8/23/2014 NWCC Morning Brief

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 accompanied by light to moderate precipitation occurred in Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon. Initial attack activity was light.

National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (89 new fires)
New large fires: 3
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: *21
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 6
Type 2 IMTs committed: 5
*Uncontained large fires include only fires being managed under a full suppression strategy.

Northwest Preparedness Levels: Today: 3
3-Day: 3, 10-Day: 3, 30-Day: 2

Northwest Fire Activity
New fires and acres (Last 24 hrs): 22 fires for 1,465 acres (690 acres growth on existing large fires*)
OR: 7 fires for 850 acres
WA: 15 fires for 615 acres
*[acreage reductions not included]

Northwest Large Fires
Uncontained Large Fires: *13 (OR:5,WA:8)
*[complexes tallied as 1 fire]

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

Incidents not Previously-Reported: 2

790 Fire OR-RSF-140790. ICT3. (Edwards). 30 m NE of Medford, OR. Start 7/31. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Monitor/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 850 acres. 0% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Single and group tree torching. No rain, warmer and drier conditions expected in next 5 days. Previously included in Camp Creek Complex.

Auvil Canyon WA-SES-000731. ICT3. (Gilmer). 6 mi NW of Waterville, WA. Start 8/21. Full Suppression. Brush. Cause lightning. 604 acres. 60% containment. Creeping and smoldering. No further growth expected. Flash flood warning in the area.

Incidents Previously-Reported: 14

Deception / Staley Complex OR-WIF-140274. IMT2. OR Team 4 (Watts). 2 mi W of Oakridge, OR. Start 8/12. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Monitor/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 300 acres (+0 ac). 52% containment. Fire activity increased on three fires. Three new IA fires added to Complex.  Creeping and smoldering. Steep, rocky and rugged terrain. Values at risk; timber and T & E species, recreation. IMT has assumed IA responsibility of 750,000 acre area. (31 confirmed fires, less than 100 acres combined). Includes; Staley 214 acres (+0 ac.), Davey 30 acres (+0 ac.).

Little Bridge Creek WA-OWF-000538. IMT1. GB Team 1 (Lund). 8 mi SW of Winthrop, WA. Start 8/3. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Full Suppression). Timber, litter and understory. Cause lightning. 4,958 acres (+0 ac). 86% containment. Minimal fire behavior, mop up. Precipitation in much of the fire area 8/22; delayed access with debris flows and other hazards. Warmer , drier conditions expected 8/23. Much of area closures lifted. Carlton Complex, Little Bridge Creek and Upper Falls fires are all managed by IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count.

Upper Falls WA-OWF-000570. IMT1. GB Team 1 (Lund). 17 mi N of Winthrop, WA. Start 8/4. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 8,120 acres (+0 ac). 66% containment. Precipitation in much of the fire area 8/22. Flash flooding affected fire operations. Smoldering in heavy dead and down fuels. Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Carlton Complex, Little Bridge Creek and Upper Falls fires are all managed by IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund).

Carlton Complex WA-NES-000534. IMT1. GB Team 1 (Lund). 7 mi S of Twisp, WA. Start 7/14. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 256,108 acres (+0 ac). 98% containment. Flash flood warning in effect through 8/23 evening; heavy showers, thunderstorms with hail possible.Hwys 153 and 20 under closures and diversions due to washouts and mudslides. Smoldering. Suppression repair ongoing. 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). Tentative transition to the local unit 8/24.

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. 66,126 acres (+690 ac). 93% containment. Minimal fire growth expected. Increased could cover and humidity. Mop up and rehab. Creeping and smoldering. Values at risk; residences, ranches, T&E species, communication site, cultural and recreation resources. Campgrounds and trail closures. South Fork Complex and Bald Sisters fires are managed by OR Team 2 (Fillis/Knerr). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Tentative transfer to local unit 8/24 at 0600.

