9/18/2014 NWCC Morning Brief

NWCC Morning Brief: Thursday, September 18, 2014

National Preparedness Level: 2For the National Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR), see: http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

Summary: In the Northwest (last 24 hrs), 5 lightning strikes occurred in Southeastern Oregon. Widespread rain occurred along the west side of the geographic area.  One new team deployment; IMT2. OR Team 3 (D. Johnson, Keith) is mobilizing to the South Steens Complex.

National Fire Activity Initial attack activity: Light (57 new fires)

New large fires: *1

Large fires contained: 1

Uncontained large fires: *14

Area Command Teams committed: 0

NIMOs committed: 0

Type 1 IMTs committed: 3

Type 2 IMTs committed: 5
*Uncontained large fires include only fires being managed under a full suppression strategy.

Northwest Preparedness Levels: Today: 33-Day: 3, 10-Day: 2, 30-Day: 1

Northwest Fire Activity
New fires and acres (Last 24 hrs): 7 fires for 25 acres (8,318 acres growth on existing large fires*)
OR: 4 fires for 25 acres
WA: 3 fires for 0 acres
*[acreage reductions not included]

Northwest Large Fires
Uncontained Large Fires: *6 (OR:5, WA:1)
*[complexes tallied as 1 fire]
IMTs Committed in NWNIMO Teams committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 0
Type 2 IMTs committed: 4
Incidents not Previously-Reported: 0

Incidents Previously-Reported: 7

36 Pit OR-MHF-000728. IMT2. WA Team 2 (Rabe/Holloway) / OSFM Blue Team (Magers). 10 mi SE of Estacada, OR. Start 9/13. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause human. 4,000 acres (+412 ac.). 30% containment. Minimal fire behavior. Area and road closures. Steep slopes. Values at risk; commercial and residential properties. Level 1 and 2 evacuations. Road and area closures in effect. Oregon State Conflagration Declared. Unified command with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office.

Onion Mountain OR-RSF-001146. IMT2. OR Team 1 (Williams). 15 mi W of Grants Pass, OR. Start 9/13. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause unknown. 3,800 acres (+120 ac.). 8% containment. Precipitation received, moderating fire behavior. Values at risk; residences, T&E species, lookout and communication sites. Area closure in effect. In Unified Command with the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Deception Complex OR-WIF-140274. IMT2. OR Team 4 (Watts). 2 mi W of Oakridge, OR. Start 8/13. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 5,960 acres (+86 ac.). 80% containment. Interior creeping and smoldering. Fire growth in interior islands. Steep, rocky terrain.

South Steens Complex OR-BUD-004283. Includes Bone Creek Basin and Blitzen Crossing fires. IMT2. OR Team 3 (D. Johnson/Keith) is mobilizing to the complex. In-brief scheduled for 9/18 at 1000 hours.

Bone Creek Basin OR-BUD-004276. ICT3. 45 mi SW of Burns Junction, OR. Start 9/16. Full Suppression. Grass and Sage. Cause Lightning. 9,000 acres (+6,500 ac.). 0% containment. Active fire behavior. Structures threatened.

Blitzen Crossing OR-BUD-004282. ICT3. 50 mi W of Burns Junction, OR. Start 9/16. Full Suppression. Grass and Sage. Cause Lightning. 3,200 acres (+1,200 ac.). 0% containment. Structures threatened. Campers evacuated. Active fire behavior. Complex tallied as 1 fire in uncontained large fires count.

790 Fire OR-RSF-140790. IMT3 (Pingle). 30 mi NE of Medford, OR. Start 7/31. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause lightning. 3,023 acres (+0 ac.). 90% containment. Holding and mop up continues. Internal creeping and smoldering. Values at risk; T&E species habitat, timberlands, recreation and wilderness values. Area closures in effect.

Fork Peak WA-PCS-000105. IMT3 (Schmidt). 26 mi SW of Centralia, WA. Start 9/11. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause unknown. 117 acres (+0 ac.). 70% containment. 221 personnel on scene. Smoldering and creeping. Mop-up ongoing.

Glass Butte OR-BUD-004277. ICT3. 30 mi W Hines, OR. Start 9/16. Full Suppression. Cause Human. 600 acres (+0 ac.). 100% Dozer lined. The incident has been turned over to the Squaw Butte Experiment Station. Not tallied in uncontained large fires count. 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).

Other Fires of Interest: 2

Founders Day OR-CLP-140625. ICT4. (Winkler). 7 mi NE of Crater Lake, OR. Start 8/25. Monitor. Timber. Cause Lightning. 195 acres. (+7 ac.). 0% containment. Active perimeter spread with torching and short range spotting. Fire is being managed for resource benefit. See “NW Fires Utilizing Monitor, Confine, Point Zone Protection Strategies (YTD)” link for future updates.

Freezeout Ridge OR-WWF-001151. IMT3 (Johnson). 29 mi E of Joseph, OR. Start 9/5. Timber. Cause unknown. Multiple Suppression Strategies (Monitor 75% / Confine 25%).  2,780 acres (+1,582 ac.). 0% containment. Active fire behavior with group torching and short range spotting.

Northwest RX Burning

Completed (Last 24 hrs): 1 fire for 4,388 acres
OR: 1 fire for 4,388 acres (OR-BUD)  
WA: 0 fires for 0 acres 
Planned (Next 24 hrs): 2 fires for 53 acres 
OR: 1 fire for 20 acres (OR-UMF)
WA: 1 fire for 33 acres (WA-YAA)

Northwest Weather Highlights / Fire Potential:

An upper trough will move through the region over the next 24 hours. It is expected to give some showers as well as a few wet variety thunderstorms to various parts of the region. A wetting rain is also possible in areas west of the cascades with best chances being in SW Oregon and NW Washington. A short-lived drier offshore flow will redevelop by the weekend.

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