InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Oregon Incident Management Team #1 took over command of this incident Sunday September 20th, at 1800. Incident Commander, Shawn Sheldon thanked the crews for all the quality work they have done so far, but stated we are not done yet. We need to finish preparing this fire to be able to be returned back to the local forest. Good progress was made yesterday on all divisions of the fire, from containing unsecured areas, to repairs of damage from prior firefighting activities. The crews were brought in early last night, as an effort to control the safety concerns from potential falling snags, due to the wind event that transpired. Gusts were reported up to 40 mph. There was some precipitation that came through the fire area last night, but that is the last in the forecast for a few days. Today the weather is expected to be sunny, cooler, and drier. Temperatures will be 5-10 degrees cooler today, with RH’s in the mid 20 percent range. Winds will be lighter at 8-12 mph, with...

Smaller number of firefighters; back to the usual sources for Fire Information. Nile, Wash. – Due to increases in fire containment and the reduction in threat to communities and natural resources, the number of firefighters working on the Meeks Table Fire is getting smaller. Approximately 100 firefighters will continue to be engaged in mop up, patrol and repairing any damage caused by suppression activities, under the leadership of Jason Emhoff incident commander and Hayley Grant incident commander trainee. The fire is not expected to grow. The fire is 1,183 acres and 60% contained. The 6-acre drop in size since yesterday is due to a slight change in how one line was mapped. The southern edge (40% of the perimeter) will not be contained with constructed firelines. It is north of Rattlesnake Creek below steep cliffs. It continues to be patrolled. Smoke will continue to rise from within the Meeks Table Fire containment area as interior fuels continue to be consumed. This will...

Tunk Block Fire: Suppression repair is progressing and is the primary focus of activities on the Tunk Block Fire. These activities seek to mitigate resource concerns caused by fireline construction and the use of roads to access the fire. As much as possible, fire and land managers want to restore the roads and areas where firelines were constructed to pre-fire conditions. This work is specifically designed to minimize sediment delivery into streams and rivers and minimize gully and surface erosion. Approximately 150 miles of suppression repair have been completed on the Tunk Block Fire. The fire was “tested” with strong winds yesterday but no spots have been found. Weather: The weather is predicted to be cooler and drier today and then return to seasonal norms for this time of year tomorrow. Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests have closures encompassing the entire fire areas and adjacent forested areas. Other areas outside of the burned areas remain...

North Star Fire: Like the Tunk Block Fire, crews are focusing their activities on suppression repair. The suppression repair is in full swing and good progress has been made over the last several days. Approximately 230 miles of suppression repair have been completed on the North Star Fire. There was blowing dust in the fire area yesterday. The fire was “tested” with strong winds yesterday but no spots have been found. Weather: The weather is predicted to be cooler and drier today and then return to seasonal norms for this time of year tomorrow. Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests have closures encompassing the entire fire areas and adjacent forested areas. Other areas outside of the burned areas remain open to recreation, hunting and woodcutting. Colville Indian Reservation forest and recreational areas within the fires are closed. See the maps at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3854418.pdf and...

Because the containment goals have been accomplished and the Meeks Table Fire is less likely to spread, the assigned fire management staff are being reduced. Fire Information updates will now be available from the Naches Ranger District 509 653-1401 or from its Public Affairs Officer 509 653-1468. Thank you for your interest in the Meeks Table Fire and your consistent support for the firefighters who continue working to suppress, mop up, patrol, monitor and conduct suppression repair

As of 11:59 pm in September 20, 2015, the current road closure that affects the entire Forest Road 1600 system and the Forest Road 1500 system west of Bethel Ridge will be changed. The new closure affects a much smaller area, in close proximity to the Meeks Table Fire. The text of the closure follows. A signed first page and printable version with a map are attached. ORDER NO. ___ EMERGENCY ROAD CLOSURE OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and (b) the following acts are prohibited on designated portions of National Forest System (NFS) Lands and Trails of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest as described below and shown on the attached map: 1. USE BY ANY TYPE OF TRAFFIC ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM ROADS LISTED BELOW AND SHOWN ON EXHIBIT A. For the purpose of this order, any type of travel is prohibited on the following National Forest Roads due to fire: a. Forest Service Road 1601 from the junction of the 232 spur road to the terminus of the...

Breezy conditions will increase interior burning; mop up proceeds; road closures being reduced. Nile, Wash. – Conditions are expected to become increasingly breezy today as a cold front moves across the Meeks Table Fire area in mid-afternoon and evening. West winds 5-7 mph in the morning could become 12-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph after 3 pm. Higher than predicted winds could develop where narrow canyons align or winds become focused. This has the potential to increase fire activity. Crews who are mopping up and improving containment lines will be on alert to threats and the fire is not expected to escape. Today firefighters will be engaged in heavy mop up: using hand tools and water to completely extinguish a distance within the perimeter that will be adequate to ensure the fire cannot cross the containment lines. Where safely accessible, fire crews are suppressing small spot fires between steep cliffs and Rattlesnake Creek on the south edge of the fire. To protect...

