InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Increased Fire Activity Expected with Warm and Dry Weather Fire activity is expected to increase the next few days. Low relative humidities, warm temperatures, and increased winds are predicted for today through Friday. Temperatures are expected to reach mid-80s with relative humidity at 23-30% with winds out of the north to northeast 4 - 10 mph. Smoke likely to be transported to the south and southwest from predicted northeast winds.The Hayes Fire had increased fire activity Tuesday and moved northwesterly and upslope with current size estimated at 1617 acres. The Godkin Fire is estimated at 515 acres and moved upslope in a northwesterly direction towards the ridgeline. Water drops from a helicopter were used in the afternoon to strengthen confinement barrier on the Cox Valley Fires. It produced a small amount of visible smoke throughout the day on Tuesday and is holding at 56 acres. The Ignar Creek Fire reported very little smoke and remains under an acre.The recently arrived...

Park officials and fire managers closed an approximately eight-mile section of the Elwha River Trail at 3:30 pm Monday Afternoon, to provide for public safety in the vicinity of two wilderness fires. The trail is now closed from the Hayes River Ranger Station south to Chicago Camp. The trail remains open from Hayes River north to the Whiskey Bend Trailhead and from Chicago Camp south. Wilderness permit holders for that area were notified of the closure and provided information about alternative routes.

Location–The Hart Fire is located 13 miles north of Davenport, WA and south of the Spokane River. The Incident Command Post is located at the Davenport Middle School. Yesterday’s Operations – Crews made good progress on constructing a fireline around the fire. Moderate temperatures and calm winds aided in the firefighting effort, which is being supported from the air and the water. Three helicopters, five “fire boss” single engine scooper planes, as well as a National Park Service boat are being used to provide water over the fire and safety support for firefighters. Today’s Operations – Additional crews and engines arrived yesterday evening. The primary focus will be on strengthening fireline in the northwest portion of the fire and extinguishing all fires within 300 feet of structures. Weather and Fire Behavior – The winds have shifted to north/northeast and generally light, with gusts to 16 mph on ridges and in open areas. This wind direction will likely bring...

Northwest Incident Management Team 11Nathan Rabe – Incident Commander Gary Jennings – Deputy Incident Commander Bruce Holloway – Deputy Incident CommanderFire Information: (509) 477-2780 Email: spokanecomplexfires@gmail.com Website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4978/# Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spokane-Complex-Fires-654661321356517/ Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 9:00 am Fire managers of the Spokane Complex will sponsor a public meeting tonight at 6:00 pm to interact with members of the public regarding the current fire situation. The meeting will be held at the Freeman High School gymnasium. Last night after consultation with fire managers, the Spokane County Sheriff reduced all evacuation levels to Level 1. Essentially, this level of evacuation notice means that the public should be aware that there is still active fire in the area. Please contact the Spokane County Sheriff or Spokane Emergency Management at:...

A Public Information meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 24th at 6 p.m. at the Freeman High School. Fire management personnel will be available to explain the current state of the Yale Road Fire suppression efforts and answer questions. More information at 509-477-2780 or spokanecomplexfires@gmail.com

Greater Spokane Emergency Management 8/23/2016 2000 Hours FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Spokane County Evacuation level downgraded to level one for Spokane Complex Fires At 8:00 PM Spokane County Sherriff Ozzie Knezovich issued the following statement, “Through coordination with the Fire Management Team, The Spokane County Sherriff’s Office has downgraded the evacuation level for the Yale Road Fire to a level one. This downgrade has been made possible by the efforts of firefighters, law enforcement, and all the great community support and volunteers.” For those returning for the first time since the evacuation, residents are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and survey their property as the landscape may have changed. Here is a link to a map showing the level one evacuation area: http://spokanecounty.maps. arcgis.com/apps/ PublicInformation/index.html? appid= c59f8ed40fc14ecfb91f37f80dd95a 12 Spokane County Commissioner Shelly O’Quinn,...

The local Red Cross has established a case worker phone number to assist those affected by Spokane Complex Fires. The phone number is

Hart Fire Update 8/23/2016 2:00 p.m. PT Fire Information: (509) 542-7928 Location-The Hart Fire is located 13 miles north of Davenport, WA and south of the Spokane River. At 0600 today, Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 7 took over management of the Hart Fire. The Incident Command Post is located at the Davenport Middle School. Yesterday’s Operations – Last night firefighters conducted burnout operations with the objective of strengthening the fire line. Today’s Operations – Today, crews will continue construction of direct and indirect fireline, scouting for potential contingency lines, and securing firelines around structures. Additional crews and equipment have been ordered to assist with the efforts. Weather and Fire Behavior – Temperatures will be in the low 80s today, with light winds out of the northwest, which should aid firefighters in construction of fireline and protection of structures. Evacuations and Closures- The entire fire area...

