CALIFORNIA
Incident: Orleans Complex Wildfire
Released: 4 hrs. ago
Wildfire Smoke Public Service Announcement:
Fires are active in Southern Oregon and Northern California. The main fires generating the smoke Northern California is experience are teh Salmon River Complex, and the Orlenas Complex fires in California and the Doughlas and Big Windy Complexes in Oregon. Depending on your proximity to the fires, and teh weather conditions, peole in Northern California may be affected. Current weather forecasts seem to indicate the potential for increased smoke levels in Northern Claifornia over the next few days. Please note that a separate Advisory has been issued for the Karuk Tribal lands.
A Clean Air Shelter is open in Orleans. It is located at the Karuk Department of Natural Resources Building between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm.
Areas of wildfire smoke are predicted to impact the following regions:
- Del norte County
- Humboldt Coutny
- Trinity County
If you live (or plan to travel) in the regions listed above, please watch for Air Quality Alerts issued for specific locations. Alerts are issued when unhealthy or hazardous conditions exist.
Air quality Alerts can be heard by calling the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District’s 24-hour Air Quality Advisory Information hotline at 1-866-BURN-DAY (1-866-287-6329). They can also be accessed at the District’s website at http://www.ncuaqumd.org. For air quality announcements, stay tuned to your local radio, newspaper, and television.
Concentrations of smoke may vary depending upon location, weather, and distance from the fire. Smoke from wildfires and structure fires contain harmful chemicals that can affect your health. Smoke can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing. People who are at greatest risk of experiencing sysmptoms due to smoke include: those with respiratory disease (such as asthma), those with heart disease, young children, and older adults.
Children, the eldertly, and those with respiratory disease or heart disease should stay indoors and avoid prolonged actiivity. All others should limit prolonged or heavy activity and time spent outdoors. Even healthy adults can be affected by smoke. Seek medical help if you have symptoms that worsen or become severe.
Follow these general precautions to protect your health during a smoke event:
- Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible
- Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside – examples include swamp coolers, whole-house fans, and fresh air ventilation systems
- Run your air-conditioner only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors. Change the standard air conditioner filter to amedium or high efficiency filter. If available, use the “re-circulate” or “recycle” setting on teh unit
- Do not smoke, fry food, or do other things that will create indoor air pollution
If you have lung disease (including asthma) or heart disease, closely monitor your health and contact your docotor if you have symptoms that worsten.
Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you have:
- repeated coughing
- shortness of breath
- difficulty breathing
- wheezing
- chest tightness or pain
- palpitations
- nausea
- unusual fatigue
- lightheadedness
For 24-hour Air Quality Adivsory Information, call toll-free at
1-866-BURN-DAY (1-866-287-6329).
For further information, visit the District’s website at
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Salmon River Complex Wildfire
Released: 0900 hOURS
Salmon River Complex Update Email: salmonrivercomplex@gmail.com InciWeb:http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3575/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/info_ciimt1 Flickr:http://tinyurl.com/n3tgqta
Fire Facts:
Date started: July 31, 2013
Number of Personnel: 1,182
Location: 4 miles west of Sawyers Bar, Salmon River, CA
Crews: 32
Size: 9,188 acres
Engines: 54
Percent Contained: 16%
Dozers: 5
Estimated Containment Date: unknown
Water Tenders: 20
Cause: Human
Helicopters: 2 Type 1, 3 Type 2, and 1 Type 3
Cost to Date: $6,600,000
Air Tankers: available upon request
Structures Threatened: 50
Injuries to Date: 3
Todays’s Update: Last night, crews patrolled and continued preparations around Sawyers Bar, Idlewild and Mule Bridge. Two minor injuries occurred yesterday. Today, crews will continue structure protection, patrols and fireline construction along Sawyers Bar Road, also constructing indirect line along the west flank of the fire. Firefighters will continue to take advantage of today’s moderate fire behavior and construct direct line along the north edge in Specimen and Jackass Creeks. Crews will chip slash to clear contingency lines ahead of the fire at Mule Bridge, Idlewild and Swayers Bar. Due to predicted lightning activity levels, team resources will prepare for initial attack on the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District north of the North Fork Salmon River within the district boundary. A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 11:00 p.m. today for dry thunderstorms and associated erratic winds.Evacuations: An Evacuation Advisory is in effect for all residents along the North Fork Salmon River from Kelly Gulch to Idlewild and Mule Bridge to the Marble Mountain Wilderness Boundary. Seehttp://inciweb.org/incident/article/3575/19865/ for more information on the evacuation advisory. The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of Emergency Services are working with fire managers to assure close communication and coordination. An evacuation center has been established by the Red Cross at Etna Union High School, 400 Howell Avenue, Etna. Domestic pets may also be taken to the high school where kennels will be available. Large animals may be taken to the Dean McBroom Ranch at 1442 Sawyers Bar Road, Etna. Call 530-467-3711. For tips on how to prepare for an evacuation and what to do if you are evacuated, residents are encouraged to visit the “Ready, Set, Go” Website at http://www.readyforwildfire.org/.
