Start Date & Location: July 9, 2024,    5 miles south of York, MT

Cause: Human, under investigation                Size: 13,299 acres                                          Containment: 10%

Current Status

Yesterday, Horse Gulch fire operations determined the control line would reasonably hold the fire from Cave Gulch Road on the southern edge west along Jimtown Road and north to Kingsberry Gulch. Due to the hard work of crews, equipment operators, and aircraft pilots, that portion of the fire perimeter is contained. Residents who had been displaced by the threat of the Horse Gulch Fire were allowed to return home yesterday but remain under Evacuation Warning status. The area is still closed to the public. Crews completed hand line on the northeast portion of the fire through steep and rugged terrain inaccessible to heavy equipment, connecting with existing dozer line. Additional reinforcement of the fire’s southern border continued as crews transitioned to ‘mop up,’; searching for and extinguishing remaining heat along the fire line. Mop up is the last stage of fire suppression to include cold trailing where active flame and heat continue to be extinguished. Aerial support to fire fighters on the ground was key to the progress made on the Horse Gulch Fire. Night operations observed continued active fire behavior on the northeast side of the fire area due to extremely receptive fuels available to burn.

Today, fire lines will be improved upon by utilizing firing operations on areas of the northern perimeter as the weather allows. The primary focus will be on the northern side of the fire where the fire is most active.  Crews continue to reinforce fire lines at the top of Magpie Gulch. The Structure Group will continue to monitor and check structures throughout the fire area.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Today, winds will calm ahead of possible thunderstorms in the area bringing a slight chance of rain with a very small potential for any impact on fire activity. Temperatures are forecasted to be in the 90s-100, continuing to dry fuels on all aspects leading to fuels being resistant to control efforts. 

Evacuations and Closures

Evacuations (UPDATED): Effective 7/15/24, all evacuation orders transitioned to evacuation warnings, allowing residents of homes and RVs back into their properties. Under evacuation warning, residents should be prepared to leave if conditions change. Sheriff - Lewis & Clark County (lccountymt.gov)

Road Closure: Canyon Ferry Road remains closed to the public from Canyon Ferry Village to the Broadwater County line. 

Forest Closure: The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest updated their forest closure. It can be found at Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest - Home (usda.gov) 

BLM Closure: The Butte Field Office has issued a closure on BLM lands near the fire area. https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/mthlf-horse-gulch-fire/signed-blm-area-closure-07-14-2024 

Lake Fire Start: Friday, July 5, 2024 at 3:48 p.m.

Cause: Under investigation

Location: Near Zaca Lake in Santa Barbara County, north of Los Olivos, California

Size at time of update: 38,430 acres

Containment: 34%

Personnel: 3,546

Full Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-2024-lake-fire

Media Assets: Official 2024 Lake Fire Photos and Videos

The Lake Fire is split into a North and South Zone. The fire remains under Unified Command with California Complex Incident Management Team 13, CAL FIRE, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff, with two main fire camps to support firefighting efforts. 

North Zone Fire Report: Firefighters continue making good progress as increased humidity and cooler temperatures reduced fire activity. On the north portion of the fire perimeter, firefighters continue to secure the fire edge along the Sisquoc River. Crews will be inserted into remote portions of the Zaca Ridge area via helicopter to be positioned to increase containment lines. Along the southeast portion of the fire, firefighters continue “mop up” which is the finding and extinguishing of any smoldering materials near the fire line. 

South Zone Fire Report: Crews are making continued progress strengthening control lines around the Lake Fire. There was decreased fire activity overnight due to improved weather conditions. The Happy Canyon and Figueroa Contingency Groups have completed construction of contingency lines.

Forecast Report for Monday: Highsin the 80s and lower 90s. Afternoon humidity values will trend slightly drier with readings forecast from 18-32% across much of the fire. Afternoon northwest winds 5-10 mph with gusts 15-20 mph. 

Donations: We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community. We ask that any donations or volunteer efforts be directed to local food banks to assist the community and those displaced by fire. Lake Fire Incident Command Posts cannot accept donations.

Updated Lake Fire Area Closure: The Los Padres National Forest has increased the area closure for lands affected by the Lake Fire. View the Closure Order & Closure Order Map.  This will remain in effect until August 18, 2024, or until revised or rescinded. 

