InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Special Statement RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TODAY TO 9 PM PDT TUESDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING. Fire The Windigo Fire grew 1 acre Sunday and is at 1,053 acres with 25% containment. The Potter Fire grew 49 acres Sunday and is now at 234 acres with 0% containment. Weather conditions are favorable for increased fire behavior today, potentially escalating smoke production. For additional information, use the following links; Potter Fire and Windigo Fire. Smoke Smoke produced by the three main fires within the Outlook area will largely be terrain driven today with down valley winds early this morning, then up valley by late morning through mid-afternoon. By midday smoke will rise and be transported northward through the afternoon by southerly winds aloft. Therefore, areas south of fires will have overall Good AQ while areas north of the fires will see the bulk of the smoke with generally Moderate AQ, but also some hours of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) AQ, specifically...

Special Statement RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TODAY TO 9 PM PDT TUESDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING. Fire The Windigo Fire grew 1 acre Sunday and is at 1,053 acres with 25% containment. The Potter Fire grew 49 acres Sunday and is now at 234 acres with 0% containment. Weather conditions are favorable for increased fire behavior today, potentially escalating smoke production. For additional information, use the following links; Potter Fire and Windigo Fire. Smoke Smoke produced by the three main fires within the Outlook area will largely be terrain driven today with down valley winds early this morning, then up valley by late morning through mid-afternoon. By midday smoke will rise and be transported northward through the afternoon by southerly winds aloft. Therefore, areas south of fires will have overall Good AQ while areas north of the fires will see the bulk of the smoke with generally Moderate AQ, but also some hours of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) AQ, specifically...

 Windigo-Potter-Big Swamp-Shelter Fires Update – August 08, 2022 Fire Information Phone: 206-473-8645 (8am - 7pm)  |  Email: 2022.Windigo@firenet.govPotter Fire (& Shelter) InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8291/Windigo Fire (& Big Swamp) InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8292/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Windigo-Fire-and-Potter-Fire-Information-109233838550715 Yesterday, lines held against higher temperatures and changing winds. Progress was made on all fires and the Windigo Fire is now 25% contained. A Red Flag Warning for lightning and gusty winds will be in effect starting today and continue until tomorrow evening, testing fire lines again. A Red Flag Warning is defined by a combination of critical fire conditions such as warmer temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds—which produce an increased risk of fire danger. A small amount of precipitation is expected overnight through Tuesday morning.Crews on the Windigo Fire were able...

Windigo-Potter-Big Swamp-Shelter Fires Update – August 08, 2022   Fire Information Phone: 206-473-8645 (8am - 7pm)  |  Email: 2022.Windigo@firenet.gov Potter Fire (& Shelter) InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8291/ Windigo Fire (& Big Swamp) InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8292/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Windigo-Fire-and-Potter-Fire-Information-109233838550715   Yesterday, lines held against higher temperatures and changing winds. Progress was made on all fires and the Windigo Fire is now 25% contained. A Red Flag Warning for lightning and gusty winds will be in effect starting today and continue until tomorrow evening, testing fire lines again. A Red Flag Warning is defined by a combination of critical fire conditions such as warmer temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds—which produce an increased risk of fire danger. A small amount of precipitation is expected overnight through Tuesday morning. Crews on the Windigo Fire...

Vantage Highway Fire Update Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar August 8, 2022  SIZE: 30,635 acres (updated acreage due to more accurate mapping) CONTAINMENT: 75%PERSONNEL: 117 RESOURCES: Hand Crews: 2   FIRE INFORMATION: 509-557-0063 2022.vantagehighway@firenet.gov   FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cwafireinfo     The Vantage Highway Fire is located approximately 5 miles west of Vantage, WA. The Incident Command Post at the Kittitas Fairgrounds in Ellensburg is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters. Weather Today will be hot and dry, with temperatures in the mid-90s in the Cow Canyon Fire area. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for noon today through Tuesday night. There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night and Wednesday. Operations Firefighters have made excellent progress suppressing the Vantage Highway Fire, with containment climbing to...

COW CANYON FIRE Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar August 8, 2022 SIZE: 5,832 acres CONTAINMENT: 30% CAUSE: Under Investigation PERSONNEL: 460 RESOURCES: Hand Crews: 18 Engines: 14 Dozers: 8 Water Tenders: 6 Helicopter: 1   FIRE INFORMATION: 509-557-0063 2022.cowcanyon@firenet.gov Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cwafireinfo   The fire is currently burning approximately 11 miles north of Naches, WA through the Manastash border of Yakima and Kittitas Counties. The Incident Command Post at the Kittitas Fairgrounds in Ellensburg is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters. Weather Today will be hot and dry, with temperatures in the mid-90s in the Cow Canyon Fire area. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for noon today through Tuesday night. There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night and Wednesday. Operations Yesterday in the northwest portion of the...