Fire Behavior and Smoke:
Last night, fire behavior was limited to creeping and smoldering with most of the heat being retained in heavy fuels and stumps. Today, due to scattered precipitation occurring yesterday afternoon, the fire is expected to have limited spread northeasterly into Sawmill Gulch; easterly beyond Tanners Peak; and westerly towards Big Creek. All communities near the fires should expect to be impacted by smoke. For information on smoke conditions, visit http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/AG/apc.aspx,http://app.airsis.com/usfs/fleet.aspx or http://www.airnow.gov/.
Smoke can pose health concerns. Residents are encouraged to visit the “Protect Yourself from Smoke” Website for smoke protection information at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Wildfires/.
Closures:
A portion of the Klamath National Forest near the fire area is closed to public entry. See the Klamath National Forest Website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5430601.pdffor a description and map.Sawyer’s Bar Road is closed to public traffic from Etna Summit to the Forks of Salmon. Residents, with proof of residency, will be allowed through the closure. Residents may encounter one-way traffic control within the closure area. The Salmon River Road is closed west of Forks of Salmon.
For information on the Orleans Complex (Butler Fire), please call 530-618-2101.
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IDAHO
Eighteen new fires to date have been reported Friday morning across the Boise National Forest as the result of lightning late yesterday and through the night.
The majority of the fires are currently small, less than one acre, and those which started before dark have mostly been staffed.
Fires igniting during the night are being staffed this morning as resources are available and on a priority basis. Priorities are life, property and high value resources. Staffing is with a combination of smokejumpers, helitack firefighters, fire crews, and engines.
Two fires, called the Dixie and Village Fires, are large, exceeding an estimated 2,000 acres each and they are near Anderson Ranch Reservoir. During the night they merged with other BLM fires in the area and are being managed under a unified command. The merged fires are estimated to be 30,000 acres in size.
The Incident Commander for the two fires has reported the apparent loss of 10 structures, which involved outbuildings and possibly cabins. Further details are forthcoming regarding the types of structures.
These two fires and the others have closed Highway 20 from Mountain Home to the Pine/Featherville junction.
Fire is on both sides of the South Fork of the Boise River near the Anderson Ranch Reservoir Dam.
Updates can be obtained by calling 208-384-3266.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|
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MONTANA
Incident: Gold Pan Complex Wildfire
Released: 0900 Hours
FACT SHEET
Wildfire Update
Contact: Thomas Kempton, Dixie Dies
Phone: 406-349-0163
What: Gold Pan Complex (Gold Pan & Goat Fires)
Cause: Lightning, July 16, 2013
Location: 35 miles SW of Darby, MT. in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.
Jurisdiction: Bitterroot National Forest – West Fork Ranger District
RED FLAG WARNING- from 2 pm to 10 pm for lightning and strong down drafts from passing, mostly dry, thunderstorms.
Saturday at 2pm…..For the residents of West Fork and Painted Rocks areas, there will be a fire information meeting at the ICP located at Scripps Yonder Ranch on the Nez Perce Road 4 miles west of the West Fork Ranger District office.
August 7 – Burnout Operation along McGruder Road
Last night’s engine patrols reported very active burning late into the night along the south side of Magruder Road near the mouth of Scimitar Creek.
This morning, Incident Commander Greg Poncin emphasized that with today’s critical fire weather forecast, firefighters will focus on holding on to gains they have made over the past several days. Lightning and strong down drafts of 35-50 MPH from passing thunderstorms will create numerous safety hazards and may severely restrict helicopter support this afternoon. There is only a 20-30% chance of wetting rain (at least 1/10 of an inch) from any of these thunderstorms.
Firefighters will hold lines along the Magruder Road, continue mop up along the road from Wednesday’s burnout operation in the vicinity of the old CCC camp, and keep the road open as their primary escape route. Helicopters and firefighters will also be available for initial attack on any additional lightning-caused fires in the southern Bitterroot Valley that may result from today’s predicted weather. Lookouts and aerial reconnaissance will keep a particular watch on fire activity in the area of Grass Gulch and Lunch Creek on the southeast side of the fire, which has the potential to burn east towards Hell’s Half Acre Lookout as fire activity increases. The spot fire reported late yesterday afternoon near Thompson Flat on the south is burning in an old fire scar from 2006.
