InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Olympic National Park Fire Update Saturday, August 06, 2016 Contact: olympicfireinformation@gmail.com Fire history: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4906/ Yesterday’s fire observations show that fire activity remains minimal. The National Weather Service calls for cooler moist air to drift over Olympic National Park through the weekend with elevated humidity and below early August seasonal temperatures. This weather pattern will result in a continuation of limited fire behavior. Even with cooler weather expected, the four fires still have the potential to smolder and creep along the forest floor. Smoke may not be visible in the park or from surrounding communities; however this is not an indicator that the fires are no longer burning. The fires can remain active for long periods of time even during cool, wet weather conditions. Underground root systems and forest floor material can still burn and smolder with wet weather. If a warmer and dryer weather system moves in...

SNAKE RIVER FIRE AUGUST 6, 2016. 9:00AM News from the fire line: Fire fighters will be working towards 100% containment today on the Snake River Fire. Overnight, there was one flare up on the west side of the fire, which was quickly extinguished. This flare up, however, illustrates that there is more work to do on the fire. The fire is 11,362 acres and 70% contained. The weather continues to be a concern for firefighters. There is a red flag warning in the area. Dry lightning is a possibility so there are crews and dozers assigned to be ready to respond as quickly as possible to any fire in the area; this is a priority for fire managers today. In addition to the initial attack readiness, the firefighters will be working on mop up on the line. They will be assisted by one helicopter with a helicopter attack crew. The Snake River fire started on Tuesday, August 2nd at 12:50pm and quickly grew due to high winds and dry conditions. It started in Garfield county just across from...

Kewa Fire News Release NW 9 Incident Management Team, Brian Goff, Incident Commander Date: August 5, 2016, 9:30pm Contact: Kewa Fire Info. Desk: 509-722-7641 Evacuation Levels Reduced in Kewa Fire Area; Road Closures Remain Evacuation levels associated with the Kewa Fire have been reduced to a level 2 throughout the affected area due to reduced risk from fire. A level 2 evacuation means BE READY. This level indicates there is significant risk to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the area, or be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Road Closures remain in the Kewa area south of Box Canyon and include: Kewa-Meteor Road from Twin Lakes-Nez Perce Road to Silver Creek RoadKewa Road from Kewa-Meteor Road to Silver Creek Road In addition, fire managers discourage people from using surrounding roads due to heavy emergency vehicle traffic and smoke. Jean Goad, Kewa Fire Lead PIO...

SNAKE RIVER FIREAUGUST 5, 2016 9:00PMNews from the fire line:Today was a quiet day on the Snake River fire. Crews are mopping up the burned area on both sides of the river, in all divisions. There are still quite a few hot spots in areas, which is what firefighters worked on the most. The fire is 11,362 acres and 70% contained.The weather is a concern for fire managers over the coming weekend. There is a red flag warning in effect just south of the fire that could result in dry thunderstorms in the area. There will be brush engines assigned as initial attack while on the line in case another fire starts in the area, which will bolster the local response. Some crews will be de-mobilized and return home tomorrow. The Whitman county side of the fire is the quietest, but still needs mop up efforts from the remaining crews. Some areas are in patrol status.Today, there were 2 aircraft working the fire. There will be less tomorrow, thanks to the progression of the mop up...

Kewa Fire Information NW 9 Incident Management Team, Brian Goff, Incident Commander August 5, 2016, 10am Start date: Aug. 2, 2016 Current Size: 1,859 acres Percent Containment: 25% With the NW9 incident management team, crews, and engines in place after a transition day, fire managers expect good progress on securing containment lines and mop up today. Yesterday’s summary: Moderate temperatures and light winds gave firefighters the opportunity to make progress in constructing lines with dozers and hand crews. A dozer line is complete along the east side of the fire, allowing mop up to begin today. Four FireBosses (small airtankers capable of scooping 800 gallons of water) helped prevent fire movement on the west line by assisting firefighters to construct dozer and hand line. There was little increase in fire activity overnight with relative humidity reaching 80%. Today’s plan: Weather will be hotter and drier with relative...

