Wildfire

Summary:  The Rough Patch Complex on the Umpqua National Forest started July 29 when 20-plus lightning fires resulted from thunderstorms in the area.  Several more fires were added to the Complex including the Jack Fire when another storm moved through August 1, bringing the total identified fires to 42. Northwest Incident Management Team (IMT) 13 (Type 2) managed the Complex along with the Jack Fire.On August 16, 2021, the Great Basin Management Team 2 (Type 1 IMT) assumed command of the fires at 6:00 a.m. Total size of the Rough Patch Complex was 12,956 acres. Several smaller fires had been contained by this time, with the largest fires being the Chaos, Little Bend Creek, Near Minky and Buckhead.On August 28, Northern Rockies Team 1 (Type 1 IMT) assumed command of the fires.  The Rough Patch Complex then consisted of four fires: Chaos, Little Bend, Buckhead and Near Minky.   On September 10, Great Basin Management Team 2 (Type 1 IMT) assumed command of the Complex.  On...

The County Line Fire, located south of the Tioga Road near the White Wolf area, is currently at 224 acres.   This fire may be visible from numerous vantage points throughout the park, including high country viewpoints along Tioga Road. Travelers in the White Wolf area may see equipment and fire personnel working near the road from the White Wolf area to McSwain Summit. Visitors may encounter smoke on the road as the drive from White Wolf to McSwain summit. Anyone hiking in the fire area when closures are lifted should remain on the designated trail and avoid walking though burned areas where hazards such as ash pits, weakened trees, and stump holes are likely present. Smoke will also be present from other regional fires in California through out parts of Yosemite NP.Air Quality Conditions for Yosemite National Park can be found at: www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoringYosemite National Park is a fire-adapted ecosystem. The strategy for all fires is to provide for the safety...

The South Moccasin Fire began Monday, October 4, 2021 around 12:45pm and has been declared 100% contained as of Friday, October 8, 2021. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fire was located about 7 miles northwest of Lewistown in the South Moccasin Mountain Range. Local resources from Fergus County, BLM and the DNRC responded. The fire burned in heavy timber and grass, mostly on private

The Twentyfive Mile fire, located 12 miles northwest of Chelan, WA, remains at 22,117 acres, with 62% containment, and 48 personnel assigned to the incident. Post fire work, including road repair and rehabilitation of bulldozer constructed fire suppression lines, is occurring. The area closure remains in effect, has been recently updated and will be re-evaluated in mid-October.  Due to the large burned area and road repair, hunters should plan their upcoming hunt outside of the Twenty-five Mile closure area and roads.   Shady Pass road (Forest Service road #5900) from the Entiat side (west side of #5900) up to Big Hill is now open, the east side from the pass to Lake Chelan remains closed while road repair is completed. Forest Service Road #8410, also known as Slide Ridge Road, is also closed. Heavy equipment traffic is also occurring on Mud Creek and Potato Creek roads, the upper portions of these roads are closed. Please abide by the closure and do not attempt to drive on these...

THREE PHASES OF WILDFIRE RECOVERY There are three phases of recovery following wildfires on federal lands: -       Fire Suppression Repair -       Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) -       Long-Term Recovery and Restoration o   Fire Suppression Repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities and usually begins before the fire is contained, and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. This work repairs the hand and dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts. o   Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a BAER team to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System...

 The lightning-caused American Fork Fire started on July 17, 2021 in the northeast Crazy Mountains, 24 miles southwest of Harlowton, Montana. This fire has been separated from the Divide Complex, and was under the command of the Albuquerque Zone Type 3 Team, led by Incident Commander Zach Saavedra, from August 22, to August 29. As of, August 29th, it was returned to a local Forest Service Type 4 organization. The IC is Wes Woodrome, with Greg Daniels as trainee. Repair efforts continue on the American Fork fire. Activity is moving more to mechanized equipment, repairing roads, and damage done by suppression actions. Tree felling will still continue as needed, supporting the repair. Preparations are being made for re-seeding the areas effected by suppression. The Baer Team, led by Dale White, has been assisting in coordinating activities. The incident will continue “right-sizing” as necessary to maintain financial responsibility while keeping production. As of the 1st, the...

