8/1/2014 7:00 am NWCC Morning Brief

NWCC Morning Brief: Friday, August 01, 2014      

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

Summary: Widespread lightning through most of Oregon including the Williamette Valley. Precipitation continues to be spotty and generally light.  Moderate IA continuing in Southwest/South Central Oregon. Continued lightning forecasted today over much of Oregon and Washington.

National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Moderate (236 new fires)
New large fires: 11
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires: *31
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 6
Type 2 IMTs committed: 10
*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): 46 fires for 158 acres (20,037 acres growth on existing large fires*)
OR: 40 fires for 56 acres
WA: 6 fires for 102 acres
*[acreage reductions not included]

Northwest Large Fires
Uncontained Large Fires: 18 (OR:13,WA:5)

IMTs Committed in NW
NIMO Teams committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 4
Type 2 IMTs committed: 6

Incidents not Previously-Reported: 1

Camp Creek Complex OR-RSF-000678. 30 mi NE of Medford, OR. IMT1. PNW Team 3 (Lewis). 30 mi NE of Medford, OR. . Start July 28/29/30. Full Suppression. Cause lightning. Approximately 20 incidents up to 30 acres in size. Moderate fire behavior. Initial information. Currently does not meet large fire criteria. Not counted in uncontained large fires summary.

Incidents Previously-Reported: 19

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. 14,435 acres (+1,040 ac). 27% containment. Moderate fire behavior, active to scattered torching with some creeping and smoldering. Values at risk; cabins, homes, powerlines, logging equipment, T&E species and natural resources. Level 1 and 2 evacuations. Hwy 2 is closed. National Guard troops (100) demob'd on 7/30. Includes; Chiwaukum Creek, Kelly Mountain and Duncan Ridge fires. This incident is being managed with Mills Canyon.

Beaver Complex OR-711S-016115. IMT2. ODF Team 2 (Cline). 20 mi NW of Medford, OR. Start 7/30. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 5,000+ acres (+4,900). 0% containment. Moderate fire behavior, torching, spotting. Values at risk; natural resources. Includes Oregon Gulch fire. Previously reported as Salt Creek OR-711S-018115.

Carlton Complex WA-NES-000534. Multiple IMTs (2 zones). 7 mi S of Twisp, WA. Start 7/14. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 252,761 acres (+1,063ac). 71% containment. East Zone: (IMT1) NR Team (Blume), South Zone: (IMT1) CA Team 4 (Oplinger). Moderate fire behavior. Values at risk; private and public lands, campgrounds, powerlines, habitat. Level 1 evacuations. Includes; Stokes Road, French Creek, Golden Hike and Cougar Flats. Planned transition to IMT1 (Blume) on 8/2.

Haystack Complex (3 fires) OR-952S-0214621. IMT2. ODF Team 1 (Buckman). 9 mi NW of Kimberly, OR. Start 7/29. Grass. Cause lightning. 1,740 acres (+4 ac). 50% cont. Creeping and smoldering.. 
Haystack OR-952S-0214621. 4 mi NE of Spray, OR. Start 7/29. Grass. Cause lightning. 1,200 acres. (+0 ac). 45% cont.

Steet Mountain OR-952S-014266. 2 mi NE of Dayville, OR. Start 29. Grass. 50 acres. (+0 ac). 60% cont.
Throop OR-952S-014258. 27 mi W of John Day, OR. Start 29. Grass. 490 acres (+4 ac). 100% cont.  

Launch OR-FWF-140326. IMT2. OR Team 2 (Fillis). 29 mi NW of Klamath Falls, OR. Start 7/28. Full Suppression. Timber, grass understory. Cause unknown. 42 acres (-33 ac). 60% containment. Creeping and smoldering with occasional torching. Values at risk; Sky Lake Wilderness. Currently does not meet large fire criteria. Not counted in uncontained large fires summary.

Logging Unit Fires OR-WSA-000070. IMT2. OR Team 1 (Williams). 25 mi NW of Warm Springs, OR. Start 7/16. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 6,644 acres (+0 ac). 70% containment. Creeping and smoldering, torching in interior unburned islands. Includes; Skyline 116 acres (+0 ac), Haily Butte 107 acres (+0 ac), Camas Prairie 6,104 acres (+0 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 (+0 ac). 60% cont. Creeping and smoldering.