KETTLE COMPLEX FIRE UPDATE Sunday, September 20, 2015 9:00 AM FIRE INFORMATION: 509-724-0040 website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4536 email: stickpinfireinfo@gmail.com facebook: tinyurl.com/kettlecmplxfire Mike Ciraulo, Incident Commander SUMMARY Stickpin 53,729 acres; 85% contained Total Personnel: 715 Graves Mtn. 8,557 acres; 80% contained Renner 13,775 acres; 85% contained Total 76,061 acres Committed Resources: 20 Crews, 24 Engines, 1 Helicopter, 10 Dozers, 8 Water Tenders Transition: Oregon Incident Management Team 1, led by Incident Commander Shawn Sheldon, will assume command of the Kettle Complex at 6 PM this evening. The Washington Incident Management Team 1 will return home Monday after a second deployment on this incident. Incident Commander Mike Ciraulo and all the members of Washington IMT 1 thank the community for their support and patience during suppression and repair activities of...

Air Quality Forecast-NE Washington Regional Fires- Sunday September 20, 2015 Prepared by Carolyn Kelly (ckelly8384@gmail.com), Air Resource Advisor Trainee This will be the final report for this area. Please check current monitor status for up to date information Smoke Summary: A dry, cold front is expected to pass through the area with windy conditions occurring late this afternoon into the evening. Warmer temperatures and a potential for some light rains, especially over the northern parts of the Tunk and North Star Fires, are expected. Low relative humidities will allow for heavy fuels to continue burning out while fire behavior is expected to be minimal overall. Extended Outlook: Winds will subside on Monday, and the weather will be dry and mild through at least Wednesday. ·Monitoring stations for Tonasket, Orient, and Kettle Falls have been shut down due to machine malfunction as of 09/10/2015.

Air Quality Forecast-NE Washington Regional Fires- Sunday September 20, 2015 Prepared by Carolyn Kelly (ckelly8384@gmail.com), Air Resource Advisor Trainee This will be the final report for this area. Please check current monitor status for up to date information Smoke Summary: A dry, cold front is expected to pass through the area with windy conditions occurring late this afternoon into the evening. Warmer temperatures and a potential for some light rains, especially over the northern parts of the Tunk and North Star Fires, are expected. Low relative humidities will allow for heavy fuels to continue burning out while fire behavior is expected to be minimal overall. Extended Outlook: Winds will subside on Monday, and the weather will be dry and mild through at least Wednesday. ·Monitoring stations for Tonasket, Orient, and Kettle Falls have been shut down due to machine malfunction as of 09/10/2015.

Kaniksu Complex—Tower Fire Idaho Panhandle and Colville National Forests and Washington DNR Kaniksu Type 3 Team — Tom Kennedy, Incident Commander September 20, 2015, 7:00 am For Immediate Release Diane Mann-Klager, 509-445-1868 towerfireinfo@gmail.com Please remember parts of the Colville and Idaho Panhandle National Forests are still closed to the public for the safety of all. Law enforcement officers are patrolling closed areas and violators may be cited. Please check with local ranger districts for more information. The Tower Fire, along with six smaller fires, comprises the Kaniksu Complex. The other fires are Onata, Baldy, Grease Creek, Hall Mountain, Slate Creek, and South Fork Creek Trail. The total acreage of all fires in the Complex is 26,120 acres with 80 percent containment as of 6:00 pm, September 19, 2015. The fire and suppression repair crews continued to address all suppression repair tasks on Tower Fire, including the two spots north of the fire near Fourth...

Tunk Block Fire: Suppression repair is progressing well and is the primary focus of activities on the Tunk Block Fire. These activities seek to mitigate resource concerns caused by fireline construction and the use of roads to access the fire. As much as possible, fire and land managers want to restore the roads and areas where firelines were constructed to pre-fire conditions. This work is specifically designed to minimize sediment delivery into streams and rivers and minimize gully and surface erosion. Approximately 130 miles of suppression repair have been completed on the Tunk Block Fire. Firefighters are responding to smokes of concern as needed. Weather: A cold front is predicted to reach the fires by this afternoon or early evening. Strong gusty winds are expected in front of the cold front. The areas near the fire perimeter are still moist from the recent rain; temperatures will be lower and humidity high. Due to these factors, spot fires are unlikely and no fire growth is...

North Star Fire: Like the Tunk Block Fire, crews are focusing their activities on suppression repair. The suppression repair is in full swing and good progress has been made over the last couple of days. Approximately 185 miles of suppression repair have been completed on the North Star Fire. Firefighters are responding to smokes of concern as needed. Most of the smoke still visible is from interior islands burning. Weather: A cold front is predicted to reach the fires by this afternoon or early evening. Strong gusty winds are expected in front of the cold front. The areas near the fire perimeter are still moist from the recent rain; temperatures will be lower and humidity high. Due to these factors, spot fires are unlikely and no fire growth is expected. Evacuations: There are no evacuations or warnings. Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests have closures encompassing the entire fire areas and adjacent forested areas. Other areas outside of the burned...

