7/29/2014 NWCC Morning Brief

NWCC Morning Brief: Tuesday, July 29, 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), minimal lightning with isolated precipitation. Two new large fires. Abundant lightning forecast in south-central Oregon in combination with existing dry fuels.

National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (127 new fires)
New large fires: 3
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: *28
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 7
Type 2 IMTs committed: 7
*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: 4

Northwest Fire Activity
New fires and acres (Last 24 hrs): 27 fires for 1,199 acres (287 acres growth on existing large fires*)
OR: 12 fires for 113 acres
WA: 15 fires for 1,086 acres

*[acreage reductions not included]

Northwest Large Fires
Uncontained Large Fires: 16 (OR:11,WA:5)

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

Incidents not Previously-Reported: 2

Launch OR-FWF-140326. IMT3. 28 mi NW of Klamath Falls, OR. Start 7/28. Full Suppression. Timber, grass understory. Cause unknown. 100 acres. 0% containment. Active fire behavior, group torching, running, crowning, spotting. Values at risk; Sky Lake Wilderness.

Road C Fire WA-WFS-000509. IMT4. 4 mi SW of Mansfield, WA. Start 7/28. Full Suppression. Tall grass. Cause unknown. 1,000 acres. 0% containment. Active fire behavior. Level 3 evacuations. Values at risk; structures, pasture, crops.

Incidents Previously-Reported: 15

Chiwaukum Complex WA-OWF-000356. IMT1. SA Red Team (Duiett). 9 mi NW of Leavenworth, WA. Start 7/15. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Point Zone Protection/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 12,377 acres (+125 ac). 25% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Values at risk; cabins, homes, powerlines, logging equipment, T&E species and natural resources. Level 1and 2 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.

Carlton Complex WA-NES-000534. Portland NIMO (Hahnenberg), IMT2 WA Team 2 (Rabe), CA IMT1 (Oplinger), IMT2 WA Team 3 (Allbee). 7 mi S of Twisp, WA. Start 7/14. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 250,806 acres (+154 ac). 67% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Values at risk; private and public lands, campgrounds, powerlines, habitat. Level 1 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.

Ochoco Complex OR-OCF-000390. IMT2. EB Team 6 (Dunford). 17 mi E of Post, OR. Start 7/18. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 10,004 acres (+0 ac). 94% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Values at risk: natural resource values, sage grouse habitat. Oscar Canyon and Fox fires have merged and will now be reported as Fox. Complex includes; Lava 137 acres (100% cont), Fox/ Oscar Canyon 9,848 acres (94% cont.), Broadway 5 acres (100% cont), and Antelope Springs 14 acres (100% cont).

Logging Unit Fires OR-WSA-000070. IMT1. PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 25 mi NW of Warm Springs, OR. Start 7/16. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 6,637 acres (+8 ac). 80% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Includes; Skyline 116 acres (+0 ac), Haily Butte 108 acres (+0 ac), Camas Prairie 6,088 acres (-4 ac), Logging Unit 316 acres (+0 ac). Bear Butte II: Northern portion on WSA lands reported by Logging Unit Fires, southern portion on DEF lands reported by Bridge 99 Complex.

Bear Butte II OR-DEF-000318. 23 mi SW of Warm Springs, OR. Start 7/13. Timber. Lightning. 3,803ac (-49 ac). 80% cont.

Kitten Complex OR-VAD-000098. NR IMT1 (Poncin). 40 mi W of Vale, OR. Start 7/23. Full Suppression. Brush. Cause lightning. 22,700 acres (+0 ac). 80% containment. Smoldering. Values at risk; natural resource values, structures, private ground, sage grouse habitat. Includes Kitten Canyon 4,263 ac (+0), 70% cont, Juniper 1,147 ac (+0), 80% cont, Stemler 4,832 ac (+0), 70% cont, Brogan Hill 12,458 ac (+0), 80% cont.

