Morning Brief

Date/Time Stamp: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 – 0700

Activity Summary
In the Northwest:
No lightning occurred across the geographic area. Light initial attack. No new large fires. Continued growth on existing large fires. Kaniksu Complex formed (Tower and Baldy fires). Type 2 IMT OR Team 2 (Fillis) assigned to Marble Valley.

Preparedness Levels

Current:

Northwest	5 (no change)
National	5 (no change)

Northwest PL Forecast:

5	4	3
3-day	10-day	30-day

Northwest Fire Activity

Large Fire Summary

New large fires: 0

Large fires contained: 0

Uncontained large fires: 25 (OR: 11, WA: 14)

New Fires and Acres: 17 fires for 171 acres
(62,205 acres growth on existing large fires)
OR: 8 fires for 108 acres
WA: 9 fires for 63 acres

Northwest IMT Activity

Area Command Teams committed: 1
NIMOs committed: 0 (1 NIMO team en route)
Type 1 IMTs committed: 7

(2 IMT1’s transitioning on Chelan Complex, etc.)
Type 2 IMTs committed: 12

OSFM: 2

Wildland Fire Management Team: 0

National Fire Activity

Initial attack activity: Light (92 new fires)
New large incidents: 4
Large fires contained: 6
Uncontained large fires: 96

National IMT Activity

Area Command Teams committed: 2
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 16
Type 2 IMTs committed: 27

Current Incident Details

*Area Command is managing the following fires in northeast Washington: Kettle Complex (Stickpin, Graves Mountain, Renner, Roy), Kaniksu Complex (Tower, Baldy), Carpenter Road, North Star, Marble Valley, and Gold Hill.

Incidents not Previously-Reported: 0

Incidents Previously-Reported: 25

Canyon Creek Complex (2 fires) OR-MAF-015192. IMT1. GB Team 1 (Lund)/OSFM Red Team (Walker). 7 miles N of Seneca, OR. Start 8/12. Full Suppression (all fires in complex). Timber and grass. Cause: Lightning. 47,738 acres. (+3,606). 0% containment. Moderate fire behavior with crowning, running and torching. Residences destroyed. Residences threatened. Road, trail and area closures in effect, including Highway 395. Evacuations in effect. FMAG approved (8/15).

Includes 2 merged fires: 271 Berry Creek (OR-MAF-015271) 100 acres, merged with Mason Spring (OR-MAF-0152270) 40,032 acres.

Chelan Complex (3 fires) WA-SES-000701. IMT1. PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 1 mile S of Chelan, WA. Start 8/14. Full Suppression. Grass, brush and timber. Cause: Unknown. 69,445 acres. (+6,020). 50% containment. Moderate fire behavior with backing and torching. Road closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. Residences and structures destroyed. Residences, structures, commercial property and Chelan airport threatened. Fire mobilization authorized (8/14). FMAG approved (8/15). PNW Team 2 (Schulte) managing Chelan Complex, First Creek, McFarland, Black Canyon, Wolverine, Blankenship. IMT1 SW Team 1 (Templin) in brief 8/19, transfer of command 8/21.

Comprised of 3 merged fires; Reach WA-SPD-000651, Cagle WA-SES-000655, Antoine Creek WA-OWF-000654. Incident name currently reported asReach in ICS-209. Subsequent ICS-209 to be reported under Chelan Complex.

First Creek WA-OWF-000650. IMT1. PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 8 miles NW of Chelan, WA. Start 8/14. Full Suppression. Brush and timber. Cause: Lightning. 1,731 acres. (+75). 2% Containment. Active fire behavior with short crown runs, torching and spotting. Residences destroyed. Residences and structures threatened. Road closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. PNW Team 2 (Schulte) managing Chelan Complex, First Creek, McFarland, Black Canyon, Wolverine, Blankenship.

McFarland Creek WA-OWF-000669. IMT1. PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 18 miles N of Chelan, WA. Timber. Cause: Unknown. 4,708 acres. (+3,340). 0% containment. Active fire behavior, backing with short crown runs, and group torching. Structures threatened. Road closures in effect. Fire mobilization authorized (8/17). PNW Team 2 (Schulte) managing Chelan Complex, First Creek, McFarland, Black Canyon, Wolverine, Blankenship.

Black Canyon WA-OWF-000663. IMT1. PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 8 miles W of Pateros, WA. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 6,761 acres. (+2,094). 0% containment. Active fire behavior with backing, short crown runs. Road closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. Structures threatened. Fire mobilization authorized (8/17). PNW Team 2 (Schulte) managing Chelan Complex, First Creek, McFarland, Black Canyon, Wolverine, Blankenship.

Wolverine WA-OWF-000287. IMT1. PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 3 miles NW of Lucerne, WA. Start 6/29. Point Zone Protection/Full Suppression. Timber and brush. Cause: Lightning. 40,470 acres (+113). 30% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Residences and structures destroyed. Communities, residences and structures threatened. Evacuations in effect. Road, area and trail closures in effect. Evacuations resulted in suspension of the $300M Holden Mine reclamation project. PNW Team 2 (Schulte) managing Chelan Complex, First Creek, McFarland, Black Canyon, Wolverine, Blankenship.

