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This page is designed to provide for timely and official fire information about wildland fires across the Pacific Northwest. The information is posted by the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in partnership with Public Information Officers that work for federal, state and local fire agencies and is drawn from official sources within the wildland fire community.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
8/31/2017 Millie Fire PM Update
8/31/2017 Wildland Fire Minute
8/31/17 Umpqua North Complex Evacuation Level Update
Officials Raise Evacuation Notice to Level 2 for Slide Creek Area
Umpqua North Complex fire managers and the Douglas County Sherriff’s Office raised the evacuation notice for the Slide Creek area on Highway 138 East from Mile Marker 53 to Mile Marker 56 from Level 1 “Get Ready” to Level 2, “Get Set” effective at 1:00 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2017. The threat from the Happy Dog Fire is increasing as it approaches Highway 138 East due to extreme fire weather conditions. It is important to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. People in this vicinity are urged to closely monitor the situation.Evacuation Notices: Changed Aug. 31, 2017, at 1:00 p.m.
Level 1 Evacuation Notice – “Get Ready” (threat in the area) – the Clearwater area, along Highway 138 East from Mile Marker 53 to Mile Marker 61, the Susan Creek residential area and the BLM Susan Creek Campground, HWY 138 E from Mile Marker 28 east to the Forest Service/BLM.
Level 2 Evacuation Notice – “Get Set” (threat is increasing) – Dry Creek and Illahee areas and Moore Hill Lane.
New Level 2 Evacuation Notice – “Get Set” (threat is increasing) – Slide Creek Area; Mile Marker 53-56 on Highway 138 East.
Closure Notices:
In addition to the road closure on Hwy 138 E from Mile Markers 47 to 54, the road shoulders and pullouts between Mile Markers 31 to 35 are also closed to provide for public and firefighter safety. For the latest road closure information, call the Oregon Department of Transportation at 511 or go to https://tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp#.
The Umpqua National Forest remains closed in areas of the North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Ranger Districts. The North Umpqua River remains closed to boaters and anglers from Boulder Flat Raft Launch to Susan Creek Campground due to falling trees and rolling debris except for a short stretch of river near the Steamboat Inn that is open to fishing. For more information on forest closures see Public Notices at http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/Umpqua/alerts-notices.
8/31/17 Horse Prairie Fire Update
HORSE PRAIRIE FIRE
August 31, 10:00 P.M.
Camas Valley, Oregon – The Horse Prairie Fire is one of 15 large wildfires burning in Oregon. The significance of this relates to the limited number of firefighting resources available to meet suppression objectives. While this fire has over 900 people assigned, there continues to be a need for additional crews and engines. The fire is now estimated at 7,400 acres and remains 15 percent contained.
Firefighters are hopeful that the smoke lifts enough to allow aircraft to begin flying early in the day. While the weather has moderated slightly, the fire remains active. An excessive heat watch with temperatures near 100 degrees is expected over the weekend.
Firefighters on the night shift had some success with burnout operations, removing forest fuels and slowing the fire’s momentum between containment lines and the main fire’s edge.
A Level 3 evacuation notification remains in effect for Lower Cow Creek Road from the end of County Maintenance to Union Creek, including residents living on Doe Creek Road. (See map) The local fire departments have posted a fire engine at all nine affected homes in the evacuation area. Two outbuildings have been destroyed.
Road and area closures also remain in effect in and around the fire area. The public is asked to stay clear of the area for their safety as well as the safety of firefighters.
August 31, 10:00 P.M.
Camas Valley, Oregon – The Horse Prairie Fire is one of 15 large wildfires burning in Oregon. The significance of this relates to the limited number of firefighting resources available to meet suppression objectives. While this fire has over 900 people assigned, there continues to be a need for additional crews and engines. The fire is now estimated at 7,400 acres and remains 15 percent contained.
Firefighters are hopeful that the smoke lifts enough to allow aircraft to begin flying early in the day. While the weather has moderated slightly, the fire remains active. An excessive heat watch with temperatures near 100 degrees is expected over the weekend.
Firefighters on the night shift had some success with burnout operations, removing forest fuels and slowing the fire’s momentum between containment lines and the main fire’s edge.
A Level 3 evacuation notification remains in effect for Lower Cow Creek Road from the end of County Maintenance to Union Creek, including residents living on Doe Creek Road. (See map) The local fire departments have posted a fire engine at all nine affected homes in the evacuation area. Two outbuildings have been destroyed.
