Saturday, September 30, 2017

9/30/2017 Diamond Creek Update

Diamond Creek Fire: Saturday September 30, 2017

Location:  11 miles NNW of Mazama, WA
Total Personnel:  22
Acres:  128,272 total acres
Cause:  Under Investigation
Containment: 80%
Start Date:  July 23, 2017
Note:  The containment reflects the percent of operational objectives completed.

Cooler weather for the Diamond Creek Fire area

Current Activities: Today, two of the North Cascades Smokejumpers will be air lifted into the wilderness to complete trail clearing suppression repair work around the Pasayten Airfield. Resources will also work on suppression repair in the Hidden Lakes area while heavy equipment continues suppression repair of contingency line south of the fire area.

North Cascades Smokejumpers completed their task of un-wrapping Goat Peak Lookout during yesterday’s operational period. The load of heat reflective materials was sling-loaded out later that day. A sling-load operation involves slinging an item under an airborne helicopter and flying it to another location. As with previous operational periods, resource advisors will continue evaluation of the remaining suppression repair activities. Air and ground resources will continue to monitor fire activity.

Various heavy equipment and overhead personnel remain assigned to the fire.

Pat Creek and Monument Creek areas experienced increased fire activity yesterday due to warmer temperatures. This increased fire activity resulted in some smoke settling overnight in the Lost River area. A light haze is possible in the upper valley today. Approximately 97,140 acres in the U.S. and 31,132 acres in Canada have burned. The slight change in acres burned is due to more accurate mapping, and some interior burning. No significant growth is expected in the US.

Weather: Today will be a much cooler and moister day than yesterday. Expect to see temperatures only in the 40’s in the higher elevations of the fire area. Northwest winds could gust up to 20 mph. Rain and snow showers will also be possible especially in the afternoon and evening hours. After the threat of showers dissipates for the evening, expect freezing temperatures over most of the fire. Cool and unsettled weather is expected to continue through Monday. 

Closures: AREA CLOSURE STILL IN EFFECT. Most roads on the south side of Diamond Creek Fire are now open, effective September 26, 2017. Maps have been posted to the Diamond Creek Fire InciWeb and Facebook pages. The Area Closure boundary has not changed.
 
The following roads remain closed:

5130-000 Road (Eightmile Creek Road) from approx. 2 miles above Honeymoon Campground to Billy Goat Trail Head
5227-100 Road (Yellow Jacket Road)
5225-650 Road

Evacuation Alert Level Removed: Due to Diamond Creek’s minimal fire behavior, cooler temperatures, higher humidity, fall-like weather conditions and completion of the primary fire line, the Level 1 Alert has been removed for Lost River, Mazama, and Rendezvous areas.

Persons should be aware that there still is a countywide burn ban in affect and should check with US Forest Service and DNR for additional fire restrictions.

Information: (509)996-4040 8 am -- 8 pm
Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/
Facebook: facebook.com/diamondcreekfire2017
Smoke Conditions: wasmoke.blogspot.com
#DiamondCreekFire #WaWildfire

9/30/2017 Chetco Bar Fire Update

9/30/2017 Horse Creek & Rebel Fire Update

Attention: Firefighters and heavy equipment are still working in parts of the Willamette National Forest and Three Sisters Wilderness. Drivers, hunters and recreationists need to be cautious when using these public lands. Expect slow moving vehicles, know your target and know where you can go before you leave.

Current Situation: Increasing clouds Fridaybrought much cooler temperatures and a little rain. Snow in the higher elevations and scattered rain showers are expected across the complex this weekend. Forecasters are not predicting as much precipitation as before.

Suppression repair work is nearly complete on the northern portion of the Separation Fire. A grader will begin working on the roads as the last task is started. Firefighters are nearly done around the Avenue Fire with short lengths of handline and dozer line to be repaired. Another day, possibly two, of chipping brush and slash is needed. As work is completed around these two fires, crews and equipment will move to the Rebel Fire to complete the work needed along Forest Service Road 19.