On Thursday morning, two fire managers flew over all four wilderness fires within the park to survey current conditions. Videos and photos from the flight are posted online: · Videos are available on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/FBAug4Videos A Facebook account is not needed to watch these videos. · More photos are posted on Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/photographs/4906/Yesterday’s observations confirmed what fire managers expected to see after the cooler days. Fires are smoldering and creeping along the forest floor. Fire activity is minimal, though smoke is visible as small pockets of vegetation burn. Looking ahead: Fire analysts identified key conditions that could change fire behavior over the rest of the summer. > Increased fire activity can be expected on days when the temperature in the fire areas rises above 75 degrees and the relative humidity drops below 40 percent. o On those days, there will be more smoke visible, and the fires could grow from their...

SNAKE RIVER FIRE AUGUST 5, 2016 11:00AM News from the fire line: Yesterday, crews on the eastern end of the fire experienced active fire behavior, especially on the Garfield County side. At about 9:00am, a canyon heated up and made a run up to a standing wheat field. The fire jumped disk lines and began consuming the wheat field. Crews assigned to the fire with assistance from Garfield County Fire District 1 were able to stop the forward progress of the flames and established a containment line at nearly 500 additional acres. Fire crews are working night and day to establish and maintain fire line. Today they will concentrate line improvement efforts on the east edge of the fire, and proceed with mop up operations to the west. The fire is currently scouted at 11,000 acres and 30% contained. Additional firefighters continue to arrive to bolster this effort. Fire managers are building a strategy to protect values on all sides of the fire. This includes crops and rangeland in...

AUGUST 5, 2016 8:00AMNews from the fire line:Fire crews continue to secure fire lines at the Snake River fire. They are working night and day to increase containment. The fire is currently scouted at 11,000 acres and 30% contained. Firefighters continue to arrive to bolster this effort.Fire managers are building a strategy to protect values on all sides of the fire. This includes crops and rangeland in addition to homes and outbuildings. Infrastructure, such as power sources, is also a priority.Firefighters are working from separate camps on both sides of the Snake River. The Whitman County camp is located at Colton High School; the Garfield County camp is at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Pomeroy. The Incident Command Post is at the Pomeroy Elementary School.The Snake River fire started on Tuesday, August 2nd at 12:50pm and quickly grew due to high winds and dry conditions. It started in Garfield county just across from Granite Point on the Snake River. The fire jumped the river...

SNAKE RIVER FIRE AUGUST 4, 2016 8:30PM News from the fire line: Fire crews took advantage of calm winds this afternoon to increase containment of the Snake River Fire to 30% (from 10% earlier today). The fire increased in acreage a small amount, to 11,000 acres. Due to the steep, rugged terrain, firefighters saw increased fire behavior especially in draws that act like chimneys. Crews on the ground are assisted by aircraft and helicopters in hard to access places. The fire started on August 2 at 12:50pm and quickly grew due to high winds and dry conditions. It started in Garfield County across from Granite Point on the Snake River. The fire jumped the river to Whitman County at about 4:30pm that day. The fire is being fought on both sides of the river – the Garfield county side to the south, and Whitman county to the north. The fire is approximately 10 miles northeast of Pomeroy, WA, 10 miles (as the crow flies) south of Pullman, and 24 miles west of Clarkston. No evacuations...

Range 12 Fire Update Fact Sheet August 4, 2016 – PM This will be the last Range 12 Fire update from Northwest Incident Management Team 8 (Team 8). Command of the fire will transfer to the local Type 4 fire organization. Team 8 would like to thank the public; cooperators; local, county, state and federal agencies for all the support to the firefighters and Team while suppressing the Range 12 Fire. Contact: Fire Information Center telephone number (541) 670-0812 will close permanently at 9:30 PM tonight. If you have further questions related to the Range 12 Fire please contact Jeff Clark, Spokane District Bureau of Land Management Public Affairs Officer, at (509) 536-1297 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 PM. Information Websites: Inciweb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4915 and Facebook Range 12 Fire; no new information will be posted to the Facebook site Incident Management: Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander (IC) Doug Johnson, is...