Road and area closures also remain in effect in and around the fire area. The public is asked to stay clear of the area for their safety as well as the safety of firefighters.
8/31/17 Miller Complex Morning Update
Miller Complex Fire Update
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Todd Pechota, Incident Commander
Information Center: 541-899- 5302
Hours of operation: 7 am – 9 pm
Email: MillerComplex2017@gmail.com
August 31, 2017
Current Situation: Red Flag warning for poor humidity recoveries and gusty east to northeast winds will be in effect from Thursday night into Friday morning. Heat will begin to build again Thursday afternoon and through the weekend. It will be extremely hot, dry and smoky.
Evacuations:
The following areas are now under a Level 2 (Be Set) Evacuation Notice:
The following areas are now in a Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Notice:
The Joe Bar area, which is in California, remains under an evacuation order.
Branch I: Creedence Fire and Bigelow Fire (Grayback Fire)
The Creedence Fire was active on the north flank but did not grow significantly. Crews continue to make good progress on the west flank. The fires in this Branch are approximately 7 miles south of Williams.
Branch II: Burnt Peak Fire
The fire is backing down Billy Mountain and there are control lines in place along the 1095 and 1090 roads. Structural protection has begun north of Applegate Lake. This Branch is approximately 9 miles southwest of Ruch and 3 miles north of Applegate Lake.
Branch III: Abney Fire (Abney, Seattle and Cook Fires)
Firefighters will work to keep the fire north of the Pacific Crest Trail and south and east of private property in section 8. Structure protection is continuing in the Joe Bar area.
Closures: The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has closed three areas on the Siskiyou
Mountains Ranger District in each of the branches, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices.
The Bureau of Land Management has closed the Grayback Mountain Trailhead.
Fire Statistics:
Start Date: August 14, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Complex Size: 14,239 acres
Total Personnel: 558
Complex Containment: 40%
Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5514/#
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MillerComplexFires/ or https://facebook/R6RRSNF
Twitter: #MillerComplex
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Todd Pechota, Incident Commander
Information Center: 541-899- 5302
Hours of operation: 7 am – 9 pm
Email: MillerComplex2017@gmail.com
August 31, 2017
Current Situation: Red Flag warning for poor humidity recoveries and gusty east to northeast winds will be in effect from Thursday night into Friday morning. Heat will begin to build again Thursday afternoon and through the weekend. It will be extremely hot, dry and smoky.
Evacuations:
The following areas are now under a Level 2 (Be Set) Evacuation Notice:
- Palmer Creek Road and Kinney Creek Road (Forest Service Road 1090)
- Both sides of Upper Applegate Road from Palmer Creek Road to the Applegate Dam Spillway (This includes Bolder City)
- Beaver Creek Road
The following areas are now in a Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Notice:
- Carberry Creek Road from Applegate Road up to and including Steamboat Ranch
- Palmer Creek Road/Applegate Road intersection north to 7449 Applegate Road and Eastside Road from Upper Applegate Road north to 2874 Eastside Road.
- South from Applegate Dam Spillway around all of Applegate Lake (1/8 mile buffer around
- water to include all private property).
- The following Recreation Sites:
- Hart-tish, Harr Pt, Watkins, Tipsu Tyee, Latgawa Cove and Stringtown campgrounds
- Carberry Picnic Ground
The Joe Bar area, which is in California, remains under an evacuation order.
Branch I: Creedence Fire and Bigelow Fire (Grayback Fire)
The Creedence Fire was active on the north flank but did not grow significantly. Crews continue to make good progress on the west flank. The fires in this Branch are approximately 7 miles south of Williams.
Branch II: Burnt Peak Fire
The fire is backing down Billy Mountain and there are control lines in place along the 1095 and 1090 roads. Structural protection has begun north of Applegate Lake. This Branch is approximately 9 miles southwest of Ruch and 3 miles north of Applegate Lake.
Branch III: Abney Fire (Abney, Seattle and Cook Fires)
Firefighters will work to keep the fire north of the Pacific Crest Trail and south and east of private property in section 8. Structure protection is continuing in the Joe Bar area.
Closures: The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has closed three areas on the Siskiyou
Mountains Ranger District in each of the branches, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices.
The Bureau of Land Management has closed the Grayback Mountain Trailhead.