Forest Roads Open: The following Forest Service Roads along Highway 126 are open to the public: FSR 2664, Robinson Lake Road; FSR 2657, Olallie Creek Road; FSR 2653, Boulder Creek Road; FSR 2649, Scott Creek Road; FSR 2647, Cupola Road; FSR 2643, Foley Ridge Road; and Highway 242, Old McKenzie Highway, from HWY 126 to the gate at Camp White Branch. The Willamette National Forest along these roads is open but the Three Sisters Wilderness remains closed. The Mount Washington Wilderness south of Benson Lake Trial #3502, Scott Mountain Trail #4339 and Scotty Way Trail #4345 is closed.

FSR 2639, King Road is open to FSR 2638, Horse Creek Road, but Horse Creek is closed east of this intersection.

FSR 19, Aufderheide Scenic Byway, is open, for a short distance, from HWY 126 to FSR 410, Cougar Dam Road. FSR 411 is open to allow access to the Castle Rock area. O’Leary Mountain Trail is closed as is the forest and wilderness areas south of it. The scenic byway is closed from the junction with 410, south to the Roaring Ridge South Trailhead; the trail remains closed. Cougar Reservoir, Terwilliger “Cougar” Hot Springs and other recreation sites remain closed. Forest roads 1957, 1958 and adjacent spurs are open but the forest and wilderness areas to their east are closed.

Forest Trails Open: In the Three Sisters Wilderness south of Skookum Creek: Erma Bells Trail #3563, Judy Lake Trail #3575, Jack Pine Way #3587, Irish Mountain Trail #3588, and Williams Lake #3589. In Mount Washington Wilderness: Robinson Lake Trailhead, Deer Butte Trail #3508 and Hand Lake Trail #3513 until they reach the closure area. On the northern edge of the wilderness, Patjens Lake Loop #3395 from Big Lake is open.

9/30/2017 High Cascades Complex - West Zone Update

High Cascades Complex - West Zone Update

Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Tim Keith

September 30, 2017

Special Announcements: The Lost Creek Marina and Store located in the Joseph Stewart State Park Day Use Area on the Lost Creek Lake remains open for your enjoyment. Please check their website for hours of operation. Hunters please be aware of heavier than normal fire traffic on Forest Roads and watch for fire personnel.

Fire Information Center: (541) 316-8352 Available 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Information Websites: Inciweb – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503 and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/R6RRSNF and https://facebook.com/UmpquaNationalForest/

Incident Management Team: Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Com mander, Tim Keith, is managing the High Cascades Complex - West Zone. The incident command post (ICP) is located at the Joseph Stewart State Park near Lost Creek Reservoir southwest of Prospect, Oregon. A spike camp is located at Milo Academy near Milo, Oregon.

Current Fire Information: Interior smokes will visible on both fires until a season ending event which could take the form of rain or snow.

Pup – 8,279 acres, 42% contained. Located northwest and southeast of Hershberger Lookout partially in the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness. The north indirect containment line along Forest Road (FR) 2840 has been cleaned up and equipment is repairing road damage. Merchantable logs are being hauled and decked for future use. Repair on secondary dozer and hand lines on the east side is 60% completed. Along FR 6520, vegetation and slash generated from indirect fire line construction is being hauled by 10 dump trucks to a near-by rock pit for storage and later processing into chips for transport to a co-generation plant in White City. This work is 40% competed.

Broken Lookout – 19,181 acres, 27% contained. Located directly west of Union Creek on the southern end of the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness where it is burning on both sides of the Wilderness. Firefighters are repairing secondary dozer containment lines along the south and firefighter parking areas (drop points) along the southwest side of the fire. Along FR 700, chipping of vegetative debris generated from indirect fire line construction continues. Work is also progressing on repairing dozer line around the contained Cougar Fire.

Resources: Total personnel assigned to the Complex (both Zones) – 462: 2-type 2 IA crews, 6-type 2 crews, 6-camp crews, 8-engines, 4-masticators, 2-medium helicopters, 2- light helicopters, 1-dozer, 2-water tenders, and 189 overhead.