Lone Mountain 1 WA-NCP-000018. IMT2 MT Team (Thompson). 3 mi N of Stehekin, WA. Start 7/14. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Point Zone Protection). Timber. Cause lightning. 1,705 acres (+0 ac). 0% containment. Stephen Mather Wilderness. Minimal fire behavior. Potential threat to national forest lands.

Mills Canyon WA-SES-000267. IMT1. SA Red Team (Duiett). 2 mi SW of Entiat, WA. Start 7/8. Full Suppression. Grass, brush and timber. Cause unknown. 22,571 acres (+0 ac). 95% containment. Minimal fire behavior, smoldering. Steep, inaccessible terrain. Values at risk; diminishing risk to residences. This incident is being managed with Chiwaukum Creek.

Buzzard Complex OR-BUD-004111. IMT3. 45 mi NE of Burns, OR. Start 7/14. Full Suppression. Grass and brush. Cause lightning. 395,747 acres (+0 ac). 98% containment. Continue rehab. Steep, inaccessible terrain. Includes Buzzard 282,801 ac, (+0 ac) 98% 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 ac) 100% cont. This incident is being managed with Camp Creek. Transfer of command occurred on 7/28.

Bridge 99 Complex (2 fires) OR-DEF-000329. IMT3. 20 mi N of Sisters, OR. Start 7/13. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 5,699 acres (+0 ac). 88% containment. Smoldering. Level 1 evacuations. Forest and road closures. Bear Butte II: Northern portion on WSA lands reported by Logging Unit Fires, southern portion on DEF lands reported by Bridge 99 Complex.

Bridge 99 5,084 ac (+0 ac). No anticipated growth. Estimated containment 7/31.

Bear Butte II 615 ac (+0 ac). Long-term planning on Mt. Jefferson Wilderness portion. No anticipated containment date or final size reported.

Black Rock OR-PRD-000358. 10 mi E of Antelope, OR. Full Suppression Start 7/14. Grass. 35,938 acres (+0 ac). 97% containment. Previously reported with Pine Creek.

Bingham Complex OR-WIF-140090. IMT3. 5 mi E of Marion Forks, OR. Start 7/13. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 452 acres (+0 ac). 50% containment. Creeping and smoldering. 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).

Hurricane Creek OR-WWF-000477. ICT3. 5 mi SW of Joseph, OR. Start 7/14. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Monitor/Confine/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 502 acres (+0 ac). 20% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Road, trail and campground closures. No update received.

Shaniko Butte OR-WSA-000056. IMT3. 15 mi N of Warm Springs, OR. Start 7/12. Full Suppression. Grass and brush. Cause lightning. 42,044 acres (+0 ac). 90% containment. Creeping and smoldering. No update received, last report unless conditions change.

Center OR-PRD-000297. ICT4. 3 mi NE of Post, OR. Start 7/13. Full Suppression. Timber and grass. Cause lightning. 2,515 acres (+0 ac) 90% containment. No observed fire behavior. No update received, last report unless conditions change.

Ferguson OR-982S-140319. IMT3. 36 mi NE of Klamath Falls, OR. Start 7/25. Full Suppression. Timber, grass understory. Cause unknown. 200 acres (+0 ac). 100% containment. Last report unless conditions change.

Northwest Weather Highlights / Fire Potential:

The upper level ridge continues to build although the main axis of the ridge has setup further east over the Northern Rockies than previously forecasted. Temperatures near to above normal will continue under the ridge of high pressure. Significant lightning will accompany the building ridge as moisture moves into the Pacific Northwest from the south. Lightning will increase from south to north and east to west over Oregon and into parts of Washington mostly east of the Cascades although some lightning is expected in southwestern Oregon. The thunderstorms will be a mix of wet/dry over these areas through the weekend. Moderate to heavy IA is expected beginning tomorrow and persisting through the weekend. Central and eastern Oregon and Washington will be the areas of primary concern with PSA's 6 and 11 elevating above high risk and possibly PSA's 5 and 10. A weak thermal trough will also be present east of the Cascades under the ridge, which could enhance some burn environments for existing or expected fires. Our models are suggesting 4 to 10 large fires through the weekend with more possible through early next week.

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