InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

 Cedar Creek, Cub Creek 2, and Delancy FiresDaily UpdateAugust 29, 2021  Winthrop, WA – The Cedar Creek, Cub Creek 2, and Delancy fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and public and private lands within Okanogan County. Safety Note: The Cedar and Cub Creek Fires are active fires, and certain roads and trails in the community and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest remain closed for your safety. The public is reminded to stay out of closed areas for your safety and the safety of firefighters.  Fire Information Line: (509) 557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily)   Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is 55,187 acres and 80% contained. High pressure settled over the region Saturday resulting in near-full sunshine and shading. The day was much drier than the previous two days with temperatures in the 80s. Winds were light and terrain driven. We saw minimal fire behavior Saturday and overnight. As mop up continues in the burned area, crews will be focused on removing any heat...

WALKER CREEK AND CHICKADEE CREEK FIRES DAILY FIRE UPDATE AUGUST 29, 2021Chickadee Creek FireSIZE: 5,199 acresCONTAINMENT: 25% Walker Creek FireSIZE: 23,412 acresCONTAINMENT: 30% Combined ResourcesPersonnel: 651Hand Crews: 13Engines: 46Heavy Equipment: 64Water Tenders: 13Helicopters: 4Fixed Wing: 1 The Chickadee Creek Fire is located approximately 15 miles west of Tonasket, Washington. The Walker Creek Fire is located approximately 13 miles east/northeast of Tonasket, Washington, surrounding Lake Bonaparte. The Incident Command Post at the Omak Stampede Grounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters. Today is expected to be the warmest and driest day of the week, with temperatures in the low-to-mid 80s. Operations: Cooler weather over the last few days has enabled firefighters to make good progress building and securing fire line, and as a result containment on both fires increased significantly today....

Green Ridge and Lick Creek Fires Update  Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock  August 29, 2021    Please stay clear of firefighting operations and drive safely! With the reduction of the Emergency Fire Area Closure, the public is being asked to watch out for fire crews and equipment while traveling on forest roads. Some roads remain closed with barriers.  Barriers are in place to protect firefighters and the public, so please respect the closed areas.    A Virtual Facebook Live Public Meeting is set for today at 7 PM.  The meeting will be live streamed on the Green Ridge Fire Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/greenridgefire2021.    Green Ridge Fire Statistics: Size: 39,598, Containment: 35%, Total Personnel: 182, Location: 30 miles east of Walla Walla, Reported: July 7, 2021, Cause: Lightning.    Lick Creek Fire Statistics: Size: 80,421, Containment: 100%, Total Personnel: 6, Location: 20 miles southwest of Asotin, WA, Reported:...

Inchelium, WA – Yesterday, forest fuels continued a drying trend due to sunny and windy weather, as well as lower humidity which caused increased fire activity in unburned fuels.  The fire was active on the north and northeast flanks and continued backing toward containment lines. Firefighters worked to secure direct and indirect lines and conducted burning operations to improve containment lines. A small spot fire was detected outside the north perimeter in the Hall Creek area and was suppressed with air and ground resources. Mop-up and patrol continued around the southeast, south, and west flanks. Today, crews will continue mop-up and monitor the spot fire. Firefighters will also continue to improve direct and indirect fire lines, with ongoing preparation of contingency lines along roads in the Lynx Mountain area. Patrolling and mopping up along the rest of the perimeter will continue. On all unlined portions of the fire, the strategy is to build fire line as close to the...

Kettle Falls, WA – Yesterday, fire behavior on the southeast flank of the Bulldog Mountain fire showed active burning fuels exposed to sunlight. Firefighters patrolled and took actions to hold the remainder of the fire within containment lines. Chipping of fuels and the removal of dangerous snags continue along the South Boulder road and in the Davis Lake area to prepare these roads in the event that the fire moves out of its current footprint. Tactical firing operations will occur on the northeast and potentially south of the Bulldog Mountain fire today. On the Mack Mountain fire, crews will continue to monitor and improve fire lines. Air resources will monitor both the Bulldog Mountain and Mack Mountain fires for active fire behavior. There will also be crews out working on patrolling the roads around the Bulldog Mountain and Mack Mountain fires. Along with the warmer temperatures experienced yesterday, there was low relative humidity and higher southwest winds which prompted...

