8/16/2014 NWCC Morning Brief

NWCC Morning Brief: Saturday, August 16, 2014   

National Preparedness Level: 4
For the National Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR), see: http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

Summary: In the Northwest (last 24 hrs), moderate lightning accompanied by precipitation occurred in Northeast Washington. Initial attack activity was light across the geographic area.

National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (120 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: *28
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 7
Type 2 IMTs committed: 12
*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): 26 fires for 4 acres (769 acres growth on existing large fires*)
OR: 19 fires for 2 acres
WA: 7 fires for 2 acres
*[acreage reductions not included]

Northwest Large Fires
Uncontained Large Fires: *15 (OR:7,WA:8)
*[complexes tallied as 1 fire]

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

Incidents not Previously-Reported: 0

Incidents Previously-Reported: 17

Devil's Elbow Complex WA-COA-000168. IMT2. WA Team 4 (Nickey). 15 mi NE of Nespelem, WA. Start 8/3. Full Suppression. Grass and timber. Cause lightning. 26,349 acres (+0 ac). 30% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Level 1 and 2 evacuations. Values at risk; structures, cultural resources. Central Peak, Deadhorse and Cub Creek fires have merged. Also includes; Timm Brothers (100% containment).

Upper Falls WA-OWF-000570. IMT1. IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund) 17 mi N of Winthrop, WA. Start 8/4. Confine. Timber. Cause lightning. 8,118 acres (+5 ac). 27% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Values at risk; residences, structures, private and public lands, commercial timber, recreation, and wildlife habitat. Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Carlton Complex, Little Bridge Creek and Upper Falls fires are all managed by IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund).

Hansel Creek WA-SES-000549. IMT1. NW Team 2 (Schulte). 8 mi S of Leavenworth, WA. Start 8/2. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Point Zone Protection/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 1,016 acres (+0 ac). 60% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Level 1 evacuations. Managed as part of the Chiwaukum Complex organization. Not tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Chiwaukum Complex, Hansel and Duncan fires are all managed by IMT1 NW Team 2 (Schulte).

Duncan WA-OWF-000377. IMT1. NW Team 2 (Schulte). 26 mi N of Leavenworth, WA. Start 7/16. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Monitor/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 12,659 acres (+157 ac). 30% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Level 1 evacuations. Road closures in effect. Values at risk; residences, structures, campgrounds. Not tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Chiwaukum Complex, Hansel and Duncan fires are all managed by IMT1 NW Team 2 (Schulte).

South Fork Complex OR-PRD-000649. IMT2 OR Team 2 (Fillis/Knerr). 20 mi S of John Day, OR. Start 8/1. Full Suppression. Cause lightning. 64,883 acres (+116 ac). 60% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Level 1 and recreational facilities evacuations. Values at risk; ranches, T&E species, communication site, cultural and recreation resources. Murderers Creek South and Buck Fork fires have merged. Transfer of command from IMT1 PNW Team 3 (Lewis) to IMT2 OR Team 2 (Fillis/Knerr) occurred today at 0600.

Somers OR-WWF-000793. IMT2. EB Team 4 (Kidd). 15 mi E of Imnaha, OR. Start 8/3. Full Suppression. Grass. Cause lightning. 27,000 acres (+0 ac). 45% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Values at risk; Pittsburg admin site, ranches, and historic structures. 5 Mile and Somers fires are managed by IMT2 EB Team 4 (Kidd). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count.

Staley Complex OR-WIF-140210. IMT2. RM Team A (Russell). 28 mi S of Oakridge, OR. Start 7/30. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 268 acres (+0 ac). 25% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Steep, rocky and difficult terrain. Values at risk; timber and T & E species. IMT has assumed IA responsibility of 250,000 acre area. (19 confirmed fires, all less than 100 acres). Includes; Staley 205 acres (+0 ac), Davey 28 acres (+0 ac), IA fires 35 acres.

