Sierra National Forest                                 

Basin Fire Update             

Monday July 22, 2024                         

Information: (559) 855-5355

Email: 2024.basin@firenet.gov

Facebook: @SierraNF

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PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT:  90 personnel, 1 crew, 3 engines, 4 Heavy Equipment, 3 water tenders, 0 helos

CURRENT SITUATION: The Basin Fire is 14,023 acres.  Fire Containment remains 100%.

A warming trend will bring high temperatures across the fire area this week, with temperatures in the 90s in the higher elevations and approaching 105 to 110 in the lower elevations. An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect from Monday morning through Wednesday evening. Isolated mountain thunderstorms are possible each afternoon in the vicinity of the fire with the best chances east of the fire, over the Sierra Crest. Minimum relative humidity will be in the 20 to 35 percent range each day with poor to fair overnight recoveries and terrain driven winds. Winds are forecast to remain low, from the west at 9 mph, with gusts 15 mph to 20 mph this week. 

Suppression Repair:  Suppression repair efforts continue throughout the fire area. Firefighters are using heavy equipment and hand tools to return fire areas to as natural a state as practical.

The Basin Fire started on June 26, 2024, and the cause is currently under investigation.  The fire is at 2000-4500 feet elevation, northeast of Pine Flat Lake, west of the Spanish Mountain, south of Black Rock Rd (11S012) and north of the South Fork of the Kings River. 

Fire updates are posted on Inciweb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/casnf-basin-fire.  With 100% fire containment and full firefighter focus on suppression repair within the fire area, we expect this to be the last Basin Fire update.

FOREST CLOSURE and FIRE RESTRICTIONS for the Basin Fire: To ensure the safety of the public and our firefighters, The Sierra National Forest has issued a Temporary Partial Forest Closure Orders No. 05-15-52-24-19 & 20 for the Basin Fire area. Effective July 10, 2024, the closure will remain in effect until July 31, 2024. We urge the public to respect all closure signs and barriers and to avoid the area to prevent any potential accidents or interference with suppression repair efforts. 

Check https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra for the Basin Fire closure area map. Roads & trails in this area on the Sierra National Forest are CLOSED.

The Sierra National Forest has implemented temporary fire restrictions prohibiting campfires except within designated recreation sites. Operating vehicles off roads or trails is prohibited, and welding is prohibited.  Smoking is only allowed in vehicles, buildings and designated recreation sites. 

Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra for more information or call the Sierra National Forest (559) 855-5355 during business hours for questions.

Fire
Successful management of The Horse Gulch Fire continues
and only isolated locations of burning are noted, mainly
within the interior.

Smoke
The anticipated surge of Canadian smoke significantly
reduced AQ around the region beginning Sunday afternoon.
UNHEALTHY to USG AQ levels are forecast today with only
limited improvement. AQ levels will improve Tuesday with
MODERATE AQ developing by afternoon in most locations.

Roadway Visibility
The are no hazardous impacts expected to roadway visibility
due to smoke today and tonight.

Public Information Phone: (435) 310-5450            

Email: 2024.silverking@firenet.gov

Agency: Fishlake National Forest – Beaver Ranger District

Location: Approximately three miles west of Marysvale, Utah 

Start Date: July 05, 2024  

Cause: Lightning 

Acres: 18,189

Containment/Completion: 83%

Personnel: 282

FISHLAKE NATIONAL FOREST CLOSURE AMENDED

Hard work and favorable weather have enabled Fishlake National Forest managers to reduce the area subject to Forest Closure Order. On the north side of the fire, forest closures have been scaled back to the Piute County line, except for a small area west of Dry Creek in Sevier County. Closure areas on the west and south sides of the fire have also been reduced. Cottonwood Road remains closed to the public, forming much of the southern closure boundary. Forest Closure Order and Stage 1 Fire Restrictions can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fishlake/alerts-notices.  Exercise caution if accessing reopened areas, as firefighters are still travelling through the area.

Firefighters continue to make progress containing the Silver King Fire, focusing on securing containment at Deer Creek on the fire’s north edge. Crews continue to repair dozer lines and remove hazardous trees on the northwest and eastern sides of the fire. Firefighters will continue to mop up, monitor, and patrol other areas of the perimeter.