Work on the contingency line west and north of the Nez Perce/West Fork road junction should be completed by the end of today, with the remaining hand line construction being finished by the Chief Mountain Hotshots. The rest of the contingency lines are completed. As a result, Forest roads No. 5644 and No. 1303 are now open.
However, fire vehicles are still using the roads, so please slow down and drive with caution. Magruder road remains closed from Fales Flat campground on the east and Observation Point (Idaho) on the west. Fales Flat campground remains open to the public.
Incident status: 476 personnel, five Type 1 crews, six Type 2 crews, seven helicopters, 9 engines, two feller-bunchers, one excavator, 17,103 acres, cost to date $4,696 million.
Closures: An emergency closure order is in place for all Forest Service roads and trails within and surrounding the fire. The closure order and associated map can be viewed athttp://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3538/ . There is also a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire.
For the latest fire information/photos http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3538/ . Stay in touch with the Bitterroot National Forest through www.facebook.com/DiscoverTheBitterroot andwww.twitter.com/BitterrootNF.
Email Goldpan13@gmail.com to receive this information electronically.
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OREGON
Incident: Gc Complex Wildfire
Released: 1100 Hours PDT
Campers at Strawberry Mountain Campground have been warned that they could be evacuated if the fire in that area comes too close.
Fire crews are respondng to several fires in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, Malheur National Forest officials said today.
The fires are likely holdover fires from Wednesday afternoon’s lightning storms that passed through the area.
Smoke from some of the fires is visible from Highway 26 and Prairie City.
Officials issued the pre-evacuation order as they assessed the fires and prioritized resources this afternoon.
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Governor Invokes Conflagration Act, More Help on The Way to John Day
Incident: Gc Complex Wildfire
Released: 1:08 hrs. ago
Governor invokes Conflagration Act, more help on the way to John Day
By Scotta Callister Blue Mountain Eagle | Posted: Friday, August 9, 2013 9:41 am
JOHN DAY – More fire crews and equipment are rolling into John Day after the governor’s office invoked the state Conflagration Act Thursday night.
John Day Fire Chief Ron Smith requested the conflagration status as the Grouse Mountain Fire blew up in late afternoon, with winds pushing the blaze over the hills toward town.
At the height of the fire, the blaze threatened the Valley View Retirement Center, the Charolais Heights neighborhood, and ranches and home along the north edge of town.
Smith said the Conflagration Act comes into play when a fire threatens to overwhelm local resources, allowing other departments to send help. The situation must meet certain criteria, and he worked with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office to make the case for invocation. Gov. John Kitzhaber signed off on it Thursday evening.
Smith said the need was clear despite “really heroic” efforts by the local fire departments.
“I had resources from every department in the county,” he said. That included crews and equipment from John Day, Prairie City, Mt. Vernon, Dayville, Long Creek, Monument. All the local police agencies also worked on the coordinated response, and the Oregon Department of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service launched a prolonged air assault on the blaze.
“We’ve all been going three days, nonstop,” he said.
The shift in winds Thursday posed the possibility that the Grouse Mountain Fire might win Thursday’s battle and sweep into town.
The blaze grew from 2,000 acres Thursday morning to an estimated 11,500 acres Friday.
Smith said the situation could be even worse if it were not for the rain that fell during thunderstorm activity last night.
“The rain was a blessing,” he said.
The conflagration declaration cleared the way for more resources. A task force from Baker and Union counties rolled into John Day about 2:30 a.m. Friday, and an overhead team was en route to help manage the structure protection response.
Smith said a crew and equipment from Hood and Wasco counties, a joint task force, are expected to show up this morning, as is another structure fire task force from Yamhill County.
“I think we’ll have a good handle on this thing today, at least from the perspective of the town risk,” he said.
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WASHINGTON
Incident: Colockum Tarps Wildfire
Released: 3 hrs. ago
Last Section of Fire Perimeter Tied Together; Crews Continue Mop-up
Wenatchee, Wash. – Firefighters joined the last sections of Division C and D together yesterday, burning interior ground fuels adjacent to established firelines and mopping up hot spots to tightly secure the perimeter of the 80,801-acre Colockum Tarps Fire. One of the most important parts of constructing a fire containment line is securely connecting sections together; and often the final sections to be joined involve the most challenging fuel or terrain. This has been true for the rocky, steep, timbered drainages along the western edge of the Colockum Tarps Fire.
Yesterday, temperatures approaching 80 degrees and lower relative humidity made for excellent burning conditions. Heavy fuels were consumed by burning operations within the fire perimeter. Air operations closely supported ground crews to contain fire throughout the day. The Fire is now 75% contained.