Kettle Falls, WA – Yesterday, fire behavior on the southeast flank of the Bulldog Mountain fire showed active burning fuels exposed to sunlight. Firefighters patrolled and took actions to hold the remainder of the fire within containment lines. Chipping of fuels and the removal of dangerous snags continue along the South Boulder road and in the Davis Lake area to prepare these roads in the event that the fire moves out of its current footprint. Tactical firing operations will occur on the northeast and potentially south of the Bulldog Mountain fire today. On the Mack Mountain fire, crews will continue to monitor and improve fire lines. Air resources will monitor both the Bulldog Mountain and Mack Mountain fires for active fire behavior. There will also be crews out working on patrolling the roads around the Bulldog Mountain and Mack Mountain fires. Along with the warmer temperatures experienced yesterday, there was low relative humidity and higher southwest winds which prompted...

Twenty-Five Mile Fire UpdateAugust 29, 2021Size: 11,394 acresTotal Personnel: 506                                                               Containment: 32%Cause: Under investigationStructures Threatened: 772Structures Lost: 1 Yesterday the fire was very active along the southern perimeter in the vicinity of Slide Peak where firing operations were used to slow and direct the fires movement. In the late afternoon, firing tactics were initiated near Grouse Mountain where the fire made a northwesterly run. The operation was successful and was monitored throughout the night. Crews began back hauling equipment from Baldy Spike Camp and the western perimeter was mostly unstaffed as containment lines have been completed along Devil’s Backbone. The structure protection group continued work along First Creek Road.   Today active to very active fire behavior is anticipated. The fire is expected to move to the west,...

 Summary:  The Rough Patch Complex and Jack fire are being managed under a full suppression strategy using direct and indirect tactics to minimize fire spread to prevent loss of valuable resources. Leaders’ intent is to minimize any fire progression to the west and to protect private structures throughout the fire area. The Rough Patch consists of four fires: Chaos, Little Bend, Buckhead and Near Minky. Overall, there was minimum fire activity yesterday across the Rough Patch Complex and the Jack fire. Much of the fire growth was due to indirect burning operations conducted as a tactic to secure the fires’ perimeters in areas where direct suppression tactics poses a risk to firefighter safety.  Chaos and Little Bend Fires:  The Chaos fire is at 16,539 acres and the Little Bend fire is at 6,717 acres. Fireline on the west side of the Chaos fire continues to hold. Today crews will be prepping the north end of Chaos fire to conduct additional burning operations as...

Fire and WeatherThe Middle Fork Complex is now at 18,506 acres and is 12% contained. The Fire Weather Forecast for today is very warm temperatures and dry conditions, with more sunshine. A strong, smoky, yet shallow inversion exists this morning; it will slowly rise and then gradually erode between 1100-1400 hrs. Today, northeasterly transport winds will be subsiding as north/northwest transport winds develop. Fuels are dry, and drought conditions continue to push live fuels into dormancy, adding to the fuel load. The Fire Behavior Forecast expects active, and possible localized areas of extreme fire behavior today as fuels respond to the very warm and dry conditions, especially where they have been preheated.SmokeYesterday, upslope/up canyon smoke lofted and “cycled” back via the northeast flow aloft; overall producing a bit of a cap. “Cycling” occurs early again today, but then transport winds will shift to be more out of the west-northwest, in tandem with many of our up...

  Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #4     Bull Complex Fire Update Sunday, 29 August 2021 Contact Fire Information:  971.277.5075 or 2021.Bull@firenet.gov https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7773/ #BullComplex https://www.facebook.com/mthoodnf or https://twitter.com/mthoodnf  Firefighters continue to strengthen and hold previously constructed containment lines as warmer weather conditions were present over the Bull Complex Fire yesterday. Focus areas are the southeast and northeast portions of the fire where the main fire is now up against containment lines.  The warmer temperatures led to increased fire activity and higher volumes of smoke. Similar smoke volumes as yesterday are likely to settle into the valleys overnight and persist through the morning today.  Fire behavior is expected to be higher again today but isn’t expected to pose a high risk to critical focus areas.  The Bull Complex grew approximately 470 acres Saturday.  Weather conditions...