Beech Creek Fire Update – August 8, 2022 JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY, and HINES, OR – (Monday, August 8, 2022) Containment percentage continues to climb on the Beech Creek Fire, up to 69% and remaining within the same footprint at 155 acres. A heat advisory is in effect today with an increased potential for afternoon thunderstorms and strong outflow winds through Tuesday evening. Some of the resources assigned to the Beech Creek Fire will be made available locally to increase initial attack response in the event of new fire starts.The fire continues to consume unburned fuels within established containment lines south of Hwy 395. Pockets of heat held in burning root systems and tree stumps can present a challenge to suppression efforts and slow containment progress. Firefighters are utilizing water tenders, engines, and extensive hose lays to target these areas within the fire interior.With containment lines becoming more secure and fire behavior diminishing, the High Desert Type 3...

·There will be a virtual public meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Facebook· https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/  Highlights: Yesterday, the fire was active on the northwest perimeter near Spirit Lake and on the southwestern flank. One scooper and four helicopters worked to moderate fire behavior, using Hills Creek Lake as a water source. Firefighters had planned to construct fireline closer to the fire’s edge on the northern flank but with increased fire activity in the area, they returned to Forest Road (FR) 2417 and continued preparing the road as a future control feature. Fire also continued backing down toward Black Creek Road, which crews are still planning to use as a containment line for the southern flank of the fire. Operations: Heavy equipment will begin arriving today and more are slated to join crews prepping FR 2417 and Black Creek Road (FR 2421) in the coming days. Masticators will be deployed to chip small diameter woody material along roadsides to...

Kittitas and Yakima Counties have reduced all evacuation levels on the Cow Canyon Fire to a level 1 (be ready). Kittitas County Evacuation Levels: https://kitcogis.maps.arcgis.com/.../minima.../index.html...Yakima County Evacuation Levels:

   Windigo-Potter-Big Swamp-Shelter Fires Update – August 07, 2022   Fire Information Phone Line: 206-473-8645 (8am - 7pm) Email: 2022.Windigo@firenet.gov Potter Fire (& Shelter) InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8291/ Windigo Fire (& Big Swamp) InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8292/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Windigo-Fire-and-Potter-Fire-Information-109233838550715   Containment on the Windigo Fire increased to 15% as firefighters continued to make progress on all fires in the area. The incident command team is currently managing 237 sq. miles across the Umpqua, Willamette, Deschutes, and Fremont-Winema National Forests—which includes 27 known fires. Eight have active fire behavior. All 27 fires have resources assigned. Weather will challenge suppression efforts over the next few days as crews battle higher temperatures and dryer fuels. For firefighter and public safety, follow the Fire Closure Orders. Yesterday, crews and heavy...

   Windigo-Potter-Big Swamp-Shelter Fires Update – August 07, 2022   Fire Information Phone Line: 206-473-8645 (8am - 7pm) Email: 2022.Windigo@firenet.gov Potter Fire (& Shelter) InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8291/ Windigo Fire (& Big Swamp) InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8292/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Windigo-Fire-and-Potter-Fire-Information-109233838550715   Containment on the Windigo Fire increased to 15% as firefighters continued to make progress on all fires in the area. The incident command team is currently managing 237 sq. miles across the Umpqua, Willamette, Deschutes, and Fremont-Winema National Forests—which includes 27 known fires. Eight have active fire behavior. All 27 fires have resources assigned. Weather will challenge suppression efforts over the next few days as crews battle higher temperatures and dryer fuels. For firefighter and public safety, follow the Fire Closure Orders. Yesterday, crews and heavy...

August 7, 2022 PERSONNEL: 259 RESOURCES: Hand Crews: 8 Engines: 5 Dozers: 3 Water Tender: 1   FIRE INFORMATION: 509-557-0063 2022.vantagehighway@firenet.gov FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cwafireinfo     The Vantage Highway Fire is located approximately 5 miles west of Vantage, WA. The Incident Command Post at the Kittitas Fairgrounds in Ellensburg is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters. Weather Temperatures will increase today, reaching the upper 80s and lower 90s across the Vantage Highway Fire. This warming and drying trend will continue tomorrow, with an increasing chance for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night and Wednesday. Operations Yesterday, firefighters patrolled for flare-ups and continued to mop-up to fully extinguish any remaining hot spots smoldering or creeping near the fire perimeter. Containment on the fire increased to 60% today, with the fire fully secured along the...