Fire Statistics:
Start Date: August 14, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Complex Size: 14,239 acres
Total Personnel: 558
Complex Containment: 40%
Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5514/#
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MillerComplexFires/ or https://facebook/R6RRSNF
Twitter: #MillerComplex
8/31/17 Diamond Creek Fire Update
Diamond Creek Fire Update
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Fire Information: (503)-765-5724 - 8 am – 6 pm
Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail
Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondCreekFire2017
Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com
Location: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA
Summary: On Wednesday the fire continued to move north, burning over Whistler Basin and the west side of Sheep Mountain, and further into British Columbia. Cathedral Provincial Park has been closed. Coordination with the British Columbia Ministry of Forest Land and Natural Resource Operations is ongoing.
Helicopter water drops are still being used to hold the fire in Drake Creek and keep it from moving into Pat Creek, with a large Type 1 helicopter in addition to a Type 2 and a Type 3.
Chippers are continuing to treat slash created as part of the preparation work on the indirect fire line. Work on the Ortell Creek and the Deer Creek Roads has been completed, and chippers are now working on Goat Creek Road 5225 past the 200 road junction, in preparation for the grader. The road grader and three water tenders have completed work on Goat Creek Road 5225 to the 5225-200 road junction, as well as road 5225-200 to the Goat Peak Trailhead. Today the grader will resume working on Goat Creek Road past the 5225-200 junction.
Goat Peak Lookout has been staffed for the remainder of the fire.
A reconnaissance flight over Hidden Lakes reported that the cabins, which had been covered with fire wrap and protected by a sprinkler system, appear to have survived the fire. Fire protective wrap will be installed on the historic cabin at Spanish Camp. Materials for wrapping the cabin at Pasayten Airstrip will be delivered. Hikers are being evacuated from Andrews Creek and Chewuch River Trails, as a precaution against possible extreme fire behavior.
Fire behavior on Thursday will remain active, continuing to burn interior islands & potential to move down the Ashnola River drainage. Smoke will continue to affect air quality in the upper Methow Valley.
Caution: Anyone using the Goat Creek 5225 Road is urged to exercise caution, and be aware that heavy equipment is using this road.
Closures: NEW TRAIL AND AREA CLOSURES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ARE IN EFFECT. The following trails are closed: Andrews Creek #504, Chewuch River #510 beyond the junction with Fire Creek #561, Topaz Mountain #360, Boundary Trail #533 between Teapot Dome and the junction with Middle Fork Pasayten Trail #478. Road & trail closures are posted on inciweb, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5409/ On Friday, Eightmile Road #5130 will be open as far as Honeymoon Campground.
Weather: A dry cold front will bring cooler temperatures to the fire, and steady west to northwest winds. Gusts to 20 mph will be possible this morning and again this evening. There will be poor overnight humidity recovery. The extended forecast is for warming through the Labor Day weekend, with Sunday the warmest day, and no precipitation. Fire
Restrictions: Fire restrictions remain in place. Maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, and use of charcoal briquette barbecues, or other devices that use solid fuel is prohibited across most of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. An Industrial Fire Precaution Level III is in effect which does not allow any firewood cutting with a power saw for commercial or personal use.
Estimated Size: 52,681 acres US; 4,200 acres Canada
Objectives Completed: 65%
Cause: Human
Estimated Cost: $8 million
Date Detected: July 23
Resources Assigned: 1 Hand Crew, 2 Engines, 4 Helicopters, 4 Chippers, 3 Water Tenders, 1 Road Grader.
Total Personnel Assigned: 61
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Fire Information: (503)-765-5724 - 8 am – 6 pm
Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail
Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondCreekFire2017
Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com
Location: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA
Summary: On Wednesday the fire continued to move north, burning over Whistler Basin and the west side of Sheep Mountain, and further into British Columbia. Cathedral Provincial Park has been closed. Coordination with the British Columbia Ministry of Forest Land and Natural Resource Operations is ongoing.
Helicopter water drops are still being used to hold the fire in Drake Creek and keep it from moving into Pat Creek, with a large Type 1 helicopter in addition to a Type 2 and a Type 3.
Chippers are continuing to treat slash created as part of the preparation work on the indirect fire line. Work on the Ortell Creek and the Deer Creek Roads has been completed, and chippers are now working on Goat Creek Road 5225 past the 200 road junction, in preparation for the grader. The road grader and three water tenders have completed work on Goat Creek Road 5225 to the 5225-200 road junction, as well as road 5225-200 to the Goat Peak Trailhead. Today the grader will resume working on Goat Creek Road past the 5225-200 junction.
Goat Peak Lookout has been staffed for the remainder of the fire.
