InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

Bolt Creek Fire UpdateOctober 8, 2022 Southeast Washington Type 3 Incident Management TeamIncident Commander: Leonard Johnson Estimated size: 13,060 acresCause: UndeterminedContainment: 36 percentResources: 194 personnel – Two type-2 initial attack hand crew, one hand crew, one helicopter, 20 engines, one dozer, two water tenders and 94 overhead US 2 Is Open: At this time, US 2 is open throughout the fire area and no additional planned closures are scheduled.   However, additional flare-ups, material rolling near the road, or hazardous trees on or along the road may force temporary short closures or reroutes. Crews are still working throughout the area so as the weekend approaches and traffic increases please drive at the posted reduced speeds through the fire area.Fire Update: Friday again saw limited growth. Warmer and drier conditions returned during the afternoon and overnight increasing fire activity. These conditions will persist for the next few days which will...

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team measures two different elements, soil burn severity and vegetation mortality, to help guide their assessment of emergency risks and imminent threats to critical values, including life and safety, Forest Service property and critical natural resources following a wildfire.Soil Burn Severity: We tend to think of wildfire burn severity in terms of the visual impacts to above-ground vegetation, but the post-fire landscape response (erosion, flooding, and mass movement) is generally more strongly correlated to soil burn severity. Soil burn severity is a critical indicator of recovery. Even when the soil looks lifeless, fine, hair-like roots can still persist beneath the surface. These roots not only store energy for fire-adapted plants to recover more quickly after a fire, but they also act as a net that can help stabilize the soil against erosion. When assessing soil burn severity, soil scientists examine the condition of these fine roots to...

Beginning tomorrow (Sat. Oct. 8th), the forest closure for the Cedar Creek Fire on the Deschutes National Forest will be reduced, opening up the Cascade Lakes Highway.Tomorrow (Sat. Oct. 8th) at 12:01 a.m. the forest closure will be adjusted, opening up recreation areas on the eastern side of the Cascade Lakes Highway. Recreation areas including Crane Prairie, North and South Twin Lakes, and Wickiup Reservoir will be accessible. Davis Lake and Cultus Lake areas will remain closed.Campgrounds will reopen at Lava Lake, Little Lava Lake, and in the Twin Lakes area; however, Sheep’s Bridge and Crane Prairie campgrounds will remain closed.Please check with local resorts for information about the services they will be

Fire Activity: Fire growth continues but at low intensity. The fire is backing, flanking, and testing control lines, all of which firefighters are successfully holding. The fire consumed ground fuels near the Forest Road 1266, which reduces the risk of it jumping that road in the future.             Firefighting Efforts: Firefighters continue to focus on community protection. There are multiple layers of control line, contingency line, and hoselays in between the fire and the community. Firefighters are actively testing their equipment, under the direction of a Structure Protection Specialist. Other crews are hard at work strengthening the trail system by the southwest edge of the fire, and reinforcing handline and dozerline. Log processing along Forest Road 46 is complete, and that effort has now shifted to Forest Road 4610.      Weather: The warm, dry weather pattern will continue today and Sunday. Today’s high is 80 degrees, but temperatures should cool off after...

         Kalama Fire Update – October 8, 2022Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is at approximately 461 acres in size and is currently five percent contained. Acres increased only slightly with burn out operations to assist in securing the perimeter of the fire. Cooler weather and rain over the fire area these past few days has assisted in the firefighting efforts.   Fire Behavior: The fire was located on a cliff and is now burning on extremely steep ground. Fire fighters are preparing indirect lines in more favorable terrain where they can be successful. Fire behavior has been smoldering and creeping with some torching observed. The potential for fire growth remains and containment lines are being put in place. Weather: Weather today is predicted to be dry and warm. High pressure will keep warm and dry weather through the weekend. Easterly winds will weaken Friday, with light terrain driven winds today. ...

         Kalama Fire Update – October 7, 2022Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southeast of Kalama Horse Camp on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is at approximately 454 acres in size and is currently five percent contained. Acres increased only slightly with burn out operations to assist in securing the perimeter of the fire. Cooler weather and rain over the fire area these past few days has assisted in the firefighting efforts.   Fire Behavior: The fire was located on a cliff and is now burning on extremely steep ground. Fire fighters are preparing indirect lines in more favorable terrain where they can be successful. Fire behavior has been smoldering and creeping with some torching observed. The potential for fire growth remains and containment lines are being put in place. Weather: Weather today is predicted to be dry and warm. High pressure will keep warm and dry weather through the weekend. Easterly winds will weaken Friday, with light terrain driven winds likely...