Local community members have been very generous and have showed their appreciation to firefighters by offering food and other supplies for the firefighters use. Firefighters are thankful for the large outpouring of support from the community. This show of support truly helps firefighter morale as they continue their arduous work fighting the fire. However, firefighters are well cared for due to pre-season agreements with caterers, and other vendors who supply showers, and other needed equipment. Firefighters are asking members of the local community to consider helping their neighbors instead by donating to a local charity of their choice or to a local food bank. If so inclined, yard signs expressing thanks to firefighters are always greatly appreciated by firefighters. Firefighters thank the community for its strong

CONTACT: District Ranger Jeff Rivera Paul Laak, Fire Information 509-548-2558/ 509-679-9294 cell Cary Stock, Fire Management Officer 509-548-2581/ 509-679-9294 cell DATE — August 23, 2016 9:00 am Forest health benefits continue: weather slows new growth on Buck Creek Fire Leavenworth, WA – For several days warmer, drier conditions have aided new, healthy fire spread in old growth areas of the Glacier Peak Wilderness. As forest restoration occurs, smoke has been and will likely continue to be noticeable in local communities including Leavenworth, Chelan, and Wenatchee especially during the morning hours in adjacent valleys. Today, fire managers anticipate cooler, more humid conditions to moderate fire growth. “The fire is continuing to grow, but not as quickly,” said Incident Commander, Dave Nalle. “However, we are continuing to actively prepare for future growth as this fire helps restore the forest.” Operations continue to focus on providing for...

Northwest Incident Management Team 11 Nathan Rabe – Incident Commander Gary Jennings – Deputy Incident Commander Bruce Holloway – Deputy Incident Commander Fire Information: (509) 477-2780 Email: spokanecomplexfires@gmail.com Website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4978/# Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spokane-Complex-Fires-654661321356517/ Tuesday, August 23, 2016, 9:00 am Governor Jay Inslee will arrive in Spokane to meet with fire officials this morning to assess the fire situation. Yale Fire Last night, the fire did not significantly spread beyond the area of its initial growth on Sunday. Today on the Yale Fire, firefighters continue to be challenged by active fire burning in timbered draws. Locations where the draws meet agriculture lands present challenges to the fire suppression efforts. Wildland fire suppression tactics are also more complex in the urban interface where wildland meets urban development. Hand crews, engine crews, and dozers continue...

Tuesday, August 23, 2016, 9:00 am Senator Patty Murray will arrive at Spokane Complex Incident Command Post at 12:00 noon to be briefed by fire officials regarding the fire situation. The Incident Command Post is located at the Spokane County Fairgrounds, 404 N.

Incident Summary: The Deep North Fire is currently burning approximately eight miles southeast of the town of Northport, Washington, on the hillsides above Deep Lake in Stevens County. The fire was reported to have started at approximately 2:30 pm on August 21, 2016. The fire is burning in heavy brush and Douglas fir tree stands. The fire has been challenging for fire resources due to steep terrain and limited accessibility to the fire lines. Bodie Fire: This fire started on August 18, at approximately 4:00 pm near Bodie Mountain about six miles east of Deep Lake. It is burning on Hancock Timber Resource Group lands. The fire is estimated at 41 acres and has been fully lined. It is roughly 75% contained and crews continue to secure the line. Planned Actions Today: Public and firefighter safety will continue to be the top priority. State Mobilization engines will help to secure and protect the homes near Deep Lake. Firefighters will build direct and indirect firelines around...

Governor Jay Inslee will be briefed by fire officials managing the Spokane Complex on Tuesday morning, August 22. The Governor is scheduled to arrive in Spokane between 9:00 and 10:00

Olympic National Park Fire Update Monday, August 22, 2016 – 5:00 pm Eight-Mile Section of Elwha River Trail Closed for public safety Park officials and fire managers closed an approximately eight-mile section of the Elwha River Trailat 3:30pm Monday afternoon, to provide for public safety in the vicinity of two wilderness fires. The trail will be closed from the Hayes River Ranger Station south to Chicago Camp. The trail remains open from Hayes River north to the Whiskey Bend Trailhead and from Chicago Camp south. Fire crews reported three new spot fires on Monday afternoon from the Godkin Fire in the Elwha River valley. Two of the spot fires were approximately one-tenth of an acre, and one was reported even smaller, at approximately 30 feet by 30 feet in size. Camp Wilder shelter is approximately 100 yards north of one of the spot fires. Water drops from helicopters are being used to cool the fire spots. Wilderness permit holders for that area will be apprised on the...