Air Operations: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area restricting aerial public access. Please check the NOTAMs prior to flying. The public is reminded all air operations are grounded any time a drone is sighted within the TFR, delaying fire suppression efforts. Flying within the TFR is prohibited and against the law. The helibase is located at the Prospect Airport and is closed to public use. The airport is planned to reopen on October 15^th.

Air Quality: Forecasted air quality for surrounding communities and the Pacific Northwest is normal, no anticipated smoke or other pollutants. For the most up to date air quality reported for your area see Air Now http://www.airnow.gov/ or the Oregon Smoke Blog http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Weather: A cold front moved into the area yesterday bringing very scattered showers, cooler temperatures, and higher relative humidity. Rainfall was minimal with only a trace recorded over the fire area. Today anticipate partly cloudy skies, cool temperatures 58 - 62 degrees, relative humidity 45 - 65% with light rain showers in the afternoon. Ridgetop winds will be northwest and increasing to 7 - 11 mph. Sunday night and Monday will be the coolest part of the week with snow levels falling to 5,500 ft. and no accumulation expected.

Behavior: The fire perimeters have little potential for movement. Expect cooler conditions to re-establish over the fire area limiting fire spread potential. Creeping and smoldering in heavy surface fuels will continue.

Closures: The Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest has reduced the closure area east of Highway 62. Multiple area, trail, and Forest road closures still exist over both Forests. “Know before you go” by visiting https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503 or your local Forest office. Know: the forecasted weather; road, trail and area closure information; and be aware of firefighters working in the vicinity of your recreational activities.

~~~~

High Cascades Complex Fire Information
541-316-8352
BlanketCreekFireInfo@gmail.com

9/30/2017 NWCC Morning Brief

Morning Brief

Date/Time Stamp: Saturday, Sep 30, 2017, 07:00

Northwest Activity Summary

Maximum daily high temperatures were down from the previous several days across the region but most dramatically in western Washington and Oregon. A cold front transited the Pacific Northwest bringing rain to the west side of the geographic area and windy conditions with limited precipitation to the east side. There were 2 new fires reported for 3 acres. There was minimal growth on existing large fires. 295 acres of prescribed fire were reported.

Preparedness Levels

Current:

Northwest	3 (9/25)
National	3 (9/22)

Northwest PL Forecast

2	2	1
3-day	10-day	30-day

Northwest Fire Activity
New Fires and Acres 2 fires for 3 acres45 acres growth on existing large fires
OR: 1 fires for 3 acres
WA: 1 fire for 0 acres

Large Fire Summary
New large fires: 0
Large fires contained: 0
Uncontained large fires: 5 (OR: 5 WA: 0)

Northwest IMT Activity

NIMOs Committed: 0

Type 1 IMTs committed: 1
Type 2 IMTs committed: 4
National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (63) new fires

New large incidents: 3
Large fires contained: 1
Uncontained large fires: 13

National IMT Activity
Area Command Teams: 0

NIMOs committed: 0
Type 1 IMTs committed: 3
Type 2 IMTs committed: 11

Northwest Current Incident Details

Incidents not Previously Reported: 0

Incidents Previously Reported: 11

Eagle Creek OR-CGF-000493. IMT2, NW Team 12 (Harrod/Glazier). 2 miles S of Cascade Locks, OR. Start 9/2. Full Suppression. Cause: Human. 48,831 acres (+0). 46% containment. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Watershed, timberlands, powerline infrastructure, and major transportation corridor threatened. Road, trail, and area closures in place.

Chetco Bar OR-RSF-000326. IMT1, PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 16 miles W of Selma, OR. Start 7/12. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 191,090 acres (+0). 97% containment. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Road, trail, and area closures in place. Also managing Indigo.

High Cascades Complex OR-RSF-000636. IMT2, NW Team 8 (Johnson)/IMT3. High Cascades RD and Crater Lake National Park, OR. Start 7/25. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 80,197 acres (+45). 34% containment. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Road, trail, and area closures in place. Includes: Spruce Lake (15,826 acres), Blanket Creek (33,322 acres), Broken Lookout (19,181 acres), Pup (8,279 acres) and North Pelican (3,589 acres). East Zone transfer of command to IMT3 occured this morning at 0700.