South Oregon Cascades Rough Patch & Devils Knob Complex, and Jack Fire   Issued at: 2021-08-29 07:31 PDT  Weather and Fire:  Light northeast winds in the morning will become northwest in the afternoon today with similar winds tomorrow. The increase in fire behavior observed yesterday should continue today with higher temperatures and lower humidities than were seen earlier in the week. Fire fighting personnel are scouting for containment lines, conducting burn outs, and mopping up and patrolling cooler edges of the fires. Incident specific information can be found on Inciweb. Smoke:  Grants Pass, Roseburg, and Medford air quality will improve when winds shift to the NW. Smoke will again pool overnight. Monday areas west of the crest will remain mostly clear. In general, areas SE of the fires will have unhealthy air in the afternoons. Medford will have unhealthy conditions this morning that should clear with the NW winds. Health:  Consider watching the Fire and Smoke Map on...

   Containment Increases; Transfer of Command At 6pm Today Ford Corkscrew Fire Daily Update August 29, 2021     Acres:  15,772 acres Personnel: 296 Cause: Under investigation Containment: 92% Start Date: Sunday, August 15, 2021 Location: Ford, WA Fuels:  Timber (grass and understory); brush (2 feet)   Announcement:  Command of the Ford Corkscrew Fire will transfer to a Type 4 Organization with Incident Commander, Charles Davis, at 6pm today. The phonelines listed above will be taken off-line at that time. Please use (509) 685-6900 for all future inquires. The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 wants to extend our sincere appreciation to local agencies, cooperators, and the community for your support throughout the incident. Until there is a season-ending event such as wetting rain or snow, warm, sunny days will cause unburned islands of fuel to flame up and smoke may be visible. Please do not report these smoke plumes unless they are close to the fire...

 WESTFIR, Ore. – Firefighters continue to make progress toward containment of the Gales Fire, using strategic ignitions at key locations to reinforce completed hand and dozer lines.  While protecting life, communities and private property remain the primary objectives of suppression efforts, firefighters are also careful to protect natural, cultural and recreational values within the fire zone to the greatest extent possible.  There are ten resource advisors, called READs, assigned to the Gales Fire and two assigned to the much smaller Kwis Fire. READs are specialists in fields ranging from botany and archaeology to wildlife that work with firefighters to identify sensitive sites and strategies for protecting them.  For example, archaeology READs are flagging routes for heavy equipment operators to cut line without damaging indigenous sites. Others are working with firefighters to protect early trails and camps along the Saddleblanket Mountain and...

South Oregon Cascades Rough Patch & Devils Knob Complex, and Jack Fire  Issued at: 2021-08-29 07:31 PDT    Weather and Fire:   Light northeast winds in the morning will become northwest in the afternoon today with similar winds tomorrow. The increase in fire behavior observed yesterday should continue today with higher temperatures and lower humidities than were seen earlier in the week. Fire fighting personnel are scouting for containment lines, conducting burn outs, and mopping up and patrolling cooler edges of the fires. Incident specific information can be found on Inciweb. Smoke:   Grants Pass, Roseburg, and Medford air quality will improve when winds shift to the NW. Smoke will again pool overnight. Monday areas west of the crest will remain mostly clear. In general, areas SE of the fires will have unhealthy air in the afternoons. Medford will have unhealthy conditions this morning that should clear with the NW winds. Health:   Consider watching the Fire and Smoke...

Actualización del Incendio Schneider Springs Augusto 29Fecha de Inicio: 3 de agosto de 2021 Causa: Relámpagos Tamaño: 78,937 acres Contención: 8% Recursos asignados: 759 Cuadrillas (18); Camiones de Bomberos (52); Palas Mecánicas (7); Recursos Aéreos (6); Otro equipo pesado (24)Ayer: Con los recursos escasos debido a múltiples incendios en el oeste, los gerentes del incendio Schneider Springs solicitaron y pu-dieron recibir recursos adicionales de extinción de incendios para ingresar durante un corto período de tiempo para ejecutar operacio-nes críticas de disparo. Estos recursos provienen de múltiples jurisdicciones para ayudar en la estrategia para contener el perímetro sur y evitar que el fuego se mueva hacia Naches e impacte la propiedad privada y comercial al norte del corredor US 12. Ayer, las cua-drillas continuaron la operación de disparos al sur de la comunidad de Nilo en Malloy Road hasta Bethel Ridge. En la parte noreste del incendio, las palas mecánicas y las...

