9/21/2014 NWCC Morning Brief

NWCC Morning Brief: Sunday, September 21, 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), no lightning occurred. Initial Attack activity was light.

National Fire Activity Initial attack activity: Light (29 new fires)

New large fires: *1

Large fires contained: 3

Uncontained large fires: *14

Area Command Teams committed: 0

NIMOs committed: 0

Type 1 IMTs committed: 4

Type 2 IMTs committed: 6
*Uncontained large fires include only fires being managed under a full suppression strategy.

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

Northwest Fire Activity
New fires and acres (Last 24 hrs): 6 fires for 8 acres (229 acres growth on existing large fires*)
OR: 4 fires for 0 acres
WA: 2 fires for 8 acres
*[acreage reductions not included]

Northwest Large Fires
Uncontained Large Fires: *8 (OR:7, WA:1)
*[complexes tallied as 1 fire]
IMTs Committed in NWNIMO Teams committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 5
Incidents not Previously-Reported: 0

Incidents Previously-Reported: 8

36 Pit OR-MHF-000728. IMT2. WA Team 2 (Rabe/Holloway). 10 mi SE of Estacada, OR. Start 9/13. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause human. 4,320 acres (+126 ac.). 45% containment. Active fire behavior. Steep slopes. Values at risk; commercial and residential properties. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations. Road and area closures in effect.

Scoggins Creek OR-531S-000001. IMT1. ODF Team 2 (Cline) / OSFM Green Team (Ingrao). 6 mi W of Forest Grove, OR. Start 9/19.Full Suppression. Timber. Cause unknown. 307 acres (+7 ac.). 20% containment. Minimal growth. Level 1 and 3 evacuations. High use recreation area. Values at risk; residences and commercial timberland.  In unified command with 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 human. 4,105 acres (+3 ac.). 40% containment. Some ground fire and isolated torching. Values at risk; residences, T&E species, lookout and communication sites. Area closure in effect.

Deception Complex OR-WIF-140274. IMT2. OR Team 4 (Watts). 2 mi W of Oakridge, OR. Start 8/13. Full Suppression.Timber. Cause lightning. 6,010 acres (+50 ac.). 90% containment. Interior growth due to creeping and smoldering. Steep, rocky terrain. Transfer to the local unit is scheduled for 9/22 at 0600 hours.

South Steens Complex OR-BUD-004283. IMT2. OR Team 3 (D. Johnson/Keith). 20,338 acres (+0 ac.).

Bone Creek Basin OR-BUD-004276. 45 mi SW of Burns Junction, OR. Start 9/16. Full Suppression. Grass and Sage. Cause Lightning. 14,700 acres (+0 ac.). 85% containment. Interior smoldering. Values at risk; structures and sage grouse habitat.

Blitzen Crossing OR-BUD-004282. 50 mi W of Burns Junction, OR. Start 9/16. Full Suppression. Grass and Sage. Cause Lightning. 5,638 acres (+0 ac.). 85% containment. Isolated interior smoldering. Values at risk; structures, commercial property and sage grouse habitat. Complex tallied as 1 fire in uncontained large fires count. The complex will be turned back to the local unit on 9/22 at 0630 hours.

Freezeout Ridge OR-WWF-001151. IMT2. EB Team 4 (Kidd). 29 mi E of Joseph, OR. Start 9/5. Timber. Cause unknown.Multiple Suppression Strategies (Monitor 75% / Confine 25%).  3,525 acres (+43 ac.). 0% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Fire managed in cooperation with the Nez Perce and Payette National Forests. Trail closures in effect.

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.

Fork Peak WA-PCS-000105. IMT3 (Schmidt). 26 mi SW of Centralia, WA. Start 9/11. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause unknown. 126 acres (+0 ac.). 90% containment. 134 personnel on scene. Internal smoldering and creeping. Mop-up ongoing.

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: 1

Founders Day OR-CLP-140625. ICT4. (Winkler). 7 mi NE of Crater Lake, OR. Start 8/25. Monitor. Timber. Cause Lightning. 245 acres. (+0 ac.). 0% containment. Creeping and smoldering. Fire is being managed for resource benefit. See “NW Fires Utilizing Monitor, Confine, Point Zone Protection Strategies (YTD)” link for future updates.

Northwest RX Burning

Completed (Last 24 hrs): 0 fires for 0 acres
OR: 0 fires for 0 acres 
WA: 0 fires for 0 acres 
Planned (Next 24 hrs): 0 fires for 0 acres 
OR: 0 fires for 0 acres 
WA: 0 fires for 0 acres

Northwest Weather Highlights / Fire Potential:

An upper ridge over the region will begin to shift eastward today. This will result in an end to the east wind pattern although the airmass will remain warm and dry through the day. The thermal trough over the west side will begin to shift eastward as the overall weather pattern begins to shift toward a cooler and more normal pattern for mid September by Monday and Tuesday.  Fire danger indices are expected to generally trend downward despite the brief drying trend over the weekend. Rain and more cooling look possible by midweek.

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