Smoke: Yesterday, smoke production from the Lake fire was moderated and transported to the north and northeast. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) have updated the Air Quality Alert which includes the Santa Ynez Valley and other areas in proximity to the Lake Fire. 

Evacuation Areas: The Santa Barbara County Sherrif has reduced some of the Evacuation orders and warnings:  See the most recent updates: https://www.readysbc.org/4275/Lake-Fire-Incident---July-2024 Register for emergency alerts at ReadySBC.org.

  Road Closures: Visit the County Road Closure Map for more details.

• Happy Canyon Road at the Forest Service Boundary
• Figueroa Mountain Road at 1/2 mile north of Highway 154
• Calzada Avenue and Brinkerhofff Avenue at Roblar

Actualización del Incidente del Incendio Lake 15 de Julio de 2024

Número de teléfono del Incendio Lake: 213-631-5455 Horas: 8 a.m. – 8.p.m

Correo electrónico de Incendio Lake: 2024.lake@firenet.gov

Inicio del Incendio Lake: viernes, 5 de Julio de 2024 a las 3:48 p.m.

Causa: Bajo investigación

Ubicación: Cerca de Lago Zaca en el Condado de Santa Bárbara, al norte de Los Olivos, California

Tamaño en el momento de la actualización: 38,430 acres

Contención: 34%

Personal 3,546

Detalles completos del Incidente: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-2024-lake-fire

Medios de Comunicación:: Official 2024 Lake Fire Photos and Videos

El Incendio Lake está dividido en una Zona Norte y una Zona Sur. El incendio permanece bajo Mando Unificado con el Equipo 13 de Gestión de Incidentes Complejos de California, CAL FIRE, Incendios del Condado de Santa Bárbara y el Sheriff del Condado de Santa Bárbara, con dos campamentos principales de bomberos para apoyar los esfuerzos de extinción.

Informe del Incendio en la Zona Norte: Los bomberos continúan haciendo un buen progreso a medida que el aumento de la humedad y las temperaturas más frescas reducen la actividad del fuego. En la parte norte del perímetro del incendio, los bomberos continúan asegurando el borde del fuego a lo largo del Río Sisquoc. Las tripulaciones se insertarán en porciones remotas de la zona Zaca Ridge a través de helicóptero para ser posicionado para aumentar las líneas de contención. A lo largo de la parte sureste del incendio, los bomberos continuar " la limpieza ", que es la búsqueda y extinción de cualquier material humeante cerca de la línea de fuego.

Informe de la Zona Sur: Las tripulaciones están haciendo progresos continuos fortalecimiento de las líneas de control alrededor del Incendio Lake. Hubo una disminución de la actividad del fuego durante la noche debido a las condiciones meteorológicas mejoraron. Los Grupos de Contingencia de Happy Canyon y Figueroa han completado la construcción de líneas de contingencia.

Pronóstico para el lunes: Máximas entre 80 y 90 grados. Por la tarde los niveles de humedad serán ligeramente más secos, con niveles entre el 18 y el 32% en gran parte del incendio. Vientos del noroeste por la tarde 5-10 mph con ráfagas de 15-20 mph.

Donaciones: Agradecemos la generosidad de la comunidad. Pedimos que cualquier donación o esfuerzos voluntarios sean dirigidos a los bancos de alimentos locales para ayudar a la comunidad y los desplazados por el incendio. Los Estaciones de Comando de Incidentes de Incendio Lake no pueden aceptar donaciones.

Actualización del Cierre del Área del Incendio Lake: El Bosque Nacional de Los Padres ha aumentado las zonas cerradas afectadas por el Incendio Lake. Consulte la Orden de Cierre y el Mapa de Orden de Cierre. Esto permanecerá en vigor hasta el 18 de agosto de 2024, o hasta que sea revisado o rescindido.

Humo: Ayer, la producción de humo debido al Incendio Lake se moderó y se desplazó hacia el norte y el noreste. El Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Santa Bárbara y el Distrito de Control de la Contaminación del Aire del Condado de Santa Bárbara (APCD) han actualizado la Alerta de Calidad del Aire que incluye el Valle de Santa Ynez y otras áreas en las proximidades del Incendio Lake.

Áreas de Evacuación: El Sherrif del Condado de Santa Bárbara ha reducido algunas de las órdenes de evacuación y advertencias: Consulte las actualizaciones más recientes: https://www.readysbc.org/4275/Lake-Fire-Incident---July-2024 Regístrese para recibir alertas de emergencia en ReadySBC.org.