A reconnaissance flight over Hidden Lakes reported that the cabins, which had been covered with fire wrap and protected by a sprinkler system, appear to have survived the fire. Fire protective wrap will be installed on the historic cabin at Spanish Camp. Materials for wrapping the cabin at Pasayten Airstrip will be delivered. Hikers are being evacuated from Andrews Creek and Chewuch River Trails, as a precaution against possible extreme fire behavior.
Fire behavior on Thursday will remain active, continuing to burn interior islands & potential to move down the Ashnola River drainage. Smoke will continue to affect air quality in the upper Methow Valley.
Caution: Anyone using the Goat Creek 5225 Road is urged to exercise caution, and be aware that heavy equipment is using this road.
Closures: NEW TRAIL AND AREA CLOSURES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ARE IN EFFECT. The following trails are closed: Andrews Creek #504, Chewuch River #510 beyond the junction with Fire Creek #561, Topaz Mountain #360, Boundary Trail #533 between Teapot Dome and the junction with Middle Fork Pasayten Trail #478. Road & trail closures are posted on inciweb, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5409/ On Friday, Eightmile Road #5130 will be open as far as Honeymoon Campground.
Weather: A dry cold front will bring cooler temperatures to the fire, and steady west to northwest winds. Gusts to 20 mph will be possible this morning and again this evening. There will be poor overnight humidity recovery. The extended forecast is for warming through the Labor Day weekend, with Sunday the warmest day, and no precipitation. Fire
Restrictions: Fire restrictions remain in place. Maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, and use of charcoal briquette barbecues, or other devices that use solid fuel is prohibited across most of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. An Industrial Fire Precaution Level III is in effect which does not allow any firewood cutting with a power saw for commercial or personal use.
Estimated Size: 52,681 acres US; 4,200 acres Canada
Objectives Completed: 65%
Cause: Human
Estimated Cost: $8 million
Date Detected: July 23
Resources Assigned: 1 Hand Crew, 2 Engines, 4 Helicopters, 4 Chippers, 3 Water Tenders, 1 Road Grader.
Total Personnel Assigned: 61
8/31/2017 Jolly Mountain AM Update
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8/31/2017 Milli Fire AM Update
Milli Fire
August 31, 2017 Daily Update
The private land within the perimeter once again became active late yesterday afternoon. Crews patrolled the eastern fireline and found one small spot fire, 20 feet by 20 feet in size. The spot was contained. Firefighters worked through the night to complete a low-intensity burnout on the private land which will strengthen the eastern fire line.
Fuels continue to burn within the fire perimeter which will produce some smoke. Fire behavior consists mostly of creeping and smoldering with a few isolated pockets of unburned trees potentially torching. Firefighters have found minimal hotspots within contained areas of the fire. They will continue to patrol, mop up, and rehab contained areas of the fire.
Clear skies yesterday afternoon allowed a reconnaissance plane to fly over the fire and look for any additional spot fires outside the fireline. No spot fires were found. The west side of the fire continues to burn down slope into the Three Sisters Wilderness and established containment lines. The south side of the fire that is burning into the Pole Creek Fire scar did not significantly grow. All containment lines held even with strong winds yesterday.
Good progress is being made on rehabilitation in and around the contained areas on the fire. Crews, dozers, excavators and wood chippers continue to work to return the fire area, control lines and dozer lines to a more natural state.
Central Oregon’s Northwest Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) 8 is working with the Southwest Area Type 1 IMT today in preparation to transition management of the Milli Fire late this afternoon.
Weather is expected to become warmer and drier, with temperatures in the 90’s over the holiday weekend. Air quality is expected to vary in the next few days as several fires continue to burn in the area.
Level 1 and 2 evacuations remain in effect. Call Deschutes County Sheriff’s office at 541-693-6911 with evacuation questions. Current evacuation levels: Level 2– Crossroads subdivision, Edgington Road, Remuda Road, Peterson Burn Road, Wildwing and Three Creeks Road residences. Elk Lake and Hosmer Lake areas including: Elk Lake Resort, Elk Lake CG, Point CG, Little Fawn CG, Mallard Marsh CG, Sunset View Day Use Area, Beach Day Use Area, and Quinn Meadows Horse Camp Level 1 – Tollgate subdivision, all areas between OR 242 and US 20, west of Cold Springs Cutoff (Forest Road 1018) which includes Black Butte Ranch.
