InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

John Day, Prairie City and Hines, OR. – (November 2, 2021) Fire officials continue to monitor conditions for prescribed fire operations daily. All prescribed burn activity is weather and condition dependent.  Emigrant Creek Ranger District will continue pile and landing pile burning through this week in Wolf, Upper Pine, Dove, Marshall Devine and Flat project areas. Prairie City Ranger District will be burning hand piles in the Elk 16 project area (Crane Prairie) and Summit project area (Summit Prairie) this week. Blue Mountain Ranger District will be burning grapple and landing piles in the Big Creek Mosquito project area in the Big Creek area for the remainder of the week.   For the safety of firefighters and the public, roads and areas of prescribed fire activity will be signed. Please avoid these areas so as not to interfere with ongoing operations. For safety, roads, trails and areas may need to close temporarily as firefighter operations are taking place. Smoky conditions...

 John Day, Prairie City and Hines, OR. – (October 29, 2021) Fire officials continue to monitor conditions for prescribed fire operations daily. All prescribed burn activity is weather and condition dependent.   Emigrant Creek Ranger District completed approximately 1000 acres of hand and grapple piles in the Wolf and Tarzan Project areas with an estimated total of 1500 acres by the end of the week.  Approximately 1800 acres of landing piles completed in Wolf and W2_URU project areas with an estimated total 2400 acres completed by the end of the week.  Crews will be burning both grapple and landing piles in the Wolf, Mud, Dry, Upper Pine, Flat and possibly Marshal Devine units for the remainder of this week and into the coming week.     Prairie City Ranger District has completed about 200 acres of hand piles in the Dad’s Project Area and will continue to finish the remaining 40 acres before moving into the Summit Project area (Summit Prairie) and Elk 16 project area (Crane...

KMZ Data File Available for TwentyFive Mile Fire Soil Burn Severity: http://www.centralwashingtonfirerecovery.info/2021/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/TwentyFiveMile_BurnSeverity-kmz-1.zip Reports Twentyfive Mile Fire Burned Area Summary [8-page PDF] Maps TwentyFive Mile Soil Burn Severity Map: Map available in JPG and PDF format   A KMZ file is also available to view the map in greater detail in Google Earth (and many other mapping programs). Download the KMZ zip file, then double-click it to extract the KMZ file and save to your computer. Open the Google Earth program. [If you don’t already have Google Earth, you can download and install it for free HERE.]  Drag the KMZ file onto the Google Earth program icon or main screen (or in Google Earth, click File, Import and select the KMZ file). After the KMZ file loads,  you can zoom way in for more detail, change the angle of view, show or hide each burn severity level, and adjust transparency of levels. ...

KMZ Data File Available for Schneider Springs Fire Soil Burn Severity: ·       http://www.centralwashingtonfirerecovery.info/2021/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SchneiderSprings-SoilBurnSeverity-kmz.zip Map: Available in JPG and PDF format. A KMZ file is also available to view the map in greater detail in Google Earth  (and many other mapping programs):  Download the KMZ zip file, then double-click it to extract the KMZ file and save to your computer. Open the Google Earth program. [If you don’t already have Google Earth, you can download and install it for free HERE.]  Drag the KMZ file onto the Google Earth program icon or main screen (or in Google Earth, click File, Import and select the KMZ file). After the KMZ file loads, you can zoom way in for more detail, change the angle of view, show, or hide each burn severity level, and adjust transparency of levels.  Additional Information on Soil Burn Severity Levels: Low severity- These zones where...

SCHNEIDER SPRINGS POST-FIRE BAER SOIL BURN SEVERITY MAP RELEASED       USDA Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a multi-disciplinary team that assesses post-fire impacts on federal lands following significant wildfires. The role of the assessment team is to characterize fire effects within the burned area to identify imminent post-fire threats to human life, safety, property, infrastructure, and critical natural and cultural resources on National Forest System (NFS) lands and recommend emergency response actions designed to mitigate identified risks. After the assessment, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest land managers establish an organization to implement protective and stabilization treatments that will be approved by the Forest Service Regional and National offices.   The BAER team began their assessment immediately after the fire threat passed. Their focus was on direct effects to the burned landscape caused by the fire, rather than from fire...

Fire management officials on the North Fork John Day Ranger District are implementing a 300-acre prescribed burn within the Meadowbrook FTQ burn unit, located approximately 2 miles southeast from Dale, Oregon and 6 miles east of Meadowbrook Summit.   The Meadowbrook prescribed burn is anticipated to take 1-2 days to complete and primarily consists of grass and mixed pine. The objective of the burn is to improve foraging habitat for big game, reduce long-term wildfire risk through reductions in existing fuel loading, to restore the ecological functions of a fire adapted ecosystem to the area, and to kill germinated invasive annual grasses. Hunters and forest visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and avoid the area during prescribed burning activities.   Additional information about this prescribed burn is available by visiting the Umatilla National Forest’s prescribed fire interactive map. This map displays burning activities and the interactive map allows the...

