orning Brief

Date/Time Stamp: Thursday, August 20, 2015 (0715 hrs)

Activity Summary
In the Northwest:
No lightning occurred across the geographic area. Emerging initial attack fires with high potential in Washington. 3 new large fires. Continued growth on existing large fires.

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: 3

Large fires contained: 0

Uncontained large fires: 28 (OR: 11, WA: 17)

New Fires and Acres: 30 fires for 18,803 acres
(50,553 acres growth on existing large fires)
OR: 16 fires for 3 acres
WA: 14 fires for 18,800 acres

Northwest IMT Activity

Area Command Teams committed: 1
NIMOs committed: 1
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 (114 new fires)
New large incidents: 8
Large fires contained: 4
Uncontained large fires: 93

National IMT Activity

Area Command Teams committed: 2
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 17
Type 2 IMTs committed: 28

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: 3

Twisp River WA-NES-001351. 5 miles W of Twisp, WA. Start 8/19. Full Suppression. Timber and brush. Cause: Unknown. Initial information. 16,000 acres. 0% containment. Active fire behavior. Communities of Twisp and Winthrop threatened. Fire mobilization authorized (8/19).

Onata Creek WA-NES-001310. 33 mi NNE of Colville, WA. Start 8/18. Full Suppression. Initial information. Timber. 100+ac. 0 % containment. Active fire behavior.

Goodell WA-NCP-000039. 2,000+ac. IMT2 ordered. Initial information. Cause: Lightning. Threatening community of Newhalem, Highway 20, and power infrastructure.

Incidents Previously-Reported: 25

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. 13,627 acres. (+13,627). 49% 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. Type 1 RM Team (Pachota) ordered to Okanogan Complex.

Includes; Lime Belt (WA-OWF-000657) merged with Blue Lake (WA-NES-001209) 35,975 acres (+21,975). 25% containment; Tunk Block (WA-NES-001219) 13,337 acres (+1,837). 20% containment; Beaver Lake (WA-OWF-000671). 1,000 acres (+277). 0% containment; 9 Mile (WA-NES-001147). 4,720 acres (+16). 90% 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. 55,000 acres.(+20,000). 0% containment. Active fire behavior with uphill runs, spotting and group torching. Values at risk; structures, infrastructure, grazing lands, commercial timber, watershed. Residences and structures threatened. Road and area closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. Fire mobilization authorized (8/19).

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. 48,201 acres. (+3,463). 10% 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) 48,101 acres.

*Carpenter Road WA-NES-001235. IMT2. RM Team Blue (Esperance). 35 miles NW of Spokane, WA. Start 8/14. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 9,658 acres. (+2,872). 0% containment. Active fire behavior with uphill runs, group torching, long-range spotting. Residences, commercial property and structures destroyed and threatened. Road closures in effect. Evacuations in effect. Fire mobilization authorized (8/14).

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. 68,465 acres. (-980). 49% containment. Active fire behavior with uphill runs, torching and spotting. 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.

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. 1,902 acres. (+171). 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.

Black Canyon WA-OWF-000663. IMT1. PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 8 miles W of Pateros, WA. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 11,469 acres. (-75). 0% containment. Black Canyon and McFarland Creek WA-OWF-000669 fires have merged. Future reporting under Black Canyon. 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. 40,904 acres (+434). 30% containment. Active 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.

*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. 41,586 acres. (+4,269). 10% containment. Active fire behavior with 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. 1,603 acres (+303). 10% containment. Active fire behavior with crown runs and spotting. Primary powerlines threatened. Residences and other structures threatened. Evacuations in effect.

Renner WA-COF-001202. Start 8/17. Timber. Active fire behavior with crown runs and spotting. Residences and other structures threatened. Limited staffing. Cause: Unknown. 850 acres (+720). 0% containment. Fire mobilization authorized (8/19).

*Roy WA-NES-001222. Start 8/14. Timber. Cause: Unknown. Limited structure threat. Evacuations in effect. Primary powerlines threatened. Low growth potential. Secure lines and patrol. Limited staffing. 120 acres (+0). 25% containment.

Eagle OR-WWF-000872. IMT2. RM Team Black (Greer). 25 miles S of Union, OR. Start 8/11. Full Suppression. Timber. Cause: Lightning. 3,055 acres. (+537). 0% containment. Active fire behavior with group tree torching, and short-range spotting. Residences and structures threatened. Road, trail and area closures in effect.

*Kaniksu Complex (2 fires) WA-COF-001302. IMT2 (2 Teams). 35 miles E of Colville, WA. Full Suppression (all fires in complex). Timber. 8,317 acres. 2% containment. 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. 7,743 acres. (+-59). Containment not listed on ICS-209. 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).Containment not listed on ICS-209. 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.

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. 7,021 acres (+793). 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). 6,901 acres (+793). 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. 25,324 acres (+248). 76% 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).

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 (+0). 70% 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. 20,611 acres. (+10). 40% containment. Moderate fire behavior with short-range spotting. Residences and structures destroyed and threatened.

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. 63,600 acres. (+1,600). 50% 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.

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. 23,900 acres. (+800). 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.

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. 8,300 acres (+300). 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.

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). 85% containment. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Single residence and Sage-Grouse habitat threatened.

Includes 2 merged fires: Pole Gulch. 43,697 acres (+0). 85% containment; Bully Creek. 700 acres. (+0) 100% containment.*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. (+0). 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. IMT2. OR Team 2 (Fillis). 10 miles W of Colville, WA. Start 8/14. Full Suppression. Brush and grass. Cause: Lightning. 550 acres (-50) 55% 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. 12,000 acres. (+2,000). 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). IMT2 ordered.

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 be farther east today near the Idaho border. This will result in a windy day across much of eastern Washington and northern portions of eastern Oregon. These winds are likely to affect ongoing large fires in eastern Washington especially those farther west. It will continue to be windy on Friday. Despite higher humidity on Friday, fires could still experience growth, especially farther east where it may be a bit drier. Areas west of the Cascades should experience moderating fire conditions with more marine air.

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