Buck Creek Fire Update NOTICE: Buck Creek Trail No. 1513, Chiwawa River Trail No. 1550, Phelps Creek Trail No. 1511, Carne Mountain Trail No. 1508, and Phelps Creek Campground are closed due to the Buck Creek Fire. Forest Road 6200 is closed immediately north of Alpine Meadows Campground. Leroy Basin is accessible from the Rock Creek Trailhead. Leavenworth, WA- The Buck Creek Fire was ignited by lightning July 22, 2016 in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, 30 miles northwest of Leavenworth Washington. The fire is 3.5 miles north of Trinity, originally a copper mine, and is currently privately owned and occupied by a caretaker year round. The fire has reached 150 acres in size and is achieving management objectives in an area that has not seen fire since the early 1900s. Additional benefits include reducing hazardous fuel accumulation naturally and restoring overall forest health in a fire adapted ecosystem. Wenatchee River Fire Managers are closely monitoring fire activity, and have...

Kewa Fire Information August 4, 2016, 10am Start date: Aug. 2, 2016 Current Size: 1,845 acres Percent Containment: 15% Northwest Incident Management Team 9, Brian Goff, incident commander, assumed management of the fire at 7 am Thursday, Aug. 4. Incident objectives Protect life and property. Develop a structure protection plan for nearby residents. Protect natural and cultural resources. Reduce impact to timber, range, lakes, streams, fish and wildlife and cultural resources. Assist area residents. Provide information and emergency assistance for any displaced homeowners. Keep this fire small. Use containment objectives in alignment with the Wildland Fire Decision Support System. Keep land management agencies and the public informed. Provide timely information and notification to the Colville Confederated Tribes, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the general public. Yesterday’s summary:...

Snake River Fire August 3, 2016. 10:30pm News from the fire line: Fire crews worked hard on the Snake River Fire today. The fire is now approximately 10,000 acres and 10% contained. The management of the fire transitioned from local to State Mobilization resources. Incident Commander, Lonnie Click, praised the efforts of the local agencies for the hard work early in the incident. The State resources will give the local volunteer firefighters a rest and a chance to get back to their primary jobs. The perimeter spans two sides of the Snake River, which makes for long travel times between the two sides. There is an Incident Command Post at Pomeroy Elementary, Fire Camp at Garfield County Fairgrounds, and a spike camp on the Whitman County side in Colton. Terrain is steep and the weather is hot, leading to difficult conditions for firefighters. Four firefighters were treated for heat related injuries today. Two type 2 helicopters, 1 FireBoss airplane, and 2 SEAT airplanes worked the...

Wawawai River Road is closed from Steptoe Canyon to the intersection of Wawawai-Pullman Road.Wawawai County Park is also

Range 12 Fire Update Fact Sheet August 4, 2016 – AM Contact: Fire Information Center telephone number (541) 670-0812 Information Websites: Inciweb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4915 and Facebook Range 12 Fire Incident Management: Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander (IC) Doug Johnson, is managing the fire under a Delegation of Authority from the Spokane District Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region. Team 8 is preparing to transition command of the fire to a local, type 4 organization, IC Russ Babiak, will assume command early Friday morning. Fire Size: 176,600 acres Percent Contained: 90% Estimated Containment Date: 8-4-2016 Structures Threatened: 250 single residences Structures lost: 0 Closures: None; all local and state routes are open. Cause: Fire started July 30, 2016. The cause remains under investigation. Injuries: 0 Resources: 170 total personnel- 17 Engines, 2 Camp Crews. Resources...