Residents and visitors are reminded that parts of the Colville and Idaho Panhandle National Forests around the fires are still closed to the public. This is for the safety of the firefighters and the public. Please check with local ranger districts for more information.Closure and restrictions updates: Idaho Burn Restrictions: http://idahofireinfo.blogspot.com/ or http://firerestrictions.us/ Washington burn restrictions: https://waburnbans.net/ Idaho Panhandle National Forests closure information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ipnf/learning/safety-ethics/?cid=stelprd3850265 Colville National Forest closure information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/colville/alerts-notices

Current Situation: The Carpenter Road Fire reached 100% containment at 63,972 acres. Today will be the last day of operations by incident management teams on this fire. One hundred percent containment is the goal for all suppression fires. Some take longer than others. Incident Commanders Roger Brandom and Ed Lewis expressed their personal thanks to all of the communities directly and indirectly involved with the Carpenter Road Fire that contributed to that accomplishment. Mercifully, meeting the final suppression repair objectives was accomplished sooner than originally expected. Many thousands of hours of hard work have been invested to bring the Carpenter Road Fire to the point that it can be turned back to the local agencies for management through the end of the fire

Burning out successful and complete; mop up and patrol underway. Nile, Wash. – Yesterday’s 165-acre increase in the size of the Meeks Table Fire was due to a successful burn out operation implemented on the northwest flank of the fire. Bringing the fire out of a steep draw to a prepared road and hand line increased the overall size footprint of the fire, but enables firefighters to work more safely and secure the northwest portion of the fire more effectively. The successful burnout means the entire west, north and east sides of the fire have been confined by firelines. Today firefighters will be engaged in heavy mop up: using hand tools and water to completely extinguish a distance within the perimeter that will be adequate to ensure the fire cannot cross the containment lines. We expect warmer weather, with temperatures in the 70s, relative humidity in the 40’s, and winds 6 to 10 mph today. This will cause additional consumption of the burning fuels within the fire’s...

Fire Update - Saturday, September 19, 2015 - 9:00 a.m. For additional information on the Wolverine Fire contact the Chelan Ranger District at (509) 682-4900.This will be the FINAL UPDATE for the Wolverine, First Creek and Blankenship fires. Washington Inter-agency Incident Management Team 2 would like to thank all of the communities in Central Washington for supporting Team 2 in our firefighting effort. A post-fire recovery meeting will be held 7 p.m. Saturday, September 19 at Chelan High School on 215 Webster Avenue. Representatives from Washington State University, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Cascadia Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will be present to discuss post-fire effects. Residents and visitors are encouraged to drive with caution as fire traffic will be present in both the Wolverine and First Creek fire areas. Wolverine Fire: Fire activity has been minimal and...

Kaniksu Complex—Tower Fire Idaho Panhandle and Colville National Forests and Washington DNR Kaniksu Type 3 Team — Tom Kennedy, Incident Commander September 19, 2015, 7:00 am For Immediate Release Diane Mann-Klager, 509-445-1868 towerfireinfo@gmail.com Please remember parts of the Colville and Idaho Panhandle National Forests are still closed to the public for the safety of all. Law enforcement officers are patrolling closed areas and violators may be cited. Please check with local ranger districts for more information.There have been some changes on the Kaniksu Complex. Most of these changes are administrative. Fire perimeters have been updated to reflect a slight increase in acreage. The containment strategy was also assessed. The total acreage of all fires in the complex is 26,119 acres which is 80 percent contained. This change from 100 percent containment is not because of significant fire activity. The Kaniksu Complex has a mix of containment strategies. The overall...

Okanogan Complex Fire Update September 19, 2015, 9:00 AM Fire Information: 877-568-0458 or 877-574-5148, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Size: 133,142 acres Estimated Cost to Date: $44.5 million Containment: 95 percent Injuries: 7 Total Personnel: 442 Residences Damaged or Destroyed: 120 Committed Resources: 8 crews, 23 engines, 1 helicopter, 7 dozers, 15 water tenders, 8 masticators CURRENT FIRE SITUATION Firefighters have completed all suppression work on this fire. Smoke will continue to be visible near the fire perimeter and in the interior, as fuels ignite and burn until significant rain or snow falls. Parts of the fire area remain in patrol and mop up status, and most suppression repair work is finished. Effective 6:00 AM today, this team (Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 5) assumed command of the Chelan Complex. All fire suppression is complete on the Chelan Complex. Effective 6:00 AM Monday, September 21, management of both the Okanogan Complex...

Air Quality Forecast-NE Washington Regional Fires- Saturday September 19, 2015 Prepared by Carolyn Kelly (ckelly8384@gmail.com), Air Resource Advisor Trainee Smoke Summary: Similar to yesterday but a little bit warmer, drier air is expected along with a mix of sun and clouds. Low relative humidities will allow for heavy fuels to continue burning out while fire behavior is expected to be minimal overall. Extended Outlook: Dry air and warming continues today with windy weather coming through the region starting Sunday as several weak weather disturbances pass through. Next week looks to be mild and dry through the middle of the week. ·Monitoring stations for Tonasket, Orient, and Kettle Falls have been shut down due to machine malfunction as of 09/10/2015.