A weather pattern shift on Sunday changed fire activity. Both the Hayes and Godkin wilderness fires within the Olympic National Park experienced moderate growth Sunday. Sunday evening, gusty winds blew embers from the Godkin Fire onto vegetation on a river bar of the Elwha River. Monitoring crews located a small patch of fire away from the main fire. The spot fire was estimated at 30 by 30 feet, and is approximately a quarter-mile south of Wilder Camp. Fire managers quickly reassessed the situation and determined the potential threat to resources of value called for a change in strategy on this fire. Crews who found the spot were directed to take suppression actions due to the new threat to park structures. Their work successfully limited the spread overnight, and Monday morning a helicopter will deliver a pump and hoses so they can fully suppress the small spot. Fire managers observed the Hayes Fire spreading primarily south and east. Crews monitoring this fire reported...

CONTACT: District Ranger Jeff Rivera Paul Laak, Fire Information 509-548-2558/ 509-679-9294 Cary Stock, Fire Management Officer 509-548-2581/ 509-679-9294 cell DATE — August 21, 2016 1:00 pm Buck Creek Fire growth minimal, smoke more noticeable NOTICE: Fire closures remain in effect for the Buck Creek Fire, which include the Buck Creek Trail No. 1513, Chiwawa River Trail No. 1550, Phelps Creek Trail No. 1511 and the Carne Mountain Trail No. 1508. Also closed are the Phelps Creek Campground and Forest Road 6200 immediately north of Alpine Meadows Campground. Leavenworth, WA –The Buck Creek Fire did not see substantial growth yesterday, but smoke lingering in the local valleys did make more people notice that there is an active fire in the area. A Type 3 team has come in to the Chiwawa River Valley today with a joint command being taken over by Dave Nalle from the Wenatchee River Ranger District and trainee Jon Tepley...

Lower temperatures are expected Sunday which should result in reduced fire behavior for all four fires currently burning within Olympic National Park. Fire managers are taking advantage of cooler weather to prepare for the forecast return to hot and unstable conditions later this week. Fire personnel will continue monitoring and patrolling the trails in the vicinities of the fires today, providing for human safety. Smoke from the fires will likely be visible around the peninsula and Puget Sound Region, especially in the lower Elwha River valley and other low lying valleys surrounding the park. Obstruction Point Road remains closed. Hayden Pass Trail also remains closed from Dose Meadows to the junction with the Elwha River Trail. These closures will remain in effect until fire managers determine the areas are safe to reopen. Hot and dry conditions on Saturday resulted in elevated fire activity. The Hayes fire, which is largely burning through subalpine fir, spread southeast...

Another hot and dry day with active fire is expected Saturday. The Red Flag warning was extended through Saturday evening. Saturday's forecast is for temperatures in the high 80’s to low 90’s, minimum relative humidity 19%, lighter winds from the southwest 3 to 8 mph. With these conditions fire managers are anticipating another active fire day. Helicopters will continue to drop water on the Cox Valley fire as needed, to check the spread of the fire. Monitoring and patrolling along the trails in the vicinities of the other fires will continue, providing for public and firefighter safety. Smoke generated from these fires was very visible around the Puget Sound Region Friday evening and Saturday morning. As the temperatures drop into the evening smoke will naturally settle into the lower valley bottoms surrounding the park. The lower Elwha valley including Lake Sutherland and Lake Crescent, Queets Valley, Morse Creek and the Deer Park areas and potentially the Sequim...

Effective on Saturday morning, August 20th, 2016, the Hayden Pass Trail is closed from Dose Meadows at the east to the junction with the Elwha River Trail at the west.Fire managers and wilderness rangers worked together to determine the fire is within a quarter-mile of a trail. This was a pre-determined location for when a closure would be issued for the trail.Fire crews will post the Hayden Pass Trail closed at both ends, then walk through the area to escort any hikers in that section to the open areas. Staff at the wilderness information center will contact anyone with backcountry permits that included that portion of trail, to inform them of the closure.This decision supports the commitment to firefighter and public safety in the management of the