Interior of the perimeter, fire was active last night with occasional tree torching, but night-patrol crews report that it stayed within its intended “box.” Infrared devices have been used to identify areas of concentrated heat. Today, firefighters will continue to hold and mop up along firelines, closely monitoring fire behavior as easterly winds affect the area. Dozers and crews continue rehabilitating fire lines. Excess heavy equipment, crews, and aircraft are being demobilized and made available for other area fires.
Smoke may continue to be visible west of the Fire as winds pick up today from the east. Public information officers working at the incident command post in Wenatchee are available throughout the day to provide immediate updates about the fire to the public. Information about burning out and aerial ignition techniques can be found at http://tinyurl.com/lczmjsg.
A low pressure system, bringing the possibility of some precipitation, increasing winds with gusts up to 20 mph, and thunder storms with lightning is expected to arrive from the south tonight. A red flag warning for widespread thunderstorms from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. has been issued.
A Type III incident management team under the direction of Bob Marshall will assume authority for the Colockum Tarps Fire on Sunday, August 11, 2013 after a day of shadowing the current Washington Interagency Incident Management Team #4.
As of 2:30 p.m. yesterday, as a result of successful firefighting operations, the Kittitas County Sheriff phased its Emergency Operations Center down to status with Enhanced Communications only. All Level 3 Evacuation areas are dropping to Level 2; otherwise, levels across the county remain in effect. All permanent residents have been able to return to their homes. Evacuation Level 2 or higher areas are only open to property owners and fire crews. The map of Kittitas County current evacuation areas is available at http://tinyurl.com/jvz3x3u.
Many roads in the area, including the Naneum Road between “four corners” and the Colockum Road, continue to be closed. All current road closures will remain in effect through the weekend, with a reevaluation of these closures scheduled for Monday, August 12.
The Colockum Tarps Fire has been burning since Saturday, July 27, 2013, through dry grass, sagebrush and timber growing in steep drainages along the western shore of the Columbia River, 11 miles southwest of Wenatchee, Washington. It was human caused and grew rapidly. On July 31, the push from easterly winds moved the fire toward sparsely populated areas along the Parke, Caribou and Colockum Roads in Kittitas County prompting additional evacuation notifications.
Fire Facts – Friday, August 9, 2013 – 0900 HOURS
Fire Size: approximately 80,801 acres Percent Contained: 75%
Evacuations: Levels 1, 2 and 3 remain in effect in Kittitas and Chelan Counties. There are numerous road closures in the vicinity. In Kittitas County, sheltering is available for people or animals through the Red Cross as the need arises. Please contact the Emergency Operations Center at 509 933-8305 or KittCom at 509 925-8534.
Fuels: Grass, brush, with timber at the higher elevations
Air Resources: One light, one medium, and two heavy helicopters.
Crews: 2 Type I crews; 12 Type II crews
Engines: 54 Dozers: 4 Water Tenders: 16
Total Personnel: Approx. 738
Cost to Date: $8.5 million
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WYOMING
ncident: Hardluck Fire Wildfire
Released: 1:05 hrs. ago
FACT SHEET
Friday August 9, 2013
Hardluck Fire – Shoshone National Forest
Fire Information: (307) 250-6867 (307) 250-0148
Status: 15,628 acres, 0 percent contained.
Fire History: Fire was reported by a fire detection flight on July 20, 2013. Fire was caused by a lightning strike within the days prior to the report. All structure protection and fuels reduction work on national forest lands at the end of the South Fork Road have been completed.
Objectives: Firefighter and public safety
Recent Events: Cloud cover and isolated rain showers yesterday helped to dampen levels of fire activity that were observed the previous four days. However, fire growth was greater than the 157-acre increase mapped from infrared data collected last night. Cloud cover and equipment failure hampered a more complete reading of fire status.
The infrared equipment did detect further southern movement of the fire midway up Clark Creek but minimal growth along Bliss Creek Meadows. There was also growth further up Marston Creek on the north side of the creek.
Today’s Strategy: Fire managers will assess the fire today via helicopter. Fire personnel on horseback will continue public contacts in the closure area. Transition to a returning incident commander. Monitor fire behavior.
Forecast: Continued cloud cover and scattered rain showers are in the forecast for today. Temperature will be 3-6° cooler today and relative humidity 11-14% higher. Light winds may become erratic and gusty from thunderstorm outflow. A drying and warming trend beginning tomorrow will continue into early next week.
Closures and Evacuations: An area closure is in effect for the entire South Fork drainage beginning south of Aspen Creek beyond the South Fork Road (Forest Service Road 479.B).
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Content and Photography Courtesy of Inciweb.org
2013 The NW Fire Blog
NW Fire Blog 
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