7/21/2014 NWCC Morning Brief

NWCC Morning Brief: Monday, July 21, 2014        

National Preparedness Level: 3
For the National Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR), see: http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

Summary: In the Northwest (last 24 hrs), scattered lightning occurred in SE Oregon. Red Flag warning issued today in South Central Oregon for thunderstorm activity with abundant lightning.

National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (127 new fires)
New large fires: 6
Large fires contained: 3
Uncontained large fires: *33
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 6
Type 2 IMTs committed: 13
*Uncontained large fires include only fires being managed under a full suppression strategy

Northwest Preparedness Levels: Today: 5
3-Day: 5, 10-Day: 4, 30-Day: 3

Northwest Fire Activity
New fires and acres (Last 24 hrs): 10 fires for 7 acres (63,201 acres growth on existing large fires)
OR: 7 fires for 6 acres                                                 (Acreage reductions not included.)
WA: 3 fires for 1 acre

Northwest Large Fires
Uncontained Large Fires: 23 (OR:16,WA:7)

IMTs Committed in NW
NIMO Teams committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 4
Type 2 IMTs committed: 14

Incidents not Previously-Reported: 0

Incidents Previously-Reported: 25

Carlton Complex WA-NES-000534. PDX NIMO (Hahnenberg), IMT2 WA Team 2 (Rabe), CA IMT1 (Oplinger), IMT2 WA Team 3 (Allbee). 7 mi S of Twisp, WA. Start 7/14. Timber. Cause Lightning. 237,890 acres (-62,007 ac). 2% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Extensive damage to major powerlines. ICP has lost power. Values at risk; communities of Brewster, Malott, Winthrop, Twisp, Chelan, and Okanogan. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations. Stokes Road, French Creek , and Golden Hike fires have merged. Includes Cougar Flats fire. The fire is broken into 3 zones being managed by 4 IMT's.

Chiwaukum Complex WA-OWF-000356. IMT1. PNW Team 3 (Lewis). 9 mi NW of Leavenworth, WA. Start 7/15. Timber. Cause lightning. 11,444 acres (+393 ac). 10% containment. Active fire behavior. Values at risk; cabins, homes, powerlines, logging equipment, T&E species and natural resources. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations. Hwy 2 is closed. Washington state fire mob authorized. Includes Chiwaukum Creek, Kelly Mountain and Duncan Ridge fires. This incident is being managed with Mills Canyon.

Sunflower OR-UMF-014166. IMT2. GB Team 5 (Wilde). 10 mi N of Monument, OR. Start 7/14. Timber. Cause lightning. 5,900 acres (+1,470 ac). 35% containment. Active fire behavior. Values at risk; private land, grazing land, T&E species, and structures.

Pine Creek OR-PRD-000364. MT IMT2 (Fry). 11 mi S of Fossil, OR. Start 7/14. Timber. Cause lightning. 30,245 acres (+755 ac). 35% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Values at risk; structures and natural resources. Jack Knife, Black Rock and Donnybrook fires are being managed as part of the Pine Creek organization.

Waterman Complex OR-952S-014165. IMT2. OR Team 3 (Johnson, D). 10 mi NE of Mitchell, OR. Start 7/14. Timber, grass understory. Cause lightning. 11,334 acres (+679 ac). 60% containment. Active fire behavior. Steep, inaccessible terrain. Values at risk; residences, structures, recreation infrastructure and natural resources. Hwy 26 and campground closures. Level 2 evacuations. Complex includes Bailey Butte, Toney Butte (100% cont.),  Junctions Springs (100% cont.), Inc 299 and Inc 308.

Logging Unit Fires OR-WSA-000070. IMT1 PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 25 mi NW of Warm Springs, OR. Start 7/16. Timber. Cause lightning. 9,500 acres (+2,172 ac). 5% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Values at risk; residences, natural resources, T&E species, cultural and historic values, and logging equipment. Includes Skyline (121 ac), Haily Butte (108 ac), Camus Prairie (5,195 ac), Logging Unit (357 ac), and a portion of Bear Butte II (3,719 ac).

Shaniko Butte OR-WSA-000056. IMT2. OR Team 1 (Williams). 15 mi N of Warm Springs, OR. Start 7/12. Grass and brush. Cause lightning. 42,500 acres (+500 ac). 50% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Steep terrain. Portions of the Deschutes River and railroad closures. Values at risk; residences and structures. Major burnout operations planned.

Bridge 99 Complex OR-DEF-000329. IMT2. OR Team 2 (Fillis). 20 mi N of Sisters, OR. Start 7/13. Timber. Cause lightning. 5,310 acres (+490 ac). 25% containment. Active fire behavior. Level 2 and 3 evacuations. Values at risk; residences and structures. Includes Bridge 99  and Bear Butte II fires. Joint command of Bear Butte II with Logging Unit Fires organization.

Ochoco Complex OR-OCF-000390. IMT2. EB Team 6 (Dunford). 17 mi E of Post, OR. Start 7/13. Timber. Active fire behavior. Cause lightning. 2,596 acres (+1,691 ac.). Complex includes Oscar Canyon, Lava, Fox, Broadway,  and Antelope Springs.

Buzzard Complex OR-BUD-004111. IMT2. MT IMT1 (Poncin) / OR Team 4 (Watts). 45 mi NE of Burns, OR. Start 7/14. Grass and brush. Cause lightning. 395,747 acres (+26,786 ac). 75% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Steep, inaccessible terrain. Values at risk; ranches,  livestock, and sage grouse habitat. Includes Buzzard  282,801 ac, (+26,786 ac) 50% cont, Bartlet 728 ac (+0 ac) 100% cont, Lamb Ranch, Beaver Creek 22,863 ac (+0 ac) 100% cont, Twin Reservior 10,355 ac (+0 ac) 100% cont, and Saddle Draw 79,000 ac (+0) 100% cont.