Today and Tuesday will bring slightly drier and warmer weather. Relative humidity will likely fall to 15 to 20%, with temperatures in the upper 70s to mid-80s. This will result in minimal fire behavior and limited fire spread. There is a slight chance of widely scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms producing rain, but also bringing gusty winds.
Smoke impact will remain minimal: for more information go to https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks.

The recent influx of precipitation has allowed crews to establish significant gains in the construction of containment line. Crews are now operating on all sides of the fire and are working to extinguish active heat sources near and on the edge, while continuing the construction of containment line and features throughout the fire area. Crew progress has been challenged by steep terrain with significant levels of blowdown. Blowdown is the natural and haphazard stacking of numerous trees within an area. Incident Commander, Brett Waters, applauded crews saying, “the work that is being done in the field is absolutely outstanding.”

Due to the remote nature of the Speirs fire, crews have established a series of spike camps near the fire. Spike camps are forward operating sites that are established to allow for firefighters to stay closer to the fire. This increases the safety and efficacy of the crews as they can remove a multiple hour hike from their daily plan. Crews are being resupplied daily with helicopter based short haul missions.

Additionally, a Timber Task Force has entered the fire area, and is working to prepare a contingency line in the case that the fire is able to establish and move through the area. This task force will be establishing a fuel break in the Greens Draw area.

The previous moisture trend is predicted to move away from the fire area. This will likely be replaced by a return to hotter and dryer conditions. Temperatures are approximated to reach into the mid-eighties over the fire area. The relative humidity will decrease and dry out the fine fuels. These conditions are likely to increase the fire danger and can lead to higher visibility and activity for the Speirs Fire.

Closures:

Being on or within the following campgrounds, roads, and trails are prohibited on the Flaming Gorge Ranger District on the Ashley National Forest: Firefighters Memorial Campground, Greendale Group Campsite, Forest Service Road (FSR) 610, FSR 689, Lowline trail FST103 its junction with the Pipe Creek Trail, FST 003. Forest Service Trail 003 from the beginning at the junction with FST 103 to the junction of Forest Service Trail 004 and Forest Service Trail 004 to Greens Draw Road 049. For more information on existing closures, please visit the Ashely National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ashley/alerts-notices

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area remains open to the public for recreational opportunities.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): A TFR is in effect over the Speirs Fire area. Using uncrewed aerial systems (UAS)/drones is illegal within the TFR.

Firefighters work to secure southern perimeter of Boneyard Fire

MONUMENT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1 and resources from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are continuing 24-hour structure protection and suppression efforts to expand control lines along fire flanks while securing the south and southeast ends.

Morning Update

Date: 7-21-2024 Time: 8:00 pm

Size: 330 acres                                                                 Start Date & Time: 7-19-24 3:23 pm

Containment: 45%                                                             Cause: Under Investigation

Total Personnel: 190                                                         Location: Heaton Flats (near East Fork Rd)

Firefighter Injuries: 2                                                        Structures Threatened: 0                                             

Current Situation:

Today, firefighters faced steep terrain with difficult access points. Despite this challenge, ground crews were able to construct handline and put a hoselay at the heel of the fire bringing the fire containment to 30%. This evening, helicopters will drop water and fire retardant in areas that experience flare-ups. Helicopters will also be used to drop water in the northeast and southeast flanks to help cool the fire’s edge. Crews will also work throughout the night constructing fireline around the fire edge. The weather consisted of hot, dry winds, and a heat advisory is in effect until July 24. 

For current wildfire information follow, Angeles National Forest: 

• Website: fs.usda.gov/angeles
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelesnationalforest 
• X (formally known as Twitter): https://x.com/Angeles_NF 
• InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caanf-fork-fire

Closures:

• Highway 39
• East Fork Road
• Glendora Ridge Road
• Glendora Mountain Road

Fire Restriction:

The current fire danger level on Angeles National Forest is HIGH. "Know Before You Go" – always check fire restrictions before each and every visit, as restrictions can change at any time with little to no notice:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/angeles/home/?cid=FSBDEV3_027721  

Durkee Fire Evacuation Level Update (7/21/24 7:32 P.M.)

Level 3 evacuation (GO NOW) has been issued to Huntington and the surrounding area.

Wind speeds have increased, which may push the fire toward town. For Huntington residents that need transportation, a bus will be available at Lions Park.

Level 3 evacuation (GO NOW) has been issued to Rye Valley and the surrounding area.

