InciWeb Articles WA

 KEY ELEMENTS OF A BAER ASSESSMENT                               Forest Service BAER assessment teams are established by Forest Supervisors before wildfires are fully contained. The teams coordinate and work with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), National Weather Service (NWS), local counties, State Department of Transportation, and other federal, state, and local agencies to strategically assess potential post-fire impacts to the watersheds burned from wildland fires.·       The BAER assessment teams are evaluating watershed conditions to determine the level of potential risks to human life, safety, property, critical natural and cultural-heritage resources, and determine if there are appropriate and effective emergency stabilization measures that can be implemented on federal lands in a timely manner to reduce unacceptable risks from potential flooding and debris...

 AFTER THE FIRE: Toolkits The US Department of Agriculture After Fire Toolkit and Information site is where resource managers, landowners, or communities can find guidance for assessing and preventing potential damage due to post-fire flooding and related events. Browse this site to find information on the research, methods, and tools available for measuring and reducing risks associated with post-fire flooding, debris flows and sedimentation:https://postfiresw.info/Another AFTER THE FIRE Toolkit has been designed to allow community coalitions, local wildfire coordinating groups, fire districts and other wildfire organizations to respond to post-fire community needs quickly, accurately, and

 Cub Creek 2 Fire  Morning Update  July 30, 2021  For a shareable PDF of this update, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g5r0JX18i2F14Gyt1yl1u5qv-jFPG0wX/view?usp=sharing Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm)   The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.   The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 54,852 acres with 24% containment.  Overnight, the fire continued to move in the lower drainages in Pebble Creek on the eastern flank. Crews began prepping the eastern flank from First Butte up to North Twentymile Peak by ensuring heavy equipment and crews can continue to increase containment line up to northern edge of the fire. Today’s priority is along the eastern flank, where crews have added dozers and other heavy equipment to bolster existing FS road systems and reinforce the hand lines that have been constructed over...

Colville, WA: Yesterday: Alpha Division (north of Highway 20) continued their mop up operations which includes gridding the fire to look for hot spots and working a minimum of 200 ft in from the perimeter making sure everything is out and cooled off. Infrared tools are being used to point out any additional hot spots firefighters can’t see. Firefighters on Division Zulu (south side of Highway 20) continue to have a bit more of a challenge. They continued strengthening containment lines, working to clear brush and trees, mopping up hot spots and spot fires. The work on the south side of Zulu is challenging due to thick brush. This work is a slow tedious task and will take some time to complete and is critical for containment. Containment was achieved for 40% of the 125 acre fire. Today: Firefighters will continue the mop up on Division Alpha and finish repair work on that side of the fire. Repair work is part of our turn back standards (turning the fire back to local resources)....

As the Cub Creek 2 Fire sits at 53,277 acres and 24% contained, one question that commonly comes up is what exactly does containment mean? Containment is a measure of the amount of line around a wildfire. It’s as much a measure of linear footage as it is confidence. While it might seem to take several days before there’s significant containment on any given fire, that number oftentimes grows rapidly as plans come together in several ways to build both line and confidence. First, the line must be established. Whether built by men and women on hand crews using shovels, axes, saws and Pulaskis or bulldozers, excavators and masticators, a solid line free of consumable vegetation and down to unburnable mineral soil can stop a fire’s growth if there is no significant wind and spotting. It may be any width from 2 feet to several dozer blades but it’s simply a line around the fire. Many times, the line must be constructed a distance away from the fire’s edge (indirect line) in...

 Cub Creek 2 Fire Evening Update  July 29, 2021  For a shareable PDF of this update, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/189dOhYs4JnwhTX91SlZWG7hM5VaW5ZDT/view?usp=sharing Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm)   The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.   The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 53,277 acres with 24% containment. Today, along the western and eastern region of the fire became more active in the lower drainages. Crews were engaged on the south eastern flank, especially near Pebble Creek, where the fire remains active in the drainages. Crews ensured fire remained away from structures in the Brevicomis Creek area. With priorities shifting from the western fire perimeter, crews moved a significant number of dozers and other heavy equipment to the eastern flank. Equipment will begin securing the fire control...

 The Summit Trail Fire made a considerable push to the north and east today, aided by low humidity, high temperatures and gusty winds. The bulk of the fire’s growth occurred to the north/northeast. The fire did cross Sitdown Creek, and crews along the fire edge are currently working to keep the fire on the road. In the Lynx Creek Road area, the the fire moved across the road and is now making its way up the west side of Lynx Mountain. A few unburned sections along the eastern flank also saw some activity today—contributing to much of the smoke column that was visible from Twin Lakes and Inchelium. Crews in this area continue to look for opportunities for containment lines to the east of the fire. To the south near Twin Lakes, crews continued to prepare contingency lines near structures and along Bridge Creek Road, should the need for these contingency options arise. However, both hand crews and heavy machinery further up the Beaver Dam Creek drainage worked all day to establish a...