Schneider Springs Fire Daily Update August 29, 2021Start Date: August 3, 2021Cause: LightningSize: 78,937 acresPercent Contained: 8%Resources Assigned: 759 resources - Crews (18); Engines (52); Dozers (7); Air Resources (6); Other heavy equipment (24)Yesterday: With resources stretched thin across multiple fires in the west, fire managers on the Schneider Springs Fire requested and were able to receive additional firefighting resources to come in for a short duration to execute critical firing operations. These resources come from multiple jurisdictions to assist in the strategy to contain the southern perimeter and prevent the fire from moving towards Naches and impacting private and commercial property north of the US 12 corridor. Yesterday, crews continued the firing operation south of the Nile community on Malloy Road to Bethel Ridge. In the northeast portion of the fire, dozers and crews improved an indirect containment line along Forest Road 258 toward Highway 410 around Gold...

Community Meeting today at 7:30 p.m. at Tiller Volunteer Fire Department 27598 Tiller Trail Hwy, Tiller, OR  Email: 2021.DevilsKnob@Firenet.govFacebook: Facebook.com/2021DevilsKnobComplex Complex Total Containment: 25% Personnel assigned: 728 Information line: 541.900.6133 - 8 a.m.-8 p.m.Total Acreage: 32,391 The Devil's Knob Complex is a group of lightning-caused fires on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest and private lands protected by Douglas Forest Protective Association and the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians.   Smith Fire (17,107 acres): Along the fire’s northwest perimeter, firefighters continue to improve holding lines and hold and mop up previous strategic firing operations. Along the south side, crews are preparing for additional burn operations and working to mop up and box in some areas of fire that crossed containment lines. In Ash Valley, a system of hose lays and sprinklers is in place...

 WALKER CREEK AND CHICKADEE CREEK FIRES EVACUATION LEVELS UPDATE: Previous Level 3 Evacuation Orders have been REDUCED to a Level 2 on the Walker Creek fire. All other evacuation levels on both fires have been LIFTED.  Here is a link to the updated evacuation map: https://tinyurl.com/34fkh9kj The following is a release from Okanogan County Emergency Management:(View on Okanogan County Website here: https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612200/event/1687479765702005)Advisory: 2021-08-28 Walker Creek and Chickadee Fire UPDATE:Walker Creek and Chickadee Fires evacuations levels REDUCED.As of August 28, 2021 at 12 noon the Walker Creek evacuation areas Risingson, BoyScout, NF-3200 and Walker Lake have been reduced to Level 2. The area Ruff remains at level 2. All other areas have been removed.Also the Level 3 area for the Chickadee Fire, Cecile has been removed.Fire personnel and equipment are still operating in the area of both the Walker Creek and Chickadee Fires.Several roads in...

WALKER CREEK AND CHICKADEE CREEK FIRES EVACUATION LEVELS UPDATE: Previous Level 3 Evacuation Orders have been REDUCED to a Level 2 on the Walker Creek fire. All other evacuation levels on both fires have been LIFTED.  Here is a link to the updated evacuation map: https://tinyurl.com/34fkh9kj The following is a release from Okanogan County Emergency Management:(View on Okanogan County Website here: https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612200/event/1687479765702005)Advisory: 2021-08-28 Walker Creek and Chickadee Fire UPDATE:Walker Creek and Chickadee Fires evacuations levels REDUCED.As of August 28, 2021 at 12 noon the Walker Creek evacuation areas Risingson, BoyScout, NF-3200 and Walker Lake have been reduced to Level 2. The area Ruff remains at level 2. All other areas have been removed. Also the Level 3 area for the Chickadee Fire, Cecile has been removed. Fire personnel and equipment are still operating in the area of both the Walker Creek and Chickadee Fires. Several roads in...

As the Smith Fire – part of the Devil’s Knob Complex - works its way toward Ash Valley, crews are tasked with the ever-important job of structure defense. Firefighters from around the country have been working along Forest Service Road 28 to stop the fire’s progression. Their mission is to help suppress the fire and defend the homes within Ash Valley and other areas of the complex. Structure Protection Specialist Art Hatfield, part of the Florida Forest Service Red Incident Management Team, and firefighters from Douglas and Linn counties were brought in to help provide protection for homes and structures. Specialized equipment and resources were ordered specifically to place focus on structure defense using hose lays, sprinklers and building firelines near the homes most at risk. Crews developed and implemented a detailed plan that can be enacted at a moment’s notice in case it’s needed. With years of formal and on-the-job training, Hatfield has developed an invaluable...