Cierres de carreteras:Visite el Mapa de Cierre de Carreteras del Condado para más detalles.

• Canyon Road en el límite del Servicio Forestal
• Figueroa Mountain Road a 1/2 milla al norte de la Autopista 154
• Avenida Calzada y Avenida Brinkerhofff en Roblar

Lake Fire Start: Friday, July 5, 2024 at 3:48 p.m.

Cause: Under investigation

Location: Near Zaca Lake in Santa Barbara County, north of Los Olivos, California

Size at time of update: 38,653 acres

Containment: 38%

Personnel: 3,267

Full Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-2024-lake-fire

Media Assets: Official 2024 Lake Fire Photos and Videos
The Lake Fire is split into a North and South Zone: The fire remains under Unified Command with California Complex Incident Management Team 13, CAL FIRE, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff, with two main fire camps to support firefighting efforts. 

North Zone Fire Report:  Firefighters continue to look for opportunities to go direct on the fire and build containment lines close to the fire edge around the Sisquoc River. Handline is being extended to connect the Schoolhouse Road to Zaca Ridge. Additional hotshot crews will be inserted into remote portions of the Zaca Ridge area via helicopter to be positioned to increase containment lines. Along the southeast portion of the fire, firefighters continue working to connect firelines across the less accessible portions of the fire edge. Crews have been successful in protecting natural resources even with significant dozer line construction and suppression activities.

South Zone Fire Report: Crews continued monitoring and strengthening control lines around the Lake Fire. Suppression repair work is beginning across the south zone, repairing and naturalizing dozer lines, installing water bars, and other work to repair any damage caused by suppression efforts.

Forecast Report for Tuesday: A gradual warming and drying trend starts Wednesday and continues into the weekend with daytime highs back into the 90s to around 100 degrees with lowering humidity values, especially at night above the marine inversion layer.

Donations: We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community. We ask that any donations or volunteer efforts be directed to local food banks to assist the community and those displaced by fire. Lake Fire Incident Command Posts cannot accept donations.

Updated Lake Fire Area Closure: The Los Padres National Forest has increased the area closure for lands affected by the Lake Fire. View the Closure Order & Closure Order Map.  This will remain in effect until August 18, 2024, or until revised or rescinded. 

Smoke: As air quality conditions improve, the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) —Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) have lifted the Air Quality Alert in the Santa Ynez Valley.  The Air Quality Watch will remain in place countywide, and air quality conditions are forecasted to be good to moderate throughout the county.

Evacuation Areas: The Santa Barbara County Sherrif has reduced some of the Evacuation orders and warnings:  See the most recent updates: https://www.readysbc.org/4275/Lake-Fire-Incident---July-2024 Register for emergency alerts at ReadySBC.org.

 Road Closures: Visit the County Road Closure Map for more details.

• Happy Canyon Road at the Forest Service Boundary
• Figueroa Mountain just north of Midland School
• Forest Route 10N06 
• Zaca Lake Road east of Foxen Canyon Road

**Smoke Report 7-16-17**

Fire

The Silver King fire has burned 17,648 acres with little fire growth of 106 acres on Sunday. Containment has increased to 18%. Active fire behavior, short crown runs and spotting. Firefighters continue building and reinforcing firelines, and protecting structures in further suppression efforts.

Smoke 

Yesterday, air quality for most areas around the fire improved in the afternoon. Today, transport winds are from the west and NW, moving smoke toward the southeast. As the fire becomes contained, less and less smoke is produced, reducing smoke impacts to nearby areas.

Actions to take

Being smoke ready means having knowledge and ability to stay reasonably safe and healthy during smoke episodes. Some approaches include creating a “clean room” at home, purchasing an air filter, knowing how to determine current air quality, minimizing indoor sources of air pollution, and limiting time outdoors when it’s smoky

THIS WILL BE THE FINAL INCIDENT UPDATE FOR THE ROYAL FIRE

Size: 215 acres

Containment: 95%

Current Situation

Due to successful suppression efforts, resources are focused on mop up and suppression repair for the Royal Fire. Efforts were slowed over the weekend due to significant dry lightning and thunderstorms over the fire area. Resources were pulled from suppression repair activities during the lightning events for safety. 