Mills Canyon WA-SES-000267. IMT1. PNW Team 3 (Lewis). 2 mi SW of Entiat, WA. Start 7/8. Grass, brush and timber. Cause unknown. 22,571 acres (+0 ac). 75% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Steep, inaccessible terrain. Values at risk; residences. Level  2 evacuations in effect.

Pittsburg OR-WWF-000482. IMT2. WA Team 1 (Johnson). 18 mi NE of Imnaha, OR. Start 7/13. Grass and brush. Cause lightning. 8,000 acres (+0). 65% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Steep, inaccessible terrain. Values at risk; structures, rangeland and recreation infrastructure. Partial forest closure in effect.

Bingham Complex OR-WIF-140090. IMT2. WA Team 4 (Nickey). 5 mi E of Marion Forks, OR. Start 7/13. Timber. Cause lightning. 452 acres (+0 ac). 30% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Values at risk; structures, commercial property, T&E species and natural resources. Includes Bingham Ridge 275 ac. (+0 ac), Lizard  175 ac. (+0 ac), Inc 152 (2 ac), Inc 162 (0.10 ac).

Watermelon Hill WA-WFS-000508. IMT2. WA Team 5 (Leitch). 7 mi SW of Cheny, WA. Start 7/19. Grass. Cause unknown. 11,000 acres (+3,000 ac). 40% containment. Active fire behavior. Values at risk; Turnbull wildlife refuge, recreation areas and campgrounds.

Lone Mountain 1 WA-NCP-000018. ICT4 (Potvin). 3 mi N of Stehekin, WA. Start 7/14. Timber. Cause lightning. 1,200 acres (+100 ac.). 0% containment. Active fire behavior. Values at risk; structures, natural resources and recreation. MT IMT2 Wildland Fire Management Team (Hutton) is mobilizing to the incident. No update received.

Donnybrook OR-PRD-000319. MT IMT2 (Fry). 10 mi SE of Antelope. Start 7/13. Cause Lightning. 22,756 acres (+19,756 ac). Moderate fire behavior. Values at risk; a youth camp. On private land protected by the Ash Butte Rural Fire Protection Association. ODF is managing the fire as it moves towards ODF protected lands. Limited information available. Managed as part of the Pine Creek organization.

Saddle Mountain WA-MISC-000358. ICT3 (Strange). 14 mi E of Ellensburg, WA. Start 7/18. Cause human. 25,000 acres (-13,000 ac). 90% containment. Five primary residences destroyed. Values at risk; commercial properties and electrical infrastructure.Yakima Training Center ground. State mob authorized. Unified command between the BLM and Department of Defense. Reduction in acreage due to better mapping.

Hurricane Creek OR-WWF-000477. ICT3 (Galyard). 5 mi SW of Joseph, OR. Start 7/14. Timber. Cause lightning. 400 acres (+280 ac) . 0% containment. Active fire behavior. Values at risk; Hurricane Creek trail, campgrounds, and roadways.

Jack Knife OR-PRD-000290. MT IMT2 (Fry). 8 mi SE of Grass Valley, OR. Start 7/13. Grass. Cause unknown. 13,263 acres (+10 ac). 100% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Three structures destroyed. Being managed as a part of the Pine Creek organization. Final separate report unless conditions change.

Black Rock OR-PRD-000358. MT IMT2 (Fry). 10 mi E of Antelope, OR. Start 7/14. Grass. Cause unknown. 34,177 acres (+5,119 ac). Moderate fire behavior. Values at risk; natural gas pipeline. Primarily burning on unprotected private lands.

0386 PR Fox OR-OCF-000386. ICT3 (Danison/Lentz). 21 mi S of Mitchell, OR. Start 7/17. Timber and grass. Cause lightning. 2,200 acres 12% containment. Active fire behavior. Values at risk; private land and a wilderness study area. This incident is included in the Ochoco Complex.

R Road WA-SPD-000383. ICT3 (Strange). 10 mi E of Mansfield, WA. Start 7/16. Grass. Cause Unknown. 4,300 acres (+0 ac). 95% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Mop-up ongoing. No update received.

Sand Hills WA-COA-000115. ICT3 (Rogers). 11 mi SW of Okanogan, WA. Start 7/18. Timber. Cause lightning. 375 acres 90% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Mop-up ongoing. This incident was a spot fire from the Carlton Complex that crossed the Okanogan River. Final report.

Center OR-PRD-000297. ICT3 (Priest). 3 mi NE of Post, OR. Start 7/13. Timber and grass. Cause lightning. 2,800 acres (+0 ac) 29% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Values at risk; nature conservancy land. This incident will not be incorporated into the Ochoco Complex. Formerly listed at the 097 PR fire. The fire is lined.

Gumboot OR-BUD-004115. ICT3 (Thissell/McConnall). 35 mi W of Burns, OR. Start 7/14. Timber. Cause lightning. 4,420 acres (+0 ac). 90% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Mop-up and patrol ongoing. No update received.

Northwest RX Burning:

Completed (Last 24 hrs): 0 fires for 0 acres
Planned (Next 24 hrs): 0 fires for 0 acres

Northwest Weather Highlights / Fire Potential:

Burning conditions will continue to moderate over the next 4 or 5 days as cooler and moister weather moves in over the region. However, lightning will be on the increase as well so that IA activity will elevate. Tuesday looks to be a potentially active IA day due to lightning. There is a pretty good chance that lightning will be generally wet in Washington and drier as you move southward. Warming and drying is expected again by next weekend.

NW 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Forecast
Nat'l 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Forecast