PENDLETON, Ore. (October 20, 2021) –  Based on assessments of road conditions and slope stability following recent rainfall, Umatilla National Forest officials will reopen Forest Service Road (FSR) 4713 on the Pomeroy Ranger District on Friday, Oct. 22. The remaining road closures are in effect to protect public and firefighter safety. Hazards along the closed roads include burned or dead trees, erosion, unstable road or trail surfaces, uncontained fireline and ongoing suppression operations (such as the presence of firefighting resources or large equipment). Public entry is prohibited on the roads as identified in the closure and described below. Forest Service Roads (FSR) 4712: all vehicles greater than 50-inches in width are prohibited from traveling on any part of FSR 4712. (4.3 miles) All vehicles are prohibited from traveling on portions of or all the following roads: FSR 44 (3.9 miles) FSR 41 (5.6 miles) FSR 4206 (6.7 miles) ...

John Day, Prairie City and Hines, OR. – (October 15, 2021) Fire officials continue to monitor conditions for prescribed fire operations daily.Emigrant Creek Ranger District has completed 4,300 acres in the Wolf F unit located in the Magpie Table area and approximately 1,100 acres in the Silvies 7 unit located south of the Silvies River and west of National Forest Road 31.  Crews will continue to patrol both units through the weekend.  Potential to continue work on the remaining approximate 1,700 acres on Silvies 7 could continue Tuesday, October 19. Prairie City Ranger District will be monitoring conditions for the potential to continue work within Elk 16 IB.  Conditions permitting, crews may potentially begin ignitions in Elk 16 unit or units in the Dads area.Blue Mountain Ranger District, crews from Grayback Forestry will be working on creating blackline around Murderers Creek 11 and may begin ignitions through the weekend. Fuels have lost moisture over the long, hot summer....

John Day, Prairie City and Hines, OR. – (October 12, 2021) Fire officials continue to monitor conditions for prescribed fire operations daily.Emigrant Creek Ranger District – will continue work on Wolf F located in the Magpie Table area. Fire crews will be patrolling Silvies 7, located south of the Silvies River and west of National Forest Road 31. Prairie City Ranger District will be patrolling Elk 16 IB. Blue Mountain Ranger District is continuing to Monitor conditions to begin ignitions. If conditions are favorable fire crews will begin with ignitions on the following units:  Starr 31, 32, & 33  Fuels have lost moisture over the long, hot summer. Burning under dry fuels conditions allows the fuels to potentially consume more completely and produce less smoke.  For the safety of firefighters and the public, roads and areas of prescribed fire activity will be signed. Please avoid these areas so as not to interfere with ongoing operations. For safety, roads, trails and areas...

FOREST SERVICE BAER TEAM BEGINS POST-FIRE ASSESSMENT OF SCHNEIDER SPRINGS FIRE After a large wildfire, special actions may be necessary to provide for public and community safety and protect critical natural and cultural resources on federal managed lands. For example, loss of vegetation exposes soil to erosion; water runoff may increase and lead to flooding. Sediment may move downstream damaging roads and infrastructure or put endangered species and cultural resources at risk. The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program evaluates these situations on federal lands to help guard the safety of National Forest (NF) visitors and employees, protect federal property, and critical natural or cultural resources from further damage. A BAER team has been established by the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF to begin a burned area assessment of the Schneider Springs Fire that recently burned on state, private, and federal lands. The Forest Service BAER team assesses National Forest System (NFS)...

 John Day, Prairie City and Hines, OR. – (October 18, 2021) Fire officials continue to monitor conditions for prescribed fire operations

The past two days brought moderate rain and snow showers over the fire area. Fire behavior is now observed only in isolated and well sheltered stump holes. Our IMT3 team continues management of the Bull Complex and will transfer command to local Mt. Hood National Forest fire resources at 7:00 a.m., Monday, October 18.  Incident command complexity at that time will drop to a Type 4. Repair to damage caused during suppression operations is ongoing. Mechanized brush debris chipping and fuels reduction via the use of a curtain burner are the primary operational focuses. Road grading of forest roads affected during the incident are also being accomplished. All these activities will be pursued until fall weather makes work impractical. Structure protection wrap has been removed from Bagby Hot springs, Hawk Mountain Cabin and Gold Butte Lookout. No further structures remain wrapped. BAER personnel began preparations for conducting their operations in the fire area. This work will be...