This evening at approximately 7:04 p.m. thunderstorms moved through the area which caused the fire column to collapse, sending wind gusts in excess of 50 mph in all directions.

The fire has NOT crossed I-84 at this time, but has the potential to. BCSO Deputies, Search and Rescue members and fire personnel are enroute to assist citizens.

An evacuation shelter is being stood up at the Malheur County Fairgrounds. For shelter information, contact or 1-800-733-2767.

Due to active wildfires on Heppner Ranger District, compounded by extremely unfavorable weather conditions, limited firefighting resources and concern for public safety, forest officials on the Umatilla National Forest are Temporarily closing the Heppner Ranger District. The objective of the temporary closure is to proactively protect public and firefighter safety as multiple Incident Management Teams continue to actively suppress large wildfires on the Heppner Ranger District.

This closure means that the public is prohibited from entering lands, roads, trails, and recreational facilities on the Heppner Ranger District. Access on county, state or federal roadways will not be affected by this order. Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE
Umatilla National Forest

FOREST ORDER NO. 06-14-02-24-02
Heppner Fire Closure Order

Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 8 331 and3 0C F R 8 201.30 (a) and (o), the following prohibitions are establishedwithin the Hepper Ranger District on the Umatilla National Forestwithin the areadescribed below and shown on Exhibit A. This order becomes effective on July 21, 2024, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2024, unless rescinded sooner.
 

PROHIBITIONS
1. Entering into or being upon an area closed for the protection ofpublic health and safety. 36 CFR g261.53(e).
2. Being on a National ForestSystem Road. 36 CFR § 261.54(e).
3. Being in a National Forest System Trail. 36CFR § 261.55(a)
 

BONEYARD AND LONE ROCK FIRE CLOSURE AREA

The area within the following boundary:

Starting at the Proclaimed Boundary of Hepper Ranger District where it meets withRanger District Boundary between NFJD and HepperRanger Districts in 1. 6 S., R. 29 E., Section 32 follow the Ranger District Boundary North until you meet the Proclaimed Boundary of Hepper Ranger District turn west following the Proclaimed Boundary arounduntil you reach the starting point at the Proclaimed Boundary of Heppner Ranger District where it meets with Ranger District Boundary between NFJD and Heppner Ranger Districts ni .T6S., R. 29 E., Section 32. All Boundary lands, roads and trails will be closed.
 

EXEMPTIONS
 

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:
 

(1) Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation Order), specifically exempting them from this order.
(2) Any Federal, State, orlocal Officer or member of an organized rescue orfire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
(3) Forest Service employees performing official duties.
 

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A. 

06-14-02-24-02

Violations of these prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000f o ra n organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both (16 U.s.C. 8551; 18 U.s.C. 8 3551, 3559, 3571, and 3581).
 

Executed in Pendleton, Oregon this 2Ist day ofJuly 2024.
Live
Eric Watrud
Forest Supervisor
Umatilla National Forest
  

Firefighting resources are conducting a firing operation along the perimeter in the southern portion of the fire. The intent of this operation is to cleanup unburned fuel (grass, brush, and down material) along the edge of the fire’s perimeter to help strengthen containment lines. 
These firing operations are coordinated with the incident meteorologist, incident commander and agency administrators to ensure the right conditions (weather and fuel) are met before ignition. 

Smokes continues to be seen on the incident from the firing operation and may be visible the rest of the evening. Please do not report as a new smoke. 

BAKER COUNTY EVACUATION LEVELS UPDATE (7/21/24 4:02 P.M.): Please be advised of the current evacuation levels pertaining to the Durkee Fire.

Level 3 (GO NOW) has been issued for the Bridgeport valley south of Pioneer Lane to the Baker/Malheur County line.

Level 2 (BE SET) has been issued for the area east of Highway 245 and south of Forest Service Road 11.

Level 1 (BE READY) is still in place for the City of Huntington.

The #DurkeeFire, which began on July 17th, has now encompassed approximately 116, 431 acres. The cause has been attributed to lightning strikes that were witnessed in the area.

Some Baker County residents are receiving emergency evacuation notifications to their cellular devices for the Durkee Fire.

The automated alert notification system factors in a wide location range due to your device location settings relative to the cellular towers and may not accurately reflect the evacuation map. For the most accurate, updated evacuation information please reference the evacuation maps posted to the Baker County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.