5/15/2017 May Wildland Fire Minute

May is Wildfire Mitigation Month. Fire is here to stay in the Pacific Northwest, so we all need to do our part to learn to safely coexist with it. One way we can do that is through creating fire-adapted communities. 

Here are some actions you can take to make your home more firewise:

• CLEAR leaves and other vegetative debris from roofs, gutters, porches and decks. REMOVE dead vegetation and anything combustible from under your deck or porch, SCREEN in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.

• REMOVE flammable materials (wood piles, propane tanks) from within 30 feet of your home and outbuildings.

• PRUNE trees so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground.

• KEEP your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, cut it down.

• INSPECT shingles or roof tiles. Replace or repair the shingles that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration.

• COVER exterior attic vents with metal wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to prevent sparks from entering the home. ENCLOSE eaves and screen soffit vents using 1/8 inch mesh metal screening to prevent ember entry.

• Work with your neighbors to ensure your entire community is fire adapted. Learn more at fireadapted.org or firewise.org.

To learn more about the latest wildland fire conditions in the Pacific Northwest head on over to: http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/

Video by Michael Campbell, BLM -- Graphics by Matt Christenson, BLM – Featuring Traci Weaver, BLM/U.S. Forest Service.

5/15/2017 NWCC Morning Brief

Morning Brief

Date/Time Stamp: Monday, May 15, 2017, 08:57

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Northwest Activity Summary

Cool and showery over the weekend with drier conditions on the east side. Over 5,000 new prescribed fire acres were reported with units in Eastern Oregon reporting additional prescribed fires planned. 4 fires reported over the weekend with a 200 acre fire reported north of Kennewick, WA.

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Preparedness Levels

Current: Northwest 1 (1/17) National 1 (1/17)

Northwest PL Forecast 1 1 1 3-day 10-day 30-day

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Northwest Fire Activity

Weekend Summary (May 12 – May 14) 
Large Fire Summary
New large fires: 0 
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 0 (OR: 0, WA: 0)

New Fires and Acres 4 fires for 200 acres 0 acres growth on existing large fires
OR: 3 fires for 0 acres 
WA: 1 fires for 200 acres

Northwest IMT Activity
NIMOs committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 0
Type 2 IMTs committed: 0

IMSR currently published Friday only.

The following information is from Friday, May 12.

https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

National Fire Activity (May 5 – May 11) 
Initial attack activity: 677 new fires
New large incidents: 6
Large fires contained: 3
Uncontained large fires: 7

National IMT Activity
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1

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Northwest Current Incident Details

Incidents not Previously Reported: 0

Incidents Previously Reported: 0

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Northwest Prescribed Fire Information:

• Oregon Department of Forestry Burning & Smoke Management: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Burn.aspx. Snapshot Viewer​ (for MS Access) is required.
• Washington DNR Daily Smoke Management Approvals for Large Burn Silvicultural Prescribed Fires: https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/BurnRequests

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Northwest Fires Utilizing Monitor, Confine, Point Zone Protection Suppression Strategies (YTD) (link)

Lists fires (of any size) that singly utilize Monitor, Confine or Point Zone Protection suppression strategies, or use Multiple Suppression Strategies (which may also include a Full Suppression component).

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Northwest Fire Potential Summary

Cool and showery weather are on tap through mid-next week followed by a slow warm up. Rain is likely to be widespread on Monday and Tuesday with windy conditions. High pressure starts to build on Wednesday with a slow warming trend through the end of next week. Prescribed burning opportunities look to be improve from mid-week on. Initial attack activity is likely to pick up towards the end of the week especially in lower elevations where grasses have cured and in timber fuels that lack grasses. Significant fire potential remains low.

More info, see NW 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Forecast, and National 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Forecast

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National Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR): https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

Other GACC Morning Reports:

Eastern Area

Southern Area

Rocky Mountain

Southwest

Northern Rockies

Great Basin

Southern California

Northern California

Alaska

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04/28/2017 NWCC Morning Brief

Morning Brief

Date/Time Stamp: Friday, Apr 28, 2017, 07:33

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Northwest Activity Summary

Continued commitment of resources to the Southern area with increased mobilization of resources to the Southwest. Last week, showery weather with near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. Two new fires reported over the last week and no prescribed fires reported or planned.

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Preparedness Levels

Current: Northwest 1 (1/17) National 1 (1/17)

Northwest PL Forecast 1 1 1 3-day 10-day 30-day

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Northwest Fire Activity

Weekly Summary (Apr. 21– Apr. 27) 
Large Fire Summary
New large fires: 0 
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 0 (OR: 0, WA: 0)

New Fires and Acres 2 fires for 0 acres 0 acres growth on existing large fires
OR: 0 fires for 0 acres 
WA: 2 fires for 0 acres

Northwest IMT Activity
NIMOs committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 0
Type 2 IMTs committed: 0

IMSR currently published Friday only. The following information is from April 28^st.

National Fire Activity (Apr. 21 – Apr. 27) 
Initial attack activity: 508 new fires
New large incidents: 10
Large fires contained: 4
Uncontained large fires: 10

National IMT Activity
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 2

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Northwest Current Incident Details

Incidents not Previously Reported: 0

Incidents Previously Reported: 0

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Northwest Prescribed Fire Information:

• Oregon Department of Forestry Burning & Smoke Management: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Burn.aspx. Snapshot Viewer​ (for MS Access) is required.
• Washington DNR Daily Smoke Management Approvals for Large Burn Silvicultural Prescribed Fires: https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/BurnRequests

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Northwest Fires Utilizing Monitor, Confine, Point Zone Protection Suppression Strategies (YTD) (link)

Lists fires (of any size) that singly utilize Monitor, Confine or Point Zone Protection suppression strategies, or use Multiple Suppression Strategies (which may also include a Full Suppression component).

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Northwest Fire Potential Summary

Showers move out of the region today as high pressure build in with warming and drying through Saturday. Another disturbance moves in late Saturday and lingers into early next week bringing chances for showers across the region. High pressure builds again early next week and lasts through Thursday. Weak systems try to move across the high pressure system that may bring cloudy conditions and mountain showers, but conditions should warm to above normal with opportunities for some prescribed burning. A fair amount of uncertainty towards the end of the week, but it is looking like cooler wet weather will return. Significant fire potential remains low.

More info, see NW 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Forecast, and National 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Forecast

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National Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR): https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

Other GACC Morning Reports:

Eastern Area

Southern Area

Rocky Mountain

Southwest

Northern Rockies

Great Basin

Southern California

Northern California

Alaska

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04/27/2017 Wildland Fire Minute

May is Wildfire Mitigation Month, and we will be back to weekly Wildland Fire Minutes. Our focus today is on prescribed fire, which plays an essential role in creating healthier, more resilient forests.

For the next two weeks, students from across the United States will be honing their skills and gaining valuable experience in Central Oregon and Ashland during two Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges. These exchanges bring together non-profits conservation groups such as The Nature Conservancy with tribal, federal, state, local and even international partners. 

Students of varying experience levels learn in the classroom, and then head out in the field to conduct prescribed fires. They learn not only the tactical side, but also the ecological importance of prescribed fire. 

In Washington State, folks are gearing up to conduct prescribed fires as part of the second year of the Forest Resiliency Burning pilot project. You may see smoke in the air, but recognize it may be from a good fire, one that is helping reduce the hazardous fuel loading and creating a healthier forest.

To learn more about the latest wildland fire conditions in the Pacific Northwest head on over to: http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/

Video by Michael Campbell, BLM -- Graphics by Matt Christenson, BLM – Featuring Traci Weaver, BLM/U.S. Forest Service.