Okanogan Complex (5 fires) WA-NES-001203. IMT2. WA Team 2 (Rabe). 13 miles NNW of Omak, WA. Start 8/14. Full Suppression (all fires in complex). Timber. Cause: Lightning. 30,927 acres. (+18,490). 20% containment. Active fire behavior. Residences and structures destroyed and threatened. Evacuations in effect. Road and area closures in effect. Fire mobilization authorized (8/17). FMAG approved (8/15). Knobby merged with Lime Belt in initial phases of the incident. Blue Lake and Lime Belt fires have merged. Continued direct and indirect line construction on Beaver Lake, Tunk Block, Lime Belt. Mop up and patrol on 9-mile. Continued structure protection. Assistance from Canadian resources.

Includes; Lime Belt (WA-OWF-000657) merged with Blue Lake (WA-NES-001209) 14,000 acres (+10,557). 25% containment; Tunk Block (WA-NES-001219) 11,500 acres (+8,756). 20% containment; Beaver Lake (WA-OWF-000671). 723 acres (+0). 0% containment; 9 Mile (WA-NES-001147). 4,704 acres (+0). 90% containment.

*Carpenter Road WA-NES-001235. IMT2. RM Team Blue (Esperance). 35 miles NW of Spokane, WA. Start 8/14. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 6,786 acres. (+1,616). 0% containment. Extreme fire behavior. Residences, commercial property and structures destroyed and threatened. Road closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. Fire mobilization authorized (8/14).

*Kettle Complex (4 fires) (WA Inc# TBD). IMT2. WA Team 1 (Ciraulo). 26 miles NW of Colville, WA. Start 8/11. Full Suppression (all fires in complex). Timber and brush. Cause: Multiple.

*Stickpin WA-COF-001111. 26 miles NW of Colville, WA. Start 8/11. Timber and brush. Cause: Lightning. 37,317 acres. (-533). 5% containment. Active fire behavior with group torching, short crown runs and spotting. Residences, structures, major powerlines, infrastructure and commercial property threatened. Road, trail and area closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. Fire mobilization authorized (8/14).

*Graves Mountain WA-COF-001196. Start 8/14. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 1,300 acres (+0). 0% containment. Primary powerlines threatened. Residences and other structures threatened. Evacuations in effect.

*Roy WA-NES-001222. Start 8/14. Timber. Cause: Unknown. Limited structure threat. Evacuations in effect. Primary powerlines threatened. Low growth potential. Limited staffing. 120 acres (+0). 14% containment.

Renner WA-COF-001202. Start 8/17. Timber. Residences and other structures threatened. Limited staffing. Cause: Unknown. 130 acres (+55). 0% containment.

*North Star WA-COA-000157. IMT2. SW Team 5 (Nieto). 25 miles E of Omak, WA. Start 8/13. Full Suppression. Timber and brush. Cause: Human. 35,000 acres.(+10,000). 0% containment. Active fire behavior with group torching, backing and flanking. Residences and structures threatened. Road and area closures in effect. Evacuations in effect.

Eagle OR-WWF-000872. IMT2. RM Team Black (Greer). 25 miles S of Union, OR. Start 8/11. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 2,518 acres. (+301). 0% containment. Active fire behavior with single and group tree torching, and short-range spotting. Residences and structures threatened. Road, trail and area closures in effect. IR flight conducted.

*Kaniksu Complex (2 fires) WA-COF-001302. IMT2 (2 Teams). 35 miles E of Colville, WA. Full Suppression (all fires in complex). Timber. Monitoring additional smaller fires in area (Grease Creek, Hall Mountain, South Fork Slate Creek Trail and Slate Creek).

Tower WA-COF-001120. IMT2. AK Black Team (Kurth). 35 miles E of Colville, WA. Start 8/12. Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 7,802 acres. (+59). 5% containment. Active fire behavior with spotting, single tree torching and running. Residences and structures threatened. Road, trail and area closures in effect.

Baldy WA-COF-001003. IMT2. WA Team 4 (Gales). 26 miles NE of Colville, WA. Start 8/1. Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 515 acres (+0). 80% containment. Minimal perimeter growth expected. Continued interior consumption likely. Mop up and improve. Residences, commercial property, structures and powerlines threatened. Road, trail and area closures in effect.

Cornet-Windy Ridge OR-VAD-000163. IMT1. NM Team 2 (Ruggiero). 17 miles SE of Baker City, OR. Start 8/11. Full Suppression. Timber and grass. Cause: Unknown. 103,540 acres (+4,270). 45% containment. Moderate fire behavior with uphill runs, flanking and creeping. Residences and structures destroyed. Residences and structures threatened. Road closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. Conflagration Act invoked (8/14). OSFM Green Team (Kunze) demobilized (8/17). Incident comprised of 2 merged fires.

Eldorado OR-972S-000942. IMT1. ODF Team 3 (Smith). 40 miles E of John Day, OR. Start 8/14. Full Suppression. Timber, brush and grass. Cause: Unknown. 20,601 acres. (+101). 35% containment. Moderate fire behavior with short-range spotting. Residences and structures destroyed and threatened.