Bald Sisters OR-MAF-014295. IMT2. OR Team 2 (Fillis/Knerr). 12 mi E of Prairie City, OR. Start 8/2. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 1,138 acres (+0 ac). 0% containment. Increased could cover and humidity. Minimal fire behavior/spread and cooling trend expected. Smoldering. Extremely steep and rocky terrain. South Fork Complex and Bald Sisters fires are managed by OR Team 2 (Fillis/Knerr). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Tentative transfer to local unit 8/24 at 0600.

Snag Canyon WA-SES-000559. IMT1. NR (Turman). 10 mi N of Ellensburg, WA. Start 8/2. Full Suppression. Grass, brush, timber. Cause lightning. 12,599 acres (-68ac). 92% containment. Isolated thunderstorms observed in the area, more precipitation and thunderstorms expected. Smoldering. Patrol, mop up and rehab. National Forest and recreational area closures remain in effect. Values at risk; slight threat to structures, rangeland, recreation and high tension powerlines. Snag Canyon and South Cle Elum Ridge fires are managed by IMT1 NR (Turman). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Transition to local unit scheduled for 8/23 at 0600.

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). 97% containment. Thunderstorms observed in the area, more precipitation and thunderstorms expected. Smoldering. Patrol, mop up and rehab. Steep terrain. Values at risk; slight threat to residences, private lands, campgrounds and habitat. Snag canyon and South Cle Elum Ridge fires are managed by IMT1 NR (Turman). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Transition to local unit scheduled for 8/23 at 0600.

Somers OR-WWF-000793. IMT3. (Wagner). 15 mi E of Imnaha, OR. Start 8/4. Full Suppression. Grass. Cause lightning. 35,933 acres (+0 ac). 70% containment. Cooler, cloudy, breezy conditions expected. Isolated torching. Creeping and smoldering. Road closures remain in effect. Values at risk; ranches and historic structures.

Sand Ridge WA-WFS-000513. IMT3. (Rabe). 8 mi E of Bickleton, WA. Start 8/20. Full Suppression. Cause lightning. 1900 acres (-600 ac). 86% containment. Substantial fire behavior reduction. Mop up. Cooler, cloudy, breezy conditions, potential thunderstorms expected. Values at risk; residences, agricultural lands.

Devil's Elbow Complex WA-COA-000168. IMT3. 15 mi NE of Nespelem, WA. Start 8/3. Full Suppression. Grass and timber. Cause lightning. 26,428 acres (+0 ac). 95% containment. Some interior burning. Precipitation received. No update received.

Hansel Creek WA-SES-000549. IMT3. 8 mi S of Leavenworth, WA. Start 8/2. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Point Zone Protection/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 1,073 acres (+0 ac). 100% containment. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Extremely steep terrain. 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 the IMT3. Minimum weekly reporting on this incident. See NW Fires Strategies Other-than Full Suppression 2014 (Year-to-Date) link for future updates. No update received.

Duncan WA-OWF-000377. IMT3. 26 mi N of Leavenworth, WA. Start 7/16. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Monitor/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 12,695 acres (+0 ac). 100% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Level 1 evacuations. Road and campgrounds 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 the IMT3. Minimum weekly reporting on this incident. See NW Fires Strategies Other-than Full Suppression 2014 (Year-to-Date) link for future updates. No update received.

Chiwaukum Complex WA-OWF-000356. IMT3. 9 mi NW of Leavenworth, WA. Start 7/15. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Confine/Full Suppression). Timber. Cause lightning. 14,201 acres (+0 ac). 100% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Level 1 evacuations. Values at risk; residences, businesses, rail lines, powerlines. 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 the IMT3. Minimum weekly reporting on this incident. See NW Fires Strategies Other-than Full Suppression 2014 (Year-to-Date) link for future updates. No update received.

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:
 

An upper trough will leave the region today which will diminish the potential for lightning east of the Cascades. Generally sunny and dry conditions are expected across the region with light to moderate general winds. On Sunday another upper trough will settle in for isolated wet thunderstorms mainly over eastern Washington. Temperatures will gradually rise back above normal next week as warmer weather takes hold. The potential for some easterly winds across the Cascades will increase. 

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