The mechanics of wildland fire suppression can be complex and fast paced because of the many ever-changing factors and variables in the fire environment. Whether it be varying fuel types and terrain, or geography and a new day’s weather, firefighters must account for every dynamic aspect to keep themselves and the surrounding communities safe. With all the types of firefighting apparatus, tools and personnel, aviation is perhaps one of the most complex. It throws an entirely new set of logistics and safety elements into the mix of Operations.  Today, July 29th, the Cub Creek 2 Fire has nine helicopters assigned to suppression efforts on the 52,832 acre fire. These aircraft are six Type 1 helicopters (large), one Type 2 helicopter and two Type 3 helicopters. Aviation can serve a crucial role in fire suppression when used in tandem with the boots on the ground to accomplish assigned objectives. Both ground and aviation resources must function together to be effective. Aerial...

Crews are currently working to contain a small (approximately 5 acre) fire northeast of the Sherwood Fire between Little Tshimakian Creek and Sheep

 Cedar Creek and Delancy FiresMorning UpdateJuly 29, 2021Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestWinthrop, WA — The Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in steep and rocky terrain with heavy dead and down fuel loading. These fires are being managed by Great Basin Incident Management Team 1.Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Fire Weather: Temperatures are forecast to be warmer throughout the day and into the evening. Morning smoke may be slower to lift out of the valleys but is expected to rise and drift northeast after 2 pm this afternoon. Temperatures should reach the 90s and humidity is expected to be low. Winds will be mostly slope and valley driven. We can expect poor overnight humidity recovery with stronger thermal belts. Going into the weekend, we may experience more unsettled weather with possible isolated thunderstorms. Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 36,922...

Sherwood Fire Daily Update – July 29, 2021Fire Information Phone Line: 425-324-1267 (7am - 7pm)Email: 2021.Sherwood@firenet.govInciWeb (Incident Website): https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7713/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Rawhide-Press-129267947115446Acres: 1,220                                                                          Number of Personnel: 289Percent Containment: 50%                                               Cause: Under InvestigationDate/Time Detected: July 21, 2021, 2:15 p.m.              Origin/Location: Wellpinit, WashingtonWellpinit, WA –   Fire containment for the Sherwood Fire increased to 50%. As a result of reduced fire activity, evacuation levels were downgraded and take effect at 8 a.m. today.  The Level 3 evacuation area will drop to a Level 2 and the Level 2 to a Level 1.  Crews are staying focused on...

 Colville, WA: Yesterday: Crews have made great progress on the fire. Alpha Division (north of Highway 20) continued their mop up operations which includes gridding the fire to look for hot spots and working a minimum of 200 ft in from the perimeter making sure everything is out and cooled off. Infrared tools are being used to point out any additional hot spots firefighters can’t see.   Firefighters on Division Zulu (south side of Highway 20) have a bit more of a challenge. They continued strengthening containment lines, working to clear brush and trees, mopping up hot spots and spot fires. The work on the south side of Zulu is challenging due to thick brush. This work is a slow tedious task and will take some time to complete and is critical for containment. Aircraft was at a minimum and worked with crews on hot spots and areas that were difficult to get water to. Updated mapping shows that the fire is approximately 120 acres in size and now 30% contained. Today: Firefighters...

INCHELIUM, WASHINGTON– The fire again showed less activity yesterday, with an estimated growth of approximately 700 acres based on field observations (no infrared mapping was available overnight.) Most growth was observed to the north and northeast. Moderated conditions allowed experienced hand crews to continue work on control lines directly along the fire’s active edge in the Sitdown Creek drainage and in and around the Lynx Creek drainage. They also scouted opportunities for direct suppression above Bridge Creek Road.  Contingency line construction continues as well. These include a secondary control line pushed along Grizzly Creek ahead of the northern edge of the fire, and lines along Lynx Creek Road. Residents in the Lakeview neighborhood and north of Bridge Creek Road will see ongoing work to protect structures, should it become necessary.  Winds are predicted to remain light today, but conditions remain extremely hot and dry. A warming trend, with temperatures pushing...