National Creek Complex (2 fires) OR-RSF-000836. IMT1. PNW Team 3 (Lewis). 10 miles SW of Diamond Lake, OR. Start 8/1. Full Suppression (all fires in complex). Timber. Cause: Lightning. 6,228 acres (+587). 10% containment. Active fire behavior, flanking with group torching and short-range spotting. Structures, residences, campgrounds, T&E species, hiking and OHV trails threatened. Smoke impacts to Crater Lake National Park. Road, area and multiple trail closures in effect. Highway 230 closed.

Includes: National (OR-RSF-000787). 120 acres (+0). 60% containment; Crescent (OR-CLP-000405). 6,108 acres (+587). 0% containment.

Stouts Creek OR-732S-000090. IMT1. ODF Team 2 (Cline). 16 miles E of Canyonville, OR. Start 7/30. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause: Human. 25,076 acres (+320). 74% containment. Moderate fire behavior with backing and group and single tree torching. Residences and commercial property threatened. Evacuations in effect. Road and area closures in effect. Conflagration Act invoked (7/31). FMAG approved (7/31).

Countyline 2 OR-WSA-000060. IMT1. OR Team 1 (Sheldon)/OSFM Blue Team (Magers) assigned to Countyline 2. 15 miles NW of Madras, OR. Start 8/12. Full Suppression. Timber and brush. Cause: Unknown. 62,000 acres. (+2,100). 43% containment. Active fire behavior with spotting and group torching. The fire has transitioned from the grass/brush component to timber Structures and residence destroyed. Residences, structures and commercial property threatened. Evacuations in effect. Trail and area closures in effect. State highway 26 and highway 3 remain open.

Cougar Creek WA-YAA-000157. IMT2. WA Team 5 (Leitch). 6 miles NW of Glenwood, WA. Start 8/10. Full Suppression. Timber and grass. Cause: Lightning. 23,100 acres. (+500). 20% containment. Active fire behavior with torching, short-range spotting and flanking. Residences, structures, natural resources and campgrounds threatened. Road, trail and area closures in effect. Evacuations (Level 1) in effect.

Bendire Complex (2 fires) OR-VAD-000162. IMT2. OR Team 4 (Goff). 40 miles W of Vale, OR. Start 8/11. Full Suppression (all fires in complex). Brush, timber and grass. Cause: Lightning. 44,397 acres (+0). 75% containment. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Single residence and Sage-Grouse habitat threatened.

Includes 2 merged fires: Pole Gulch. 43,697 acres (+0). 75% containment; Bully Creek. 700 acres. (+0) 100% containment.

Collier Butte OR-RSF-000808. IMT2. OR Team 3 (Johnson). 17 miles E of Gold Beach, OR. Start 8/2. Full Suppression. Timber and brush. Cause: Lightning. 8,000 acres (+900). 25% containment. Moderate fire behavior with flanking, backing and short crown runs. Commercial property, and Snow Camp Lookout threatened. Limited access and steep slopes. Road, area and trail closures in effect.

*Marble Valley WA-NES-001224. IMT2. OR Team 2 (Fillis). 50 miles NW of Spokane, WA. Start 8/14. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause: Unknown. 3,100 acres. (+15). 10% containment. Moderate fire behavior with backing, creeping, and spotting. Residences and structures destroyed and threatened. Road closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. Fire mobilization authorized (8/14).

*Gold Hill WA-NES-001234. ICT3. 10 miles W of Colville, WA. Start 8/14. Full Suppression. Brush and grass. Cause: Lightning. 600 acres (+0) 10% containment. Moderate fire behavior with group torching and uphill runs. Residences threatened. Limited resources assigned.

Grizzly Bear Complex OR-UMF-000947. IMT3. NW NIMO (Hahnenberg). 20 miles SE of Dayton, WA. Start 8/13. Confine/Point Zone Protection. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 10,000 acres. (+7,643). 0% Containment. Active fire behavior with group torching and short crown runs. Residences and structures threatened. Road, trail and area closures in effect. This complex contains 17 fires (varying sizes, some have merged). No recent IR.

Thursday Creek WA-NCP-000040. ICT4. 13 miles NE of Newhalem, WA. Start 8/10. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 421 acres. (+0). 0% containment. Active fire behavior. No new information. Last ICS-209 received 8/14.

Phillips Creek OR-UMF-000749. ICT4. 7 miles NW of Elgin, OR. Start 8/1. Full Suppression. Timber and grass. Cause: Unknown. 2,601 acres (+0). 94% containment. Mop up with occasional interior smoldering. Transitioned to local unit 8/16. No new information. Last ICS-209 received 8/16.

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 Fire Potential Summary:

The thermal trough is expected to move east of the Cascades later this afternoon with westerly onshore winds kicking in this evening. This will result in another warm, dry and unstable day in the Cascades followed by increasing westerly wind which will probably peak Thursday east of the Cascades. Existing large fires across eastern Washington and in the Oregon Cascades will likely experience elevated burning conditions from a combination of instability today and wind on Thursday.

More info, see NW 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Forecast, and National 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Forecast