Sunday Update – September 12, 2021

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COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING – VIRTUAL

Monday, September 13, 2021 @ 1900 hours PT (7pm)

https://www.facebook.com/SchneiderSpringsFire

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Incident Summary

The SCHNEIDER SPRINGS FIRE is burning about 20 miles northwest of Naches and 10 miles west of Nile, Washington in the northern Cascade Mountain Range.

The fire was sparked by lighting that passed over the area on August 3, 2021, which ignited short grass, timber and brush on August 4, 2021, around 1230 hours PT.

The fire has burned 102,407 acres and reached a 17% containment status.

Current Status

The fire’s behavior remains today as moderate with flanking, backing and creeping. Pockets of fire fuels are being burned by surface fire with occasional flare-ups.

Division Alpha – structure protection in effect with some mop-up operations. Firing operations being conducted as needed.

Division Delta – structure protection to continue with one of their fire objectives to complete line construction. They will work to prep the control line and will look towards future operations of going direct when possible.

Division Hotel – main fire objective is to tie in around the Cliffdell down to the river, as their main focus as it is critical to get this completed as soon as possible. They will also continue to monitor and patrol portions of the line.

Division Oscar – crews are working tirelessly to patrol and repair portions of the line, as well as hold and improve the firing operations around Burnt Mountain. Mop-up operations in effect for any new or existing hotspots.

Night Ops – They are working to continue much of the same with providing structure protection and defensive firing as needed. Crews will monitor and hold.

Repair Group – Working in the Bethel Ridge area and will conduct priority repair work as directed.

A rainstorm passed over the area but produced little to no precip over the area.

If you've never seen the energy generated by a wildland fire…this is an 😳incredible example! This time ⏱️lapse video from the #SchneiderSpringsFire shows a smoke column on Forest Road 199 taken a couple days ago.

More info: https://t.co/KldYE7PKNs pic.twitter.com/01DMOCcEXH

— Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (@NWCCInfo) September 4, 2021

It continues to threaten several local communities and structures, prompting evacuation orders to remain in effect along with area, road and trails still closed. Some have been reduced down to Level 2 from 3, after rain fell over the fire area.

A Temporary Flight Restriction or TFR is in effect, therefore no drones or other aircraft will be allowed to fly over the fire area. Collisions can occur if drones intrude upon the TFR, putting fire personnel in the air and on the ground in grave danger and it is illegal to do so. Heavy fines and jail time can be give for violations. Questions? Contact the Naches Ranger District at 509-653-1401. Fire Line staffed 0800-1900 daily at 509-653-1468. #NoDronesInFireZones

Resources

Command is under a PNW2 Type 1 IMT Incident Commander (IC) R. Allen with 601 total personnel under their direction, along with 13 crews, 36 engines and eight copters.

A Red Cross shelter was opened on September 9th at 1500 hours PT (3pm) at the Summit View Church of Christ located at 100 N. 72nd Avenue in Yakima, Washington 98801.

On September 8, 2021, the National Interagency Fire Center or NIFC for short, deployed two wildland firefighting hand crews from Quebec, Canada.

Incident Cooperators include: NWS IMET Operations, NIFC, WSP, DOE – Central Region, City of Yakima Government, Yakima County Government (Sheriff’s Office, OEM), Yakama Nation, Quebec (CAN) hand crews, Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), NWS Pendleton (Air Quality reports), Crystal Mountain Resort, NWS Seattle, CK Fire and Rescue (South Puget Sound Strike Team), Zigzag Hotshots, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Jackson Hotshots, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Oka-Wen NF), NWS Spokane, Oregon Smoke Info, Joseph Elfelt (Mapping), Red Cross NW, National Forest Foundation, Bureau of Land Management (BLM),

Significant Events

• This firestorm was deemed a megafire on September 10, 2021, with the fire broke the 100,000+-acre record.
• On August 23, 2021, there were 16 active wildfires with the (Schneider Springs Fire) over 67,000; Lick Creek Fire at 80,000+, Cub Creek Fire at 70,000+ and Whitmore Fire over 58,000+ acres.
• On August 11, 2021, Social media commented on weather being cooler and wetter helping firefighters contain the wildfire, but it seems that was just a hope.
• The cost-to-date for fire suppression and containment efforts have reached $35 Million Dollars of today.

(c) 2021 NW Fire Blog

Friday Update – August 27, 2021

The SCHNEIDER SPRINGS FIRE is burning about 20 miles northwest of Naches, Washington on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest lands.

There has been 75,055 acres of timber that has been destroyed. Fire crews have been able to increase the containment from three-to-eight percent. Fire behavior is active, flanking, backing and isolate torching.

The incident is under the direction of PNW2, a Type 1 IMT’s IC R. Allen.

The lightning-caused fire started on August 4, 2021 and has quickly spread over thousands of acres of land, threatening structures and forcing mandatory evacuations.

To assist with fire suppression and containment, there are 670 total personnel along with 13 crews, 50 engines and six aircraft.

LEVEL 3 EVACUATIONS (GO NOW)

• Bumping River Road from north to south

LEVEL 2 EVACUATIONS (GET SET)

• Hwy 410 from Bumping River Road to US12

LEVEL EVACUATIONS (GET READY)

• US12 at Hwy 410 west to Tieton Reservoir Road

Current Restrictions include no flying of drones in the fire zone(s).

(c) 2021 NW Fire Blog

Wednesday Update – August 25, 2021

The SCHNEIDER SPRINGS FIRE is burning about 18 miles northwest of Naches, Washington on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest lands, which has consumed a total of 71,907 acres of timber, brush and short grass.

The lightning-caused fire started on August 4, 2021 and has quickly spread over thousands of acres of land, threatening structures and forcing mandatory evacuations. This has also been concerns for fire managers for vital infrastructure that also may be threatened.

To assist with fire suppression and containment, there are 530 total personnel along with 12 crews, 38 engines, six dozers, nine aircraft resources and 17 other pieces of heavy equipment.

Crews have reached a difficult three-percent containment status but they are slowly making progress on this stubborn fire. Behavior has been observed as active with flanking, back and torching. It said to be burning deep down in several canyons too dangerous for crews to follow and attempt to contain.

LEVEL 3 EVACUATIONS (GO NOW)

• Bumping River Road from north to south

LEVEL 2 EVACUATIONS (GET SET)

• Hwy 410 from Bumping River Road to US12

LEVEL EVACUATIONS (GET READY)

• US12 at Hwy 410 west to Tieton Reservoir Road

Current Restrictions include no flying of drones in the fire zone(s).

There has been no structures destroyed but the total cost-to-date for fire suppression and containment cost-to-date has risen to $12.4 Million Dollars.

(c) 2021 NW Fire Blog