 Cub Creek 2 Fire Morning Update July 29, 2021  For a shareable PDF of this update, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dqmXIGbMmw0X7EmfqwriZckHci7F8HpL/view?usp=sharing Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm)   The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.   The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 52,832 acres with 18% containment. Overnight, crews had success on the western flank of the fire near Deer Creek and up into Sweet Grass Butte by dropping over 6,000 gallons of water on hot spots. On the south eastern flank, crews patrolled and scouted the area to establish work assignments for today’s plan.  Today, crews will work thoroughly to tie in multiple hand lines, dozer lines, and existing road systems on the south-eastern flank of the fire boundary. With a significant warming trend beginning today, the priority for crews...

Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires Evening Update July 28, 2021 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest   Winthrop, WA — The Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in steep and rocky terrain with heavy dead and down fuel loading. These fires are being managed by Great Basin Incident Management Team 1.   Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)   A Public Meeting was held this afternoon at Twisp River Park in the community of Twisp. Representatives from California IIMT 1 and Great Basin IMT 1 provided updates on the Cub Creek 2, Cedar Creek, and Delancy Fires. Okanogan County Emergency Manager Maurice Goodall discussed evacuation status. Twist Mayor Soo Ing-Moody also spoke. The meeting was attended by approximately 130 people.  Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 35,685 acres and is 10% contained.   This afternoon fire pushed out near the head of Little Wolf Creek. The fire...

 Cub Creek 2 Fire  Evening Update  July 28, 2021   Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm)   The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 52,832 acres with 18% containment. Today, crews worked diligently to tie in multiple hand lines, dozer lines, and existing road systems on the western and eastern flank of the fire boundary.  The smoke has reduced the potential for significant fire growth, but the hot and dry temperatures remain a recipe for burning in the lower drainages. Along Deer Creek and up into Sweet Grass Butte, where crews completed a strategical burning operation, mop -up and reduction of any burning fuel has been diminished. With a significant warming trend beginning tomorrow, the top priority for crews is to reduce any heat and fuels on the south eastern flank of the fire,...

Favorable conditions allowed crews to make good progress on the Summit Trail Fire today. Along the top, dozers rounded the northwestern corner east of South Seventeen Mile Mountain, and are now working their way east along Grizzly Creek Trail to create contingency lines, while Hotshot crews are working along the edge of the active fire in the Sitdown Creek drainage. They also conducted a small burning operation to eliminate a small island of vegetation that could threaten the line on the western side of the fire. On the eastern side, crews continue to work down Lynx Creek Road to keep the fire to the west of the road. Preparation for protection of structures around Carson Beach and Twin Lakes (should it become necessary) was ongoing today as well. The fire is backing into Beaver Dam Creek, and crews have completed control line there to prevent spread to the south. While some selective burning may be used to remove vegetation and strengthen firelines, no large-scale burning operations...

Here are the links for last night's Public Meeting in Winthrop.  Part 1 is the presentation and Part 2 is questions and answers.PART 1: https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021/videos/331179335114202/ PART

Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires Morning Update July 28, 2021 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest     Public Meeting: Join us Wednesday, July 28, 6 p.m. at Twisp River Park, 325 North Lincoln Street in Twisp when representatives from California IIMT 1 and Great Basin IMT 1 will provide detailed updates on the Cub Creek 2, Cedar Creek, and Delancy Fires, as well as a discussion of future suppression efforts. Okanogan County Emergency Manager Maurice Goodall will be on hand to discuss evacuation status. Spokespersons from the US Forest Service and Chief Cody Acord, Okanogan County Fire District 6 will be available to answer your questions.   Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Winthrop, WA — Cedar Creek and Delancy fires are located on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The fires are burning in very steep and rocky terrain in heavy down fuels.   Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 35,685 acres with 13%...

 Colville, WA: The Spruce Canyon Fire started Friday, July 23. 2021 at 2:02 p.m. near Spruce Canyon Rd. and Black Lake. Yesterday and into the night, crews worked on hot spots and working in from the perimeter. Given the dense fuel type and access to the fire, crews were still able to make significant progress yesterday. Aircraft continues to be a critical asset on the fire. The bucket rotors are able to be precise in their drops while fixed wing aircraft work the outer edge of the fire. These resources on scene allow firefighters to gain the upper hand on the spot fires that are created by torching and spreading embers. The fire had no significant growth yesterday and remains at 67 acres. Containment on the fire is now at 20%.Firefighters today will continue their great work on the alpha division and getting it ready to be in patrol status. Division zulu will work spot fires and continue working the perimeter while heavy equipment prepares contingency lines around the fire. The work...