Many people have expressed an interest in the BAER assessment process for the Schneider Springs Fire. The BAER team leadership recently met with a few dozen stakeholders and shared information about what the Forest Service BAER process is, what it isn't, and how they can provide input and engage with the local Ranger District office on longer-term restoration projects. That meeting was recorded and is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKEzyb0DyZsAs part of that discussion, we provided a link to a survey (Microsoft Forms) asking for input from non-Forest Service stakeholders. This form asks about items you consider critical values that you think the BAER team (if appropriate) or the local District should consider in its recovery plans. Visit the survey

 See the linked PDF (below) for an overview of the Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)

The closure area has been reduced to the perimeter of the fire.  Please see links below that will take you to the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF's website for more

For their safety, communities need to monitor local weather reports and public safety bulletins, local road closures, emergency notifications, weather alerts, follow local county and city advisories, and act accordingly. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service (NWS), Pendleton (PDT) (https://www.weather.gov/pdt/) website. Use a weather radio or smart phone weather app that monitors all hazards alerts issued by the NOAA-National Weather Service. Prepare for rainstorms by practicing evacuations prior to real events. Be prepared to evacuate if county or city emergency officials determine that flooding and debris flows are expected which could pose an increased threat to human life, safety, and property. Know and be alert to environmental signs of dangerous weather conditions and be prepared to take action that can save lives. Understand that all drainages within and downstream of burned areas can produce flash flooding. If you find...

Forest ServiceUmpqua National Forest2900 Northwest Stewart ParkwayRoseburg, OR 97471(541) 957-3200https://www.facebook.com/UmpquaNat ionalForestTwitter @UmpquaNF     News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2021Umpqua National Forest BAER Info: Joe BlanchardEmail: Joseph.blanchard@usda.govBAER teams working on post-fire assessment of the Rough Patch Complex, Jack Fire, and Devils Knob Complex release Soil Burn Severity maps.Roseburg, OR – Two Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams have been established to assess the Rough Patch Complex, Jack Fire, and Devils Knob Complex for post-fire changed watershed conditions and threats to USFS critical values.   The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program is designed to identify and manage potential risks to resources on National Forest System lands and reduce these threats through appropriate emergency measures to protect human life and safety, property, and critical natural and cultural resources. ...

Forest Service Umpqua National Forest 2900 Northwest Stewart Parkway Roseburg, OR 97471 (541) 957-3200 https://www.facebook.com/UmpquaNat ionalForest Twitter @UmpquaNF       News Release  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2021 Umpqua National Forest BAER Info: Joe Blanchard Email: Joseph.blanchard@usda.gov BAER teams working on post-fire assessment of the Rough Patch Complex, Jack Fire, and Devils Knob Complex release Soil Burn Severity maps. Roseburg, OR – Two Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams have been established to assess the Rough Patch Complex, Jack Fire, and Devils Knob Complex for post-fire changed watershed conditions and threats to USFS critical values.    The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program is designed to identify and manage potential risks to resources on National Forest System lands and reduce these threats through appropriate emergency measures to protect human life and safety, property, and critical natural and...

 Acres: 24,165 Containment: 83% Personnel: 4Current SituationYesterday, the Umpqua and Willamette National Forests released a revised closure order allowing access to some parts of the Forest that were previously closed. A link to the new order and maps is below.The fire is displaying minimal activity, however there are still safety concerns with the crews, trucks, large equipment, and damaged roadways. The Blue Team and the Forest Service are working together to clean things up so life can return to normal.There will continue to be a decrease of firefighter presence as deconstruction of the Incident Command Post will occurs over the next few days. However, there will be an influx of personnel working in and around the fires’ perimeter. Many of the heavy equipment operators, drivers, and contractors are local and their work is critical in helping restore the Forest.Workers are making great progress in suppression repair operations. But heavier traffic continues on Highway 138 as...

Acres: 50,409Containment: 74%Personnel: 378 Current Situation Yesterday, the Umpqua and Willamette National Forests released a revised closure order allowing access to some parts of the Forest that were previously closed. A link to the new order and maps is below.The fire is displaying minimal activity, however there are still safety concerns with the crews, trucks, large equipment, and damaged roadways. The Blue Team and the Forest Service are working together to clean things up so life can return to normal.There will continue to be a decrease of firefighter presence as deconstruction of the Incident Command Post will occurs over the next few days. However, there will be an influx of personnel working in and around the fires’ perimeter. Many of the heavy equipment operators, drivers, and contractors are local and their work is critical in helping restore the Forest. Workers are making great progress in suppression repair operations. But heavier traffic continues on Highway 138 as...