August 7, 2022  RESOURCES: Hand Crews: 13 Engines: 11 Dozers: 10 Water Tenders: 3 Helicopter: 1   FIRE INFORMATION: 509-557-0063 2022.cowcanyon@firenet.gov Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cwafireinfo     The fire is currently burning approximately 11 miles north of Naches, WA through the Manastash border of Yakima and Kittitas Counties. The Incident Command Post at the Kittitas Fairgrounds in Ellensburg is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters. Weather The warming and drying trend will continue today and into Monday with temperatures in the upper 80s across the Cow Canyon Fire. Very dry air will move over the region, leading to low relative humidity. There will be an increasing chance for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night and Wednesday. Operations Fire activity decreased yesterday around the northwestern perimeter. Smoldering and creeping fire moved into remaining areas of unburned fuel inside...

 Beech Creek Fire Update – August 7, 2022 JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY, and HINES, OR – (Sunday, August 7, 2022) Containment has increased to 66% on the 155-acre Beech Creek Fire. A few days of cooler temperatures and higher humidity recoveries at night have aided firefighter progress in anticipation of the dryer and warmer conditions expected Sunday through Thursday. Personnel are continuing to support both day and night suppression operations.Fire suppression efforts are now concentrated on strengthening containment lines south of Hwy 395. Heavy equipment, such as feller bunchers, are working to mitigate hazard trees to allow fire crews safer access to secure the direct dozer lines. The unpredictability of fire-weakened trees poses a considerable risk to firefighter safety, so heavy equipment operators and felling teams are brought in to help mitigate those hazards. Resources along the northern section of the fire perimeter continue to reinforce and patrol containment lines having...

There will be a virtual public meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 8 on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/ Highlights: During yesterday’s shift, firefighters continued to scout for opportunities to safely engage the fire. Crews continue to assess roads and trails in the area of the current fire perimeter that could be used as part of a containment strategy to minimize the fire area while also provide for firefighter safety. If conditions change rapidly and crews need to quickly withdraw, firefighters need to have a clear and safe escape route. Fire managers have identified Black Creek Road as a possible containment line on the southern fire perimeter that will be used if a more direct attack strategy cannot be safely implemented. Operations: Increased temperatures are predicted on the fire today, which could lead to more active fire behavior. The fire is expected to continue to move to the northeast and southeast into the Waldo Lake Wilderness. Fire managers...

There is a temporary area closure in place as a result of Cedar Creek Fire activity on the Willamette National Forest, Oregon. For more information on the closure and to view a map of the closure area, click on the related

 Potter Fire Closure

Windigo Fire Closure Order: http://go.usa.gov/xSGhh  Fire Closure Order Text and Fire Closure Order Map  UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE UMPQUA, Willamette, Deschutes, and Fremont-Winema National Forests Roseburg, OR ORDER NO. 06-15-03-22-463 EMERGENCY 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 upon roads, trails, and general forest areas within the Umpqua, Willamette, Deschutes and Fremont-Winema National Forests as described below and shown in Exhibit A. This Order is effective beginning August 3, 2022, and ending October 15, 2022, unless rescinded sooner. PROHIBITIONS: 1. Being on the closed road. [36 CFR § 261.54 (e)] 2. Going into or being upon an area closed for the protection of public health and safety. [36 CFR § 261.52 (e)] 3. Being on a trail. [36 CFR § 261.55(a)] Closure Area is described as an area starting at T23S, R6E, Sec 7 at the junction...

Beech Creek Fire Update – August 6, 2022  JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY, and HINES, OR – (Saturday, August 6, 2022) Firefighters are taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to increase containment on the Beech Creek Fire. Updated mapping puts the fire at 155 acres with 45% containment. The fire started on the afternoon of August 1st and is located nine miles south of Long Creek. There are no evacuations in place.On the northern portion of the fire, fire crews are mopping up to increase the depth of containment lines and continue to mitigate hazard trees along Highway 395. All spot fires are fully lined and mopped up. Equipment and falling modules made good progress on direct containment lines on the southern portion of the fire yesterday. Hazard trees are being removed to allow firefighters to safely enter and work in the area to suppress the fire. The contingency line south of the direct primary dozer line is prepared if needed.Travelers in the area may see smoke as interior...