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. 1,745 acres (+20 ac). 30% containment. Stephen Mather Wilderness. Moderate fire behavior, torching, short crown runs, short range spotting. Potential threat to national forest lands.

Kitten Complex OR-VAD-000098. ICT3. 40 mi W of Vale, OR. Start 7/23. Full Suppression. Brush. Cause lightning. 22,700 acres (+0 ac). 95% containment. Patrol staus. Values at risk; reduced threat to communities and natural resource values. Includes Kitten Canyon 4,263 ac (+0), 90% cont, Juniper 1,147 ac (+0), 90% cont, Stemler 4,832 ac (+0), 90% cont, Brogan Hill 12,458 ac (+0), 90% cont.

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. This incident is being managed with Chiwaukum Creek.

Sniption OR-PRD-000539. IMT2. OR Team 3 (Johnson D.). 15 mi N of Fossil, OR. Start 7/29. Grass. Cause unknown. 25,000 acres. (+13,000 ac). 20% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Transition to OR Team 3 (Johnson D.) 8/1 near end of shift.

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. and the following, all 100% contained; Bartlet 728 ac (+0 ac), Lamb Ranch, Beaver Creek 22,863 ac (+0 ac), Twin Reservior 10,355 ac (+0 ac), Saddle Draw 79,000 ac (+0 ac). Last report unless significant activity occurs.

Ochoco Complex OR-OCF-000390. IMT3. 17 mi E of Post, OR. Start 7/18. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 10,004 acres (+0 ac). 94% containment. Minimal fire behavior, mop-up, rehab. Values at risk: natural resources, sage grouse habitat. Includes; Fox/Oscar Canyon 9,848 acres (94% cont.), Lava 137 acres (100% cont), Broadway 5 acres (100% cont), and Antelope Springs 14 acres (100% cont). Last report unless significant activity occurs.

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). 95% containment. Smoldering. Road closures remain. Bear Butte II: Northern portion on WSA lands reported by Logging Unit Fires, southern portion on DEF lands reported by Bridge 99 Complex. Last report unless significant activity occurs.
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.

Bingham Complex OR-WIF-140090. ICT4. 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. Includes; Bingham Ridge 275 ac. (+0 ac), Lizard 175 ac. (+0 ac), Inc 152 (2 ac), Inc 162 (0.10 ac).

Reeves Creek OR-712-014915. IMT3. 19 mi SW of Grants Pass, OR. Start 7/28. Full Suppression. Timber, grass understory. Cause unknown. 204 acres. (+0 ac). 76% containment. Smoldering.

Black Rock OR-PRD-000358. IMT3. 10 mi E of Antelope, OR. Full Suppression. Start 7/14. Grass. 35,731 acres (+0 ac). 95% containment. Smoldering.

China Cap OR-WWF-000672. ICT4. 25 mi E of La Grande, OR. Start 7/29. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 195 acres. (+0 ac). 0% containment. Moderate fire behavior, group torching, backing. Values at risk; Wilderness values, anadromous fisheries.

Toroda Mountain WA-NES-000789. IMT3. 27 mi NE of Omak, WA. Start 7/29. Full Suppression. Timber, grass. Cause unknown. 150 acres (+0 ac). 0% containment. Lined, mop up ongoing. Difficult terrain.

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. 929 acres (+0 ac). 40% containment. Active fire behavior, short hill runs, group torching. Minimum weekly reporting on this incident. Last 209 7/30.

Northwest Weather Highlights / Fire Potential:

A ridge of high pressure continues over the Pacific NW with near to above normal temperatures and dry conditions persisting across much of the area. Moisture and instability associated with the upper level pattern will produce significant lightning mostly east of the Cascades over Oregon and Washington into the weekend. Thunderstorms will also develop west of the Cascades across SW Oregon and NW Washington into the weekend. Moderate to heavy IA with large fires is expected across the Pacific NW, especially east of the crest through the weekend. Normal to elevated burning conditions exist across much of the Pacific NW. High risk blankets much of central and eastern Oregon/Washington through the weekend with anticipated significant lightning in areas with receptive fuels. The thermal trough will also increase fire activity east of the Cascades.

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