Range 12 Fire Update Fact Sheet August 3, 2016 – PM Contact: Fire Information Center telephone number (541) 670-0812 Information Websites: Inciweb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4915 and Facebook Range 12 Fire Incident Management: Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Doug Johnson Incident Commander (IC), is managing the fire under a Delegation of Authority from the Spokane District Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region. Team 8 is preparing to transition command of the fire back to a local type 4 organization that will assume command on Friday morning. Fire Size: 176,600 acres Percent Contained: 90% Estimated Containment Date: 8-4-2016 Structures Threatened: 250 single residences Structures lost: 0 Closures: None Cause: Fire started July 30, 2016. The cause remains under investigation. Injuries: 0 Resources: 177 total personnel- 17 Engines, 2 Camp Crews. Resources excess to the operational needs are continuing to be...

August 3, 2016 For Immediate Release Contact Olympic Fire Information 360-565- 3125 Cooler Temperatures and Increased Humidity Diminish Fire Activity in Olympic National Park Wilderness Fires Provide Benefits to Ecosystem Four lightning-caused fires within Olympic National Park are being actively monitored while they fulfill their natural role in the wilderness environment. Lightning ignited the Cox Valley Fire, Hayes Fire, Godkin Fire, and Ignar Creek Fire on July 21 when a storm system moved through the park. The fires were discovered several days later, once smoke became visible. The forests and mountains protected within Olympic National Park are fire-dependent ecosystems and fire managers are using a low impact strategy to manage the fires. The Hayes, Godkin and Ignar Creek fires are within designated wilderness deep in the park. In keeping with wilderness values, these three fires will be managed to minimize human intervention unless the fires grow and threaten...

Range 12 Fire Update Fact Sheet August 3, 2016 – AM Contact: Fire Information Center telephone number (541)670-0812 Information Websites: Inciweb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4915 and Facebook Range 12 Fire Incident Management: Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Doug Johnson Incident Commander (IC), is managing the fire under a Delegation of Authority from the Spokane District Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region. Fire Size: 176,600 acres Percent Contained: 60% Estimated Containment Date: 8-4-2016 Structures Threatened: 250 single residences Structures lost: 0 Closures: None Cause: Fire started July 30, 2016. The cause remains under investigation. Injuries: 0 Resources: 228 personnel. 27 Engines. 1 Hand Crew. 1 Helicopter. 1 Dozer. Air Operations: The temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the fire has been removed. Weather: High pressure will build over the Range 12 Fire today and Thursday, bringing lighter winds and settled...

Range 12 Fire UpdateFact Sheet August 2, 2016 – PM Contact: Fire Information Center telephone number (541)670-0812 Information Websites: Inciweb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4915 and Facebook Range 12 Fire Incident Management: Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Doug Johnson Incident Commander (IC), is managing the fire under a Delegation of Authority from the Spokane District Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region. Fire Size: 176,600 acres Percent Contained: 60% Structures Threatened: 250 single residences Closures: No closures Cause: Fire started July 30, 2016. The cause remains under investigation. Resources: Total personnel assigned 419; 1 -type 1 hand crew, 7 -type 2 hand crews, 2 camp crews, 2 helicopters, 34 engines, and 4 dozers. Resources determined as excess to the suppression efforts will be released to return home or made available for reassignment to other fires. Air Operations: The temporary flight restriction (TFR)...

The webcam at Hurricane Ridge is currently directed toward the Hayes and Godkin fires and is a good source for monitoring the fire activity and smoke. http://tinyurl.com/z5pguba Smoke levels are affected by many factors, including the size of the wood that is burning, how wet the wood is, the type of terrain, temperatures, and wind patterns. Due to cooler temperatures and increased humidity over the weekend, smoke from the Hayes and Godkin fires, once quite visible from Hurricane Ridge, is minimal. Smoke from the Cox Valley Fire, visible from mileposts 11 - 15 on Hurricane Ridge Road, also decreased over the past several days.