Fire Activity: Yesterday’s wind and fire activity tested the control lines, all of which successfully held. The fire consumed additional vegetation in the Coal Creek drainage, reducing the chance that it will cross the control lines in the future. Last night’s humidity was lower than normal, meaning that the fire will be more active earlier today.            Firefighting Efforts: Engine patrols are continuing both day and night, throughout communities closest to the fire and along US-12. A combination of handlines and dozers line now provides communities with four layers of control/contingency lines. Firefighters are in place near structures, testing sprinklers and patrolling.      Weather: Winds today will be lighter, with an average of 9 mph and gusts up to 15 mph. Easterly winds continue to bring in dry air. Relative humidity remains low, dropping to 24%. Temperatures in the fire area will peak around 80 degrees, while it will be 85-87 degrees in Packwood.  ...

Bolt Creek Fire Update October 7, 2022 Southeast Washington Type 3 Incident Management TeamIncident Commander: Leonard JohnsonEstimated size: 12,927 acres Cause: Human; Under investigationContainment: 36 percentResources: 194 personnel – Two type-2 initial attack hand crew, one hand crew, 17 engines, one dozer, two water tenders and 95 overhead. As of 0600 today, management of the Bolt Creek Fire was assumed by a Southeast Washington Type 3 Team; Incident Commander Leonard Johnson.US 2 Is Open: At this time, US 2 is open throughout the fire area and no additional planned closures are scheduled. However, additional flare-ups, material rolling near the road, or hazardous trees on or along the road may force temporary short closures or reroutes. Crews are still working throughout the area so as the weekend approaches and traffic increases please drive at the posted reduced speeds through the fire area.Fire Update: Thursday saw very limited growth – less than 100 acres. A heavy...

Cedar Creek FireOctober 7, 2022 | Update 8:30 AM | Size: 121,249 acres | Contained: 38% | Start Date: August 1,2022 | Origin: 15 miles east of Oakridge, OR Cause: Lightning | Total personnel: 624| Resources: 16 engines; 17 crews; 8 heavy equipment; 5 helicopters Operations: Yesterday, firefighters spent another day working patrol, mop up and repair across the entire Cedar Creek Fire. Road repairs remain a high priority to allow safe access for firefighters and resource advisors (READs) to enter interior regions. The east wind event on Wednesday night caused a spot fire in Division T near the southern tip of the fire, northwest of Lucas Lake. Air resources were utilized to slow spread and two hotshot crews worked on the spot fire throughout the day yesterday. Air operations as well as ground resources will continue working to contain the spot fire today. The wind event has contributed to increased fire activity in this area and other locations on the fire, producing...

 Fire management officials on the Heppner Ranger District are implementing a prescribed natural fuel burn today, which is one of two units planned this week.    The Sunflower Bacon prescribed burn activities are anticipated to take 2-5 days per unit to complete and include 520 acres of grass, brush, and timber located approximately 20 miles south of Heppner and seven miles east of the Morrow County OHV park. The objective of the burns are to improve foraging habitat for big game, reduce long-term wildfire risk through reductions in existing fuel loading, and to restore the ecological functions of a fire adapted ecosystem to the area.    Additional information about this prescribed burn is available by visiting the Umatilla National Forest’s prescribed fire interactive map. This map displays burning activities. The interactive map allows the user to zoom in on certain areas and click on a burn unit for more information (such as acreage, status, etc). When burning...

 PENDLETON, Ore. (October 4, 2022) — Fire management officials on the Umatilla National Forest are preparing to implement the Forest’s fall prescribed burn plan, which could impact camping and hunting opportunities in several hunting units across the Forest.  Any associated road and trail closures will go into effect prior to and during burn operations, which typically take 2-5 days to complete. Hunters are advised to plan ahead and avoid camping in the designated prescribed burn areas during the 2022 hunting season. Frequent, low-intensity fire is essential for healthy forests and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire caused by excessive fuel buildup. Prescribed burning is an effective tool for removing excessive amounts of brush, shrubs, and trees, while also encouraging the growth of native vegetation. Prescribed burning is also highly dependent on weather conditions, which must be within a narrow criteria window to use prescribed fire. Factors such as wind...

Kalama Fire Update – October 6, 2022Overview: The Kalama Fire, located southwest of Mount St. Helens near the town of Cougar, WA, is approximately 454 acres in size and five percent contained.  Containment lines have been completed.  With the inability to safely mop up the fire’s edge, due to steep terrain and overhead hazards, containment percentages will remain low.

Road Closure Description:   Travel is prohibited on the following National Forest System (NFS) Roads as described below and shown on the attached map (Exhibit A).   •       NFS Road No. 8100, from the junction  of DNR Road 7200 and DNR Road 7600 to the junction with NFS Road No. 8123 and all associated NFS spur roads off  NFS Road No. 8100. •       NFS Road No 8117 and all associated NFS spur roads off  NFS Road No. 8117. •       NFS Road No. 8122 and all associated NFS spur roads off  NFS Road No. 8122. Trail Closure Description: Travel is prohibited on the following National Forest System (NFS) Trails as described below and shown on the attached map (Exhibit A).   •       Cinnamon Trail #204 from the TH at Kalama Horse Camp to Red Rock Pass. •       Kalama Ski Trail #231 west of NFS Road No. 8123 and south of NFS Road 8100. •       Goat Marsh Trail #231D •       Toutle Trail #238 from the TH at Kalama Horse Camp to Red...