This Thorne Creek Fire/West Lolo Complex InciWeb Page is not being regularly updated after August 29, 2021. It will be updated as closure information changes or if fire behavior and conditions warrant. NEW! (10/7/21)All closures associated with the Thorne Creek Fire (West Lolo Complex) have been lifted. Please exercise caution when traveling through a burned area as hazards exist. The Thorne Creek Fire is now 100% contained. Firefighters are continuing to patrol and monitor the fire when needed. Some interior smoldering/smoking may still be visible until a season ending event occurs, such as significant snowfall. Tips for traveling in or near a burned area: •Those traveling on Forest roads through burned areas should be prepared to remove downed trees that may have fallen across the roads or trails. •Snags – or dead, standing trees – are prone to fall without warning in burned areas. In windy conditions the danger of falling snags is heightened and visitors should always...

The Middle Fork Complex is being managed by a local Type 3 Incident Management Team.Evacuations: All vacuation levels have been dropped in the Oakridge and Westfir area by Lane County. For current evacuation information and an interactive map of evacuation areas, visit: www.lanecounty.org. Closures: Some National Forest System lands near the Middle Fork Complex fires are temporarily closed to provide for public safety. Please be sure to check current conditions before planning your trip to the Willamette National Forest. For more information on Pacific Northwest closures, visit tinyurl.com/4j3fxy8y. Management of the Kwis, Knoll, Packard, Windfall, Symbol Rock, Devil's Canyon, Larison Cove, Way, Warble, and Journey Fires, has been transferred back to the Willamette National Forest.    ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:Fire Information: (541) 782-2283Facebook: @MiddleForkComplex 

Located 17 miles northwest of Plain, Washington, the Nason Fire is approximately 1,269 acres, burning in very steep, rocky terrain that is difficult to access. Its initial position high on a north facing slope along the Nason Ridge made it dangerous for firefighters to directly attack the fire. Fire managers then implemented indirect firefighting strategies, which were the safest available tactics due to the fire’s location.Over the September 18-19 weekend, almost 1.5 inches of rain fell in the vicinity of the Nason Fire. Firefighters have started rehabilitation work on the fire, which consists mainly of chipping fuels and hazard tree removal on the 6700 and 6702 roads. Firefighters utilized Road 6700 as a containment line along the west and north edges of the fire; a portion of the road is closed for public safety as crews continue working to mitigate hazards. Smoke Information: The Forest Service works closely with other federal and state partners to predict and mitigate smoke...

The Black Mountain Fire was reported on August 29 on the Routt National Forest approximately 8 miles NE of Kremmling, in Grand County, Colorado. Investigators have determined the fire was caused by lightning.A forest area closure remains in effect and there are also Bureau of Land Management closures too. A local Type 4 Organization assumed command of the fire on September

Cougar Peak Fire burning northwest of LakeviewThe Cougar Peak Fire was discovered at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7, and is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview to the North/Northeast on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lakeview Ranger District.  NW IMT12 is currently managing the Cougar Peak Fire. Management of the fire will transition back to the local unit at 06:30AM on October 5. Operations on the fire have mostly transitioned to patrol and suppression repair. A Closure Order is in effect for the Fremont-Winema National Forest. The closure order can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/fremont-winema/home. Please respect closure orders and use extra caution while driving and hunting for your safety as well as the safety of our firefighters. There are still many firefighters doing repair work, patrolling, falling hazard trees, and moving heavy equipment on roads in and around the fire area. Fire danger remains “High” in Lake and Klamath...

 PRESCRIBED FIRE Promoting fire-adapted communities and resilient landscapesThe Payette National Forest will be conducting multiple prescribed fires this fall.  Depending on weather conditions burns could take place anytime from late September to early November. These prescribed fires reduce surface fuels, increase height of the canopy, reduce small tree densities, and promote fire resilient trees, thereby improving our ability to protect communities from wildfire. Additionally, these fires improve wildlife habitat, promote long-term ecosystem integrity and sustainability by reducing the risk of high-severity wildland fire. Prescribed fire is an important component of natural resource management and part of the comprehensive fire management program on the Payette National Forest. The New Meadows Ranger District plans to burn approximately 3,000 acres in Boulder Creek drainage (13 miles northwest of New Meadows); 150 acres of hand piles in the Weiser River canyon area. (2 miles south...