Links
Road Closures - OR 242 is closed east of Cascade Crest to the junction of FR 15. For further information see www.tripcheck.com
Forest Closures- For further information go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/
8/31/2017 Umpqua North Complex Update
Umpqua North Complex Update
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Recorded Information: (855) 419-2349
Incident: Lightning started dozens of fires across the northern Umpqua National Forest along both sides of Highway 138 East during the week of Aug. 9, 2017. There are currently 14 active fires in the complex, which is located 50 miles east of Roseburg in Douglas County, Ore.
Incident Command: Unified Command – Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team; Tom Kurth, Incident Commander, Douglas Forest Protective Association; Dan Thorpe, Incident Commander. The California Interagency Incident Management Team, Jay Kurth, Incident Commander, will take over managing the complex at 7:00 a.m. Friday.
Current Size: 25,358 acres estimated total of complex based on an infrared flight on Aug. 30. Containment: 21%. Current Resources: Crews: 21; Helicopters: 5; Engines: 94; Dozers: 16; Water Tenders: 23; Masticators: 7; Skidgens: 5; Total Personnel: 1,040.
Current Situation: Firefighters are focused on reinforcing their control lines and contingency lines today as a high-pressure system builds over the Umpqua National Forest and temperatures rise above 100 degrees starting Friday. A high of 104 is forecast for Saturday, along with relative humidity dropping into the 20s. The clear skies associated with this system will promote active burning that will test the work firefighters have done over the past two weeks.
The primary concern for fire managers is the Happy Dog Fire north of Highway 138 East and keeping it from coming back out of the 2008 Rattle Fire scar and impacting the Hwy 138 E corridor. If it spreads back to the south, the areas of Dry Creek, Illahee Flats, Soda Springs, and Slide Creek could be impacted. Another area of concern is the portion of the Happy Dog south of Hwy 138 E. There, burnout operations have removed fuels ahead of the fire along the PacifiCorp powerline and Forest Road 28 to halt its advance toward Oak Nob and further east to the 138 corridor. South along Forest Road 28, firefighters will continue to build contingency lines east of the road to head off the chance of the Brokentooth and Mudd 2 fires advancing further east.
The Happy Dog Fire and the Ragged Ridge Fire have merged into one fire, mainly due to the success of the tactical firing operations along their west flank. This is to keep the fires from spreading to the west into the Steamboat Creek drainage and compromising Forest Road 38. Crews are using heavy equipment to the northeast of these fires to construct control lines but handlines will be needed to tie them together. These efforts are to prevent the Happy Dog Fire from gaining further ground to the northern portions the Umpqua National Forest.
Firefighters in the Devils Canyon area have just about made it around the Devil Fire with their initial saw line and hose lay. Work will continue to improve saw line toward an acceptable contained perimeter. Patrols are still monitoring the nearby Dog Prairie Fire as the steep country and higher elevations have slowed that fire’s growth.
Containment line continues to increase around the Fall Creek Fire as firefighters improve and strengthen the work they have conducted over the past two weeks. Interior pockets of unburned vegetation will continue to burn and will be visible to motorists on Hwy 138 E.
Hwy 138 E remains closed from Mile Marker 47 to 54 because of hazardous conditions caused by the Happy Dog Fire. Fire managers, along with the Oregon Department of Transportation, are re-evaluating the risk along this stretch of the road daily.
Closure Notices:
In addition to the road closure on Hwy 138 E from Mile Markers 47 to 54, the road shoulders and pullouts between Mile Markers 31 to 35 are also closed to provide for public and firefighter safety. For the latest road closure information, call the Oregon Department of Transportation at 511 or go to https://tripcheck.com/Pages/
The Umpqua National Forest remains closed in areas of the North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Ranger Districts. The North Umpqua River remains closed to boaters and anglers from Boulder Flat Raft Launch to Susan Creek Campground due to falling trees and rolling debris except for a short stretch of river near the Steamboat Inn that is open to fishing. For more information on forest closures see Public Notices at http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/
Evacuation Notices: No changes from Sunday August 20, 2017
Level 1 Evacuation Notice – “Get Ready” (threat in the area) – the Clearwater area, along Highway 138 East from Mile Marker 53 to Mile Marker 61, the Susan Creek residential area and the BLM Susan Creek Campground, HWY 138 E from Mile Marker 28 east to the Forest Service/BLM.
Level 2 Evacuation Notice – “Get Set” (threat is increasing) – Dry Creek and Illahee areas and Moore Hill Lane.
Flight Restrictions:
The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for the fire complex remains in place. Pilots looking for additional information on the TFR go to http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.
