Horns
Mountain Fire Update
August 20, 2018 10 am
Northwest
Interagency Incident Management Team 9 (NWIIMT9), Brian Goff, Incident Commander
NORTHPORT,
WA – The Horns Mountain Fire is approximately 2,413 acres. Of those
acres, 1,998 are in Washington and 415 in British Columbia. The fire is being
managed under unified command between British Columbia Wildfire Services (BCWS)
and Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 9 (NW9). There are 434 personnel assigned to the fire, which
includes those working with aircraft, engines, dozers, water tenders and
various additional heavy equipment.
This is
a busy fire season. In the United States
27,407 firefighters and support staff are working on 108 large fires, with 53
being managed under a full suppression strategy.
In the
Northwest there are over 9,000 firefighting personnel working on 8 large fires
in Washington and 10 in Oregon. Australia
and New Zealand are supporting large fires in the Northwest and California with
138 fire management staff.
Yesterday,
on the Horns Mountain Fire, US crews and heavy equipment continued coordination
with their Canadian counterparts connecting control lines on the US side with those
in Canada. Firefighters are improving hand line and using dozers and other
heavy equipment to improve and secure lines to prepare for future burnout
operations.
Heavy
smoke will ground aircraft unless the smoke lifts later today. However, a hoist helicopter is available and
can fly in case of an emergency.
A spike
camp is in operation, east of the fire, cutting down on long drives between the
incident command post in Northport and fire operations. Close to 200
firefighters will stay at the spike camp.
The
weather will be a little cooler today with highs in the 70s, humidity will be a
little higher at 28%, and winds will be a little stronger with a shift to the
northeast at 9 to 14 miles an hour with gusts on the ridgetops up to 20 mph.
Wind shifts can change fire behavior, so firefighters will be watching for
changes today.
Closures/restrictions:
·
Fire restrictions are in effect and
residents and visitors are encouraged to check local regulations before burning.
·
Portions of the
Colville National Forest affected by fire suppression operations are closed for
the safety of firefighters and the public. See the Colville National Forest
website at: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/colville/alerts-notices
·
Sheep Creek Road and Sheep Creek
Campground are closed until further notice.
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