The Sand Creek Fire is located west of Lander on the Washakie Ranger District of the Shoshone National Forest; the fire was first reported on the afternoon of September 9, 2021 east of the Dickinson Park Guard Station in the Sand Creek drainage. Fire activity has increased to 749 acres as of Saturday September 11, 2021.  The fire is located in remote and rugged terrain.  Additional resources have been ordered and the Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the fire on Saturday

Notice: the incident management team has put the Ellis Fire in patrol status as of August 1, 2021.  Firefighters will continue to monitor this fire as necessary, but additional growth is unlikely.  Unless the status changes, this will be the last post for the Ellis Fire.The Ellis Fire, which is being managed as part of the Divide Complex with the Balsinger Fire, started on July 8, 2021 on the White Sulphur Springs Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest. The cause is under investigation. The fire is located in the Dry Range - East Fork, about 2.5 miles southwest of Smith River. Management of the Ellis Fire has been transferred back to the Helena-Lewis and Clark (8/12/2021) and has been contained. AdvisoriesDo not fly drones over the fire. If you fly, we can't.Please respect road closure. Traffic on closed roads creates safety hazards for firefighters and emergency vehicles.Firefighting resources are extremely limited. It is critically important that we all do...

The French Fire started on Aug. 18, west of Lake Isabella in Kern County. It has burned 26,535 acres with 99 percent containment. Crews continue to patrol, monitor and mop-up hotspots identified during a recent aerial flight. None of these heat sources affect the fire's perimeter. Repair WorkSeveral weeks of repair work are needed within the French Fire burn area. Heavy equipment crews are working in a clockwise rotation from Rancheria towards Alder Creek. The public should anticipate road closures with barriers.The cleanup continues of trees blocking the Alder Creek. Hand crews will be replacing damaged fence lines.Starting Oct. 6, Southern California Edison will be using a helicopter to set power poles on Rancheria and State Route 155 east of Summit Station. ClosureThe Sequoia National Forest is closed to all public access within the French Fire burn area. This includes hunters, OHV riders and wood cutters.Fuel TreatmentsYear-round, federal agencies conduct fuels treatments,...

The Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021 near Greenwood Lake on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire is between Greenwood Lake and the intersections of Highways 1 and 2.  (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7808/64839/). The Greenwood Fire is managed under unified command with the Superior National Forest, Lake County Emergency Management, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. At 8:00 a.m. Friday September 3rd, the Lake County Sheriff reopened the closed and evacuated section of Hwy 2 (between Forest Hwy 11 and Hwy 1) to home and cabin owners in the Greenwood Lake, Sand Lake, and Dunka River Road areas.  Each property owner will be given two check-point passes that will need to be shown each time they enter Hwy 2 through one of the check-points (either at the intersection of Forest Hwy 11 and Hwy 2 on the north end).  Passes are currently limited to property owners and their immediate families in order to limit traffic for crew safety.  For...

The Lava Fire started on 6/24/21 by lightning northeast of the community of Weed. The continued hard work from our local, regional and national firefighting resources has stopped the forward spread of this fire. This will be the last report unless significant fire activity occurs. Isolated interior smokes may be visible as stump holes continue to burn. Fire resource will continue to monitor and patrol the fire area as needed to keep the fire perimeter within its current

The Larkins Fire Complex is located on the St. Joe River Ranger district of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The Complex consists of 12 fires with a total of 3,358 acres in the Mallard Larkins Recommended Wilderness area near the Little North Fork of the Clearwater river. Visitors are reminded to heed the area closure, as well as other fire closures in the area. A reconnaissance of the Complex on 8/9 showed very low fire activity and little smoke. This may change as the weather heats up and dries fuels back

The Black Butte Fire is located 24.9 miles south of Unity, OR.  The fire started on 08/03/2021 following a lightning storm.      September 30, 2021 Update: Firefighters have made significant progress on the Black Butte Fire and it is now 100%

Emigrant Fire Story The Emigrant fire started as tractor-trailer fire on the northbound Vista Del Lago exit on Interstate 5 near Pyramid Lake. The first report into the Angeles National Forest was at 1:34 p.m. on September 17, 2021.   The first firefighters on-scene reported that the fire had quickly spread to the vegetation adjacent to the interstate highway and ran up the slope. With the hot, dry weather and wind, the fire quickly spread in a northerly direction, burning uphill in steep terrain with gullies and drop-offs.  The US Forest Service along with Los Angeles County Fire Department sent considerable ground and aerial firefighters to the scene and battled the fire. Initially a total of twelve aircraft responded to the fire, including retardant dropping airtankers, super scoopers and helicopters providing much needed assistance to ground based firefighters. On the ground, fire engines, hand crews, fire dozers and water tenders attacked the flanks of the fire, eventually...