Little Bridge Creek WA-OWF-000538. IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund). 8 mi SW of Winthrop, WA. Start 8/2. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Full Suppression). Timber, litter and understory. Cause lightning. 4,896 acres (+321 ac). 24% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Level 1 evacuations. Values at risk; communities. Reductions in acreage due to better mapping. Carlton Complex, Little Bridge Creek and Upper Falls fires are all managed by IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count.

Chiwaukum Complex WA-OWF-000356, IMT1. NW Team 2 (Schulte). 9 mi NW of Leavenworth, WA. Start 7/15. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 14,201 acres (+3 ac). 70% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Light precipitation occurred over the fire. Level 1 evacuations. Values at risk; residences, businesses, rail lines, powerlines, Forest Service structures, campgrounds. Includes; Chiwaukum Creek, Kelly Mountain, Shoofly and Alpine fires. Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Chiwaukum Complex, Hansel and Duncan fires are all managed by IMT1 NW Team 2 (Schulte).

Snag Canyon WA-SES-000559. IMT1. NR (Turman). 10 mi N of Ellensburg, WA. Start 8/2. Full Suppression. Grass, brush, timber. Cause lightning. 12,667 acres (+167 ac). 76% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Level 1 and 2 evacuations. Values at risk; structures, rangeland, recreation and high tension powerlines.

South Cle Elum Ridge WA-OWF-000621. IMT1. NR (Turman). 10 mi SW Cle Elum, WA. Start 8/7. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 894 acres (+0 ac). 70% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Steep terrain. Level 1 evacuations. Values at risk; residences, private lands, campgrounds and habitat.

Haven Lake WA-SPS-000044. IMT2. WA Team 2 (Rabe). 27 mi NW of Olympia, WA. Start 8/11. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 168 acres (-16 ac). 43% containment. Smoldering. Values at risk; private forest lands, communication sites, logging sites.

Carlton Complex WA-NES-000534. IMT1. GB Team 1 (Lund). 7 mi S of Twisp, WA. Start 7/14. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 256,108 acres (+0 ac). 96% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Precipitation occurred over the fire. Forest road closures in effect. Values at risk; private and public lands, campgrounds, powerlines, habitat. Stokes Road, French Creek, Golden Hike, Cougar Flats have merged. Also includes; Rising Eagle Road. Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Carlton Complex, Little Bridge Creek and Upper Falls fires are all managed by IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund).

Bald Sisters OR-MAF-014295. NIMO. Southern Area (Quesinberry) / IMT2. SW Team 3 (Day). 12 mi E of Prairie City, OR. Start 8/2. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 1,108 acres (+0 ac). 0% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Steep and rocky terrain.

5 Mile OR-974S-000789. IMT2. IMT2. EB Team 4 (Kidd). 21 mi E of Joseph, OR. Start 8/3. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause unknown. 4,524 acres (+0 ac). 95% containment. Patrol status. 5 Mile and Somers fires are managed by IMT2 EB Team 4 (Kidd). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Last report unless significant changes occur.

Rogue River Drive OR-711S-027015. IMT3. 15 mi N of Medford, OR. Start 8/11. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 500 acres (+0 ac). 60% containment. Minimal fire behavior, mop up.

Camp Creek Complex OR-RSF-140678. IMT3. 30 mi NE of Medford, OR. Start 8/3. Confine. Timber. Cause lightning. 776 acres (+0 ac). 50% containment. Minimal fire activity. Includes; Incident 790 525 acres (+0 ac) 0% containment, Incident 672 40 acres (+0 ac) 100% containment, Camp Creek 15 acres (+0 ac) 100% containment, Cluster 50 acres (+0 ac) 100% containment, Bailey 15 acres (+0 ac) 100% containment and several smaller incidents. Minimum weekly reporting on this incident. See NW Fires Strategies Other-than Full Suppression 2014 (Year-to-Date) link for future updates.

NW 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)

Northwest Weather Highlights / Fire Potential:
Expect a clearing and drying trend over the weekend as higher pressure temporarily rebuilds from the west. The sunnier and drier weather will lead to warmer temperatures and lower humidity with a slight rise in fire danger indices over much of the area. Initial attack activity will continue on holdover fires where lightning has been active over the last few days. General winds are expected to be fairly light.

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