8/20/2014 NWCC Morning Brief

NWCC Morning Brief: Wednesday, August 20, 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), lightning occurred in Northeast Washington and across Southern and Eastern Oregon. Northeast Washington also received moderate precipitation. Initial attack activity was minimal.

National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (83 new fires)
New large fires: 2
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: *25
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 7
Type 2 IMTs committed: 11
*Uncontained large fires include only fires being managed under a full suppression strategy.

Northwest Preparedness Levels: Today: 4
3-Day: 3, 10-Day: 3, 30-Day: 2

Northwest Fire Activity
New fires and acres (Last 24 hrs): 13 fires for 6 acres (103 acres growth on existing large fires*)
OR: 10 fires for 3 acres
WA: 3 fires for 3 acres
*[acreage reductions not included]

Northwest Large Fires
Uncontained Large Fires: *12 (OR:4,WA:8)
*[complexes tallied as 1 fire]

IMTs Committed in NW
NIMO Teams committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 3
Type 2 IMTs committed: 6

Incidents not Previously-Reported: 0

Incidents Previously-Reported: 14

Staley Complex OR-WIF-140210. IMT2. RM Team A (Russell). 28 mi S of Oakridge, OR. Start 7/30. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 275 acres (+0 ac). 67% containment. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Steep, rocky and rugged terrain. Values at risk; timber and T & E species. IMT has assumed IA responsibility of 250,000 acre area. (21 confirmed fires, less than 100 acres combined). Includes; Staley 214 acres (+0 ac), Davey 30 acres (+0 ac), IA fires 31 acres. IMT OR Team 4 (Watts) will assume command of Staley and Deception complexes on 8/21.

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. 1,073 acres (+9 ac). 60% 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 IMT1 NW Team 2 (Schulte). Tentative transfer to IMT3 on 8/22 at 0600.

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. 12,695 acres (+0 ac). 30% 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 IMT1 NW Team 2 (Schulte). Tentative transfer to IMT3 on 8/22 at 0600.

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. 65,232 acres (+94 ac). 83% containment. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Level 1 evacuations. Values at risk; residences, ranches, T&E species, communication site, cultural and recreation resources. Campgrounds and trail closures.

Somers OR-WWF-000793. IMT2. EB Team 4 (Kidd). 15 mi E of Imnaha, OR. Start 8/4. Full Suppression. Grass. Cause lightning. 35,917 acres (+0 ac). 58% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Values at risk; ranches and historic structures. Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count.

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). 79% containment. Minimal fire behavior, mop up. Road and area closures in effect. Carlton Complex, Little Bridge Creek and Upper Falls fires are all managed by IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund). Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count.

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 (+0 ac). 87% containment. Smoldering. National Forest and recreational area closures. Values at risk; structures, rangeland, recreation and high tension powerlines.

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. 26,428 acres (+0 ac). 80% containment. Some interior burning. Precipitation received. Tentative transfer to IMT3 scheduled for 8/21 at 0730.

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). 59% containment. Smoldering and creeping. Tallied in Uncontained Large Fires count. Carlton Complex, Little Bridge Creek and Upper Falls fires are all managed by IMT1 GB Team 1 (Lund).

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). 87% containment. Smoldering. Steep terrain. Values at risk; slight threat to residences, private lands, campgrounds and habitat.

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 (+0 ac). 70% 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 IMT1 NW Team 2 (Schulte). Tentative transfer to IMT3 on 8/22 at 0600.

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. 1,121 acres (+0 ac). 0% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Extremely steep and rocky terrain. Tentative transfer of command to OR Team 2 (Fillis/Knerr) on 8/21.

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. Minimal fire behavior. 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).

Haven Lake WA-SPS-000044. IMT3. 27 mi NW of Olympia, WA. Start 8/11. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 168 acres (+0 ac). 96% containment. Extremely steep slopes. Final report unless conditions change.

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:
 

Generally the Pacific NW will be under a northwesterly flow aloft through the remainder of this week and probably next week as well. This will keep temperatures down over most of the region with lesser effect farther south. There appears to be about three separate weak weather disturbances that will move through the region under this pattern, the first being Thursday and Friday with another around Monday and the third later next week. Each will increase chances for showers/thundershowers but also increase winds.

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