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires Thursday October 6, 2022 Update – 8:00 AM                  Northeast Oregon Type 3 Team   NOTICE:  This will be the last update from the incident team.   Highlights: Weather has gradually warmed and become drier each day after the cool and moist conditions last weekend. Very little change in fire behavior and spread has been observed despite the warmer and drier conditions. Fire crews will continue to monitor the north end of the Double Creek and Sturgill Fires for hot spots and use aerial bucket drops when terrain and weather safely allow.  The Type 3 team will transition to two Type 4 Teams on Friday, 10/7.   Double Creek Fire: 171,530 acres, increased 33 acres | 89% contained | 155 personnel assigned Isolated areas of heat remain in the Cow Creek, Deep Creek, and Lightning Creek drainages on steep and inaccessible terrain. Little growth is expected and the area will be monitored with aerial resources....

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires Thursday October 6, 2022 Update – 8:00 AM                  Northeast Oregon Type 3 Team   NOTICE:  This will be the last update from the incident team.   Highlights: Weather has gradually warmed and become drier each day after the cool and moist conditions last weekend. Very little change in fire behavior and spread has been observed despite the warmer and drier conditions. Fire crews will continue to monitor the north end of the Double Creek and Sturgill Fires for hot spots and use aerial bucket drops when terrain and weather safely allow.  The Type 3 team will transition to two Type 4 Teams on Friday, 10/7.   Double Creek Fire: 171,530 acres, increased 33 acres | 89% contained | 155 personnel assigned Isolated areas of heat remain in the Cow Creek, Deep Creek, and Lightning Creek drainages on steep and inaccessible terrain. Little growth is expected and the area will be monitored with aerial resources....

 Bolt Creek, Suiattle River, Boulder Lake, and Lake Toketie Fires Wildfire-Associated Landslide Emergency Response Team Report, prepared by Washington Sate Department of Natural Resources Washington Geological

Highlights: The fire will likely become more active today as drier and gustier winds arrive from the east. Control lines continue to hold.  Firefighters have established a contingency line in between the fire and the communities near the fire. Engines are patrolling in the community and along US Highway 12 throughout the day and night. A structure protection specialist is working with Lewis County on coordinating an emergency response plan, while staging for tonight’s increased winds. Local agencies are also on standby to provide additional structure protection if needed. Some engines and crews are timing out, but they are being replaced with fresh firefighters who are arriving from across the country. Aerial attack continues, especially in the Coal Creek drainage.    Weather: Winds are coming from the east today and are higher than recent days. They will average 12 mph throughout the day, but gusts may reach 20 mph. These drier east winds will lower relative humidity levels to...

 Cedar Creek FireOctober 6, 2022 | Update 8:30 AM | Size: 120,983 acres | Contained: 39% | Start Date: August 1,2022 | Origin: 15 miles east of Oakridge, OR Cause: Lightning | Total personnel: 646 | Resources: 14 engines; 16 crews; 8 heavy equipment; 5 helicopters Operations: With another east wind event today, operations have focused on securing control lines and protectingsurrounding communities. The incident command team will continue to build security across the CedarCreek Fire; however, emphasis will shift to suppression repair. Firefighters are working on grading, haulingdebris, cleaning ditches and culverts, identifying hazards and masticating along roadways throughout theCedar Creek Fire. Grading and repair along Forest Service 24 is almost complete and will serve animportant role for improved access for firefighters. Resource Advisors (READs) are working alongsidefirefighters to help identify potential impacts and benefits of fire operations on natural and...

Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo, Goat Mountain Two Fires Thursday October 6, 2022Update – 8:00 AM Northeast Oregon Type 3 TeamNOTICE: This will be the last update from the incident team. Highlights: Weather has gradually warmed and become drier each day after the cool and moist conditions last weekend. Very little change in fire behavior and spread has been observed despite the warmer and drier conditions. Fire crews will continue to monitor the north end of the Double Creek and Sturgill Fires for hot spots and use aerial bucket drops when terrain and weather safely allow. The Type 3 team will transition to two Type 4 Teams on Friday, 10/7.Double Creek Fire: 171,530 acres, increased 33 acres | 89% contained | 155 personnel assignedIsolated areas of heat remain in the Cow Creek, Deep Creek, and Lightning Creek drainages on steep and inaccessible terrain. Little growth is expected and the area will be monitored with aerial resources.Eagle Cap Wilderness FiresSturgill Fire: 21,710...