the box”, ideally reaching Bridge Creek Road at the Summit Road Junction. As the main fire moves to the east, firefighters along the southern edge are burning out from the fire line, keeping pace with the leading eastern edge of the fire. The southwestern corner of the fire is contained, and the western edge of...

DIAMOND CREEK FIRE UPDATEAugust 18, 2017Fire Information: (503) 765-5724 - 8 am – 8 pmEmail: diamondcreekfire@gmailWebsite: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondCreekFire2017Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.comLocation: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA.Summary: The combination of increased winds and dry fuels is expected to increase fire activity in some areas of the Diamond Creek Fire today. Handrews continue to hold lines, mop-up, and reinforce fire contingency lines to lessen the threat of fire growth further south in the Eightmile drainage.Aviation assets will continue to monitor the fire and helicopter bucket drops may be used to keep the fire from spreading.Smoke is expected to be visible from fire activity in unburned fuels in upper Drake Creek, north of Billy Goat mountain. Prior fire history in the area and natural barriers, such as rockslides, limit the...

A public meeting will be held tonight at 6:00 p.m. located at the Centennial Center on 719 E 3rd Street, Cle Elum, Washington. The public meeting will be livestreamed through Facebook live on the Jolly Mountain Fire Facebook page.