Jones OR-WIF-170191. IMT2, NW Team 7 (Knerr). 10 miles NE of Lowell, OR. Start 8/10. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 10,114 acres (+0). 89% containment. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Area closures in place. Also managing Kelsey Creek. Transfer of command to IMT3 today at 2000.

Kelsey Creek OR-WIF-170273. IMT2, NW Team 7 (Knerr). 10 miles E of Oakridge, OR. Start 9/9. Confine/Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 441 acres (+0). 100% completed. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Area closures in place. This incident not included in the large fire count above. Also managing Jones. Transfer of command to IMT3 today at 2000. Last report on morning briefing unless significant activity occurs.

Umpqua North Complex OR-UPF-000406. IMT3. 50 miles E of Roseburg, OR. Start 8/11. Monitor/Confine/Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 43,158 acres (+0). 79% completed. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Critical habitat and cultural resources at risk. Road, trail, and area closures in place. Includes: Happy Dog (31,141 acres), Brokentooth (3,941 acres), Rattlesnake (1,373 acres), Devil (874 acres), Copeland (699 acres) and 3 smaller fires. This incident not included in the large fire count above. Last report on morning briefing unless significant activity occurs. See NW Fires Utilizing Monitor, Confine, Point Zone Protection Suppression Strategies (YTD) (link) for future updates.

Horse Creek Complex OR-WIF-107234. IMT3. 7 miles S of Belknap Springs, OR. Start 8/21. Confine/Monitor. Cause: Unknown. 33,815 acres (+0). 64% completed. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Road, trail, and area closures in place. Includes: Avenue (3,857 acres), Olallie Lookout (1,586 acres), Roney (3,575 acres), Nash (6,747 acres), Separation (18,086 acres), and Potato Hill (199 acres). This incident not included in the large fire count above. No new information received. Last report on morning briefing unless significant activity occurs. See NW Fires Utilizing Monitor, Confine, Point Zone Protection Suppression Strategies (YTD) (link) for future updates.

Whitewater OR-WIF-170123. IMT3. 15 miles E of Detroit, OR. Start 7/23. Monitor/Confine/Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 14,451 acres (+0). 53% completed. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Structures threatened. Road, trail, and area closures in place. Includes: Whitewater (11,493 acres), Little Devil (2,162 acres) Scorpion (695 acres). This incident not included in the large fire count above. Last report on morning briefing unless significant activity occurs. See NW Fires Utilizing Monitor, Confine, Point Zone Protection Suppression Strategies (YTD) (link) for future updates.

Diamond Creek WA-OWF-000267. ICT3. 11 miles N of Mazama, WA. Start 7/23. Monitor/Confine/Point Zone Protection/Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 128,272 acres (+0). 80% completed. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. Road, trail, and area closures in place. This incident not included in the large fire count above. Lastreport on morning briefing unless significant activity occurs. See NW Fires Utilizing Monitor, Confine, Point Zone Protection Suppression Strategies (YTD) (link) for future updates.

Indigo OR-RSF-000784. IMT1, PNW Team 2 (Schulte). 8 miles E of Agness, OR. Start 9/11. Confine. Cause: Lightning. 615 acres (+0). 100% completed. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior. Road, trail, and area closures in place. This incident not included in the large fire count above. Also managing Chetco Bar. Last report on morning briefing unless significant activity occurs.

Rigdon Point OR-WIF-170287. ICT4. 20 miles SW of Oakridge, OR. Start 9/11. Full Suppression. Cause Lightning. 206 acres. 0% containment. Timber. Minimal fire behavior. No new information received. Last report on morning briefing unless significant activity occurs.

Northwest 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

Fire danger is falling across the geographic area following Friday’s cold front. Despite windier conditions, the potential for new large fires appears low with the cooler and cloudier weather setting in for the first week of October. Some showers are expected across various parts of the geographic area for the next several days.

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

National Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR): https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf

Other GACC Morning Reports: