Wildfire

The Bodine 1 Fire in Mitchell county was ignited from hunters in the area burning trash. Mitchell County, along with 161 other Texas counties, are currently under burn bans. The fire was approximately 28 miles SW of Colorado City, burning on a private landowners ranch. The fuel type is Mesquite-Juniper mosaic mixed w/ short grass w/ rolling topography. Due to lack of significant rainfall this summer, critically dry vegetation provided active fire behavior. This fire did not threaten any structures and firefighters continued to patrol the perimeter of the fire on Monday, 9/9. Colorado City VFD's responded first on scene, and dispatched Texas A&M Forest Service that responded with dozers and engine crews from Merkel Task Force. Additional resources included air attack, a heavy tanker, a helicopter, and a local motor grader. On Monday crews continued patrolling the scene and mopped up hot spots as necessary. Increased moisture and clouds favored cooler temperatures Monday. Relative...

The lightning-caused Granite Gulch Fire is burning in a remote part of the Eagle Cap Wilderness within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. It remains far from private lands, structures, or improvements. Forest Service fire managers are pursuing a confinement strategy that calls for active management to keep the wildfire within specific, pre-identified areas of the upper Minam River drainage and well-within the Eagle Cap Wilderness.Fire managers will take appropriate suppression actions, as necessary, to meet multiple objectives: keeping the fire confined to specific areas of the Wilderness, allowing it to play a natural role in maintaining the ecosystem, reducing hazardous fuels, reducing the risk of future wildfires burning out of the Wilderness and onto general forest or private lands, andreducing the risk that future wildfires pose to the public and firefighters.Area residents and visitors should expect to see some smoke, and when the fire is active a column of smoke may be...

This fire burned sagebrush, timber and range grasses about 22 miles north of Susanville, Calif. The fire is fully contained by firelines and is in patrol status. There will be no further

The Hungry Fire started on September 9, 2019, at approximately 12:59 p.m. The fire is burning 10 miles north of Reno, Nevada, in Washoe County,

The Deshka Landing Fire began on August 17 about 5 miles southwest of Willow, Alaska. It was a human-caused fire which spread rapidly to the south with a strong wind event. Initial attack involved smoke jumpers aided by two Alaska hand crews, the Tanana Chiefs and the Gannett Glacier Crew. On August 21, management of the fire was transferred to Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 10 under the leadership of Alan Lawson. The fire reached 95 percent containment at a size of 1,318 acres on September 1. On September 9, management of the fire was returned to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry’s Mat-Su Area Forestry Office. This Inciweb site will not be actively updated after September 9. For ongoing online status of the fire, follow http://akfireinfo.com or call the Alaska Interagency Wildfire Information Office at: 907-356-5511.

Final Lava 18 Fire Update Unless Significant Events Occur Grants, NM – The lightning-ignited Lava 18 Fire is approximately 2,070 acres (858 ac on the National Park Service (NPS) El Malpais National Monument and 1,212 acres on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) El Malpais National Conservation area). This will be the final update unless significant events occur. The fire transitioned to a smaller, local Type 4 organization on Monday afternoon, September 9. Three engines continue to monitor and patrol existing roads, trails, and handlines along the fire perimeter and adjacent to private lands and natural and cultural values at risk. Fire managers will continue to monitor the fire where it is playing its natural role in the ecosystem and take action as needed to protect private land and sensitive natural and cultural resources in the area as needed. Higher relative humidity and rainfall received over the fire area earlier this week significantly reduced fire behavior and smoke...

The lighting-caused Cow Fire is burning remotely in the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Inyo National Forest. The wildfire is being managed as a suppression fire with a confine and contain strategy. Firefighters have been successful in reinforcing natural barriers to confine and suppress the fire in a safe manner, with minimal impact to the wilderness. The fire has grown to 1,975 acres and crews have secured 30 percent containment. There will no long be regular updates on the incident unless there are significant changes to report. The public is encouraged to avoid the fire area. Post-fire hazardous such as fire weakened trees and burning stump holes may be present. Minimal smoke may be visible from the Cow Fire until the area receives significant rainfall. Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire to ensure it stays within control lines. Containment will steadily increase as crews further secure control lines by identifying and extinguishing sources of heat along the fire...

The Nethker Fire achieved 100% containment on September 3, 2019 - this will be the last update for this fire unless a future update is warranted. A local Type 5 incident organization is managing the fire now, and fire personnel remain on site to monitor and patrol the fire area.Even as the fire has been declared 100% contained, the August 30 Area Closure remains in effect for public safety. Fire wood cutting is not allowed in the closed area. The closed area is defined as all areas of the Nethker fire that have burned.Burgdorf/French Creek Road, Warren Wagon Road, Crystal Mountain Road, Burgdorf Creek Road and Ruby Meadows Road (to the trailhead) are open for public travel. The 251 Road/OHV trail #174 remain closed as they are fully within the burned area.Ruby Meadows road is open, but the first part of the road is surrounded by burned trees and vegetation - stay out of the burned area and drive past the burned area before getting out of your vehicle.Jeanette Campground and Burgdorf...

The 107-acre Kidder 2 Fire is located approximately ten miles southwest of Fort Jones in the Marble Mountain Wilderness. The remoteness of the fire and the steep terrain within the Kidder Creek drainage are presenting challenges for firefighter access. Water dropping helicopters have had great success supporting suppression efforts on the ground. The Pacific Crest Trail passes nearby, and hikers are advised to avoid the area, due to potential fire spreading. The weather will remain cooler than normal through Tuesday with a slight chance of rain. After Tuesday, conditions are forecast to change, warming and drying towards the end of the week, and once again predicated to cool by the weekend with a chance of thunderstorms. Fire restrictions for the Klamath National Forest are in effect as of August 1, 2019. Restrictions will continue until October 15, 2019 or until conditions require a change in restriction level. The Kidder Fire is located in the Marble Mountain Wilderness on the...

The Tincup Fire was discovered on July 30 approximately 30 miles northeast of Soda Springs near the Grays Lake Wildlife Refuge Headquarters. The lightning-caused fire is creeping in dead and down fuel with minimal fire activity observed. The fire is spreading towards the northeast. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is aware of several unique values in the area including private in-holdings, recreation trails, Hwy 34 and range infrastructure. Due to the location of the fire and the observed fire behavior, fire officials feel it important to let the Tincup Fire play its natural role in the ecosystem. The mixed conifer and aspen ecosystem found in southeast Idaho has evolved with and depends on fire. This does not mean the fire will burn without human intervention. Active measures will occur to create fuel breaks on forest service lands between public and private lands to prevent fire spread onto private lands. Should fire activity increase or threaten private resources, additional...

Final Update The Boone fire received substantial precipitation with the recent weather front moving across southeastern Idaho. Fire management officials anticipate even more precipitation as wetting conditions persist through Friday. “Considering the increased moisture over the next few days and reduced fire activity, we felt it appropriate to allow the public back into the area,” said Liz Davy, Ashton-Island Park District Ranger. “However, we strongly urge the public to be cautious and cognizant of their surroundings if they choose to access the South Boone Trail.” Many of the trees along a portion of the trail are compromised and could easily fall with a wind event. Firefighters may be in the area assessing some of the risk this week. The latest perimeter map estimated the Boone fire to be 117 acres. This small mosaic burn promotes increased plant and animal diversity by creating different age and sizes of vegetation within the burned area.Smoke from the fire may be...

The area and trail closure has been rescinded as of Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Over 1,200 acres of prescribed fire operations were successfully completed in the Trout Creek drainage. At this time there are no active prescribed fire operations. Additional operations may continue this fall if the desired weather, soil moisture, and smoke dispersal conditions occur. The Cabinet Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest will be conducting a fall prescribed burn of up to 2,400 acres associated with the Minton-Trout Project. The purpose of the burn is to improve forage habitat for big game species and to reduce hazardous fuels in the East Fork and West Fork Trout Creek, and Attlebury Creek drainages. Ignition will be conducted by helicopter and will target heavy concentration of dead and down fuels. An area and trail closure will be in effect several days prior to ignition to ensure public safety. Please see map for potential implementation areas and proposed trail and area...

The Montoya Springs Fire will transition to a Type 4 organization managed by the local district this evening at 6:00 pm. No more updates will posted for the incident unless significant activity occurs. Minimal fire behavior is expected unless there are significant changes to weather conditions. Firefighters will be patrolling and monitoring the perimeter. No more growth outside of the control lines is expected; however, light interior smoke may still be visible over the next several days. Fire managers, along with resource specialists take great care to evaluate multiple objectives when wildfires occur. Strategic and tactical decisions for fire incidents apply deliberate examination and assessment of public values and risk to firefighter and public safety. Firefighter and public safety, public values and forest health are priorities when managing wildfires. To ensure success, decisions are continually evaluated by agency administrators, fire managers and resource specialists.

The Shovel Creek Fire (#319) was started by lightning on June 21 and is located 3 miles north of Murphy Dome, about 20 miles northwest of Fairbanks. Depending on weather conditions, smoke from this fire may drift into the Fairbanks and surrounding areas in the coming weeks. The fire started in a Full Protection Area and the Division of Forestry ordered water-scooping aircraft, air retardant tankers and smokejumpers for initial attack. Burning in continuous black spruce, the fire grew quickly and was estimated to be 300 acres on the first evening. The Northern Rockies Team 6, led by Incident Commander Bob Fry, assumed command of the incident on July 15 at 6pm. The objectives for the incident include:Hold the fire perimeter, mop up to the extent necessary to reduce the likelihood of escape based on firefighter experience, terrain, fuel type, and both current and expected fire behavior and weather in the following locations:• Chatanika River south to Murphy Dome through the Hard Luck...

The Montana Creek Fire started at 3:00 P.M. on 7-3-2019. Cause of fire is under investigation. The fire is located 2 ½ miles east of the Parks Highway at Mile 98, south of the Talkeetna Cutoff.

Management of the Oregon Lakes Fire was transferred back to the BLM Alaska Fire Service Military Zone on Monday, June 10. The fire was placed in monitor status. Firefighters have left in place structure protection equipment to allow quick response for suppression action if needed. The work completed during the response to the fire will also serve to protect the private homes and both state timber and recreational values into the future.This remote fire was reported at about 1 p.m. on April 30 and had been burning in the Donnelly Training Area and predominantly in the 2013 Mississippi Fire and 2014 100 Mile Creek Fire.After June 10, fire managers will continue to use aerial monitoring to determine if any future suppression actions are required. If the fire behavior increases and moves to the north, fire managers will be able to coordinate suppression efforts based on the strategic plans that take into account the values at risk including military assets, state timber and recreational...

General Summary of the Chalkyitsik Complex Incident In mid-July storms passed through the Yukon Flats with thousands of lightning strikes. Drought conditions left the trees and duff layer very dry allowing fires to grow and difficult to contain. The rest of Alaska was also experiencing an extreme fire season and resources were limited. The BLM Alaska Fire Service (AFS) requested the assistance of the Alaska Interagency Incident Management Teams to oversee fires burning east of Chalkyitsik and west of Fort Yukon. The highest priority for fire personnel was to ensure the protection of the Gwich’in village of Chalkyitsik. Resources such as equipment and personnel have completed their missions and have been transported to Fairbanks for release to their home units. Fire managers have built a plan to support a proactive response should fire activity increase in the weeks and months ahead. The BLM AFS will regularly conduct reconnaissance flights to monitor fire activity and possible...

The Hess Creek Fire started June 21, 2019 by lightning moving through the area. It quickly spread through the dry black spruce. Total acreage as of July 30 was 189,369 acres.A complete demobilization of personnel and equipment from the fire occurred on Aug. 9. The fire will be monitored through the rest of the season. Minimal fire growth is expected but remains possible if warm and dry weather returns. If this occurs, some activity and smoke may be visible around mile 61-62 of the Elliott Highway. However, this activity will likely not impact the highway or be much of a concern. The fire burned underground in many areas of the tundra, into deep duff and through tree root systems. Fire weakened trees can fall with very little wind. White ash on the ground may indicate deep pockets of hot ash where roots and ground vegetation have burned and may continue to burn below ground level. Severe burns may occur by stepping or falling into these pockets of hot ash. Walking through burned areas...

The HK Complex is a combination of 14 lightning fires that were reported on Aug.5, 2019 following a lightning storm on the Forest. The fires are located near the Alder Creek Skookum Trailhead, approximately two miles east of Tupper Guard Station. The fire is burning in grass, brush and timber. Firefighters and aerial resources were promptly dispatched to the fires, however strong evening winds produced rapid fire growth, causing some of the fires to grow together and increasing the overall fire size to approximately 2,455 acres. A Type 2 Incident Management Team took command of the fire at 6 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2019.

September 4, at 2:00 pm, the evacuations and road closures in the Pedro Mountain Fire area were lifted. More information at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6549/50843/ The Pedro Mountain fire started by a lightning strike on Saturday, August 24, 2019. The fire is located east of Pathfinder Reservoir in south-central Wyoming and approximately 40 miles northeast of Rawlins, Wyoming. Some evacuations and closures are in affect due to fire activity and firefighting