Over the weekend the Tahoe National Forest received 158 lightning strikes. 4 new lightning-caused fires were detected on the forest. Royal Fire initial attack resources were able to respond to the new starts. All new starts have been successfully contained and are currently being mopped up and/or patrolled. Royal Fire incident commanders have maintained initial attack resources to assist with any new starts in the fire area or any needed surge capacity for the fire. A significant number of resources plan to demobilize from the incident today and tomorrow.

Tahoe National Forest’s closure order for the fire area will remain active for public safety. The public is advised to stay out of recently burned areas. Fire-weakened trees are easily downed in the wind, potentially causing injury or death. Ash pits and burned stump holes in a fire area often cannot be seen from the surface and have the potential for severe burns and injury.

Containment on the Royal Fire is expected to improve. Fire resources will continue suppression repair long after incident commanders determine the fire fully contained and controlled. Fire resources plan to patrol the fire, likely through fall 2024 or until the fire area receives significant precipitation to where reignition is no longer a concern. 

Suppression Repair

Suppression repair efforts continue throughout the Royal Fire area. Suppression repair efforts repair damage caused directly from fire suppression activities. Fire personnel work alongside forest resource advisors throughout the suppression repair process. Repair activities include grading of roads used extensively during suppression activities, the construction of water breaks, dozer lines and handlines to control erosion, restoration of drainage, clearing of debris and mulching disturbed soil to prevent damage to water quality.

Size: 2936 acres
Containment: 59%
Total Personnel: 610
Structures Threatened: 416
Start Date & Time: 7-7-24 9:51 am
Cause: Under Investigation
Location: Southside of Lytle Creek

Firefighters will focus on patrols, mop-up operations and enhancing containment lines throughout the fire while remaining prepared to mobilize and respond to any new fire starts nearby. Fire suppression repair operations will expand to containment lines that have already been mopped up and show no heat. Crews will consolidate and remove materials and equipment from these lines. Specialized equipment will be brought in to begin restoring the lines cut to contain the fire, including contingency lines farther from the fire's edge. Containment increased to 59 percent.

“We’re now switching to suppression repair—which consists of returning disturbed areas to the desired condition. The team is just as enthusiastic about repair as we are about fighting fire. We take pride in our work and want to leave the forest in good shape,” said Stephen Fillmore, Deputy Incident Commander.

The Forest Service has an area closure in effect on the San Bernardino and the Angeles National Forest. The public is prohibited from recreating in the fire area and should not enter the forest on Lytle Creek Road. For firefighter and public safety, the forest closure order remains in effect.

AIR QUALITY: 

Visit AirNow.gov for information and actions you can take to protect yourself and loved ones.

ROAD CLOSURES:

Lytle Creek Road is closed to the general public including all recreation areas north of Glen Helen Parkway.

EVACUATIONS:

None.

Note: In an effort to quickly communicate information on impending dangers, the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department and San Bernardino County Fire Department send high-speed mass notifications via telephone and text messages. This system is known as the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS). To learn more about this service, visit the website for more information: https://sbcfire.org/alertwarning/.

CLOSURES:

Closure order in effect on the San Bernardino National Forest and the Angeles National Forest. Several roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, and dispersed recreation areas are closed to the public to provide for firefighter, community and public safety. Recreation activities are prohibited within the closure area. More information about the closure order is available on the national forest websites at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sbnf/alerts-notices and https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles/alerts-notices.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS:

The San Bernardino National Forest has implemented increased fire restrictions. Campfires are restricted to those developed areas listed in the Forest Order.

###

**Silver King Fire Daily Update - July 16, 2024**

Firefighting efforts continue in the northeast, holding the fire at Deer Creek. A hotshot crew accessed the steep, hazardous drainage using UTVs and is going direct on the fire’s edge where they can safely engage. A second hotshot crew will be working between Indian Hollow and Deer Creek drainage to secure the northeast corner of the f ire. The fire’s edge from Beaver Creek to Bullion Canyon is contained and firefighters are mopping up, as well as monitoring and patrolling the line. Crews have cleared hazardous trees along Bullion Canyon Road, south to Mt. Edna, allowing for safe ingress and egress. Night operations are still in effect with eastern focus on Bullion Canyon to protect the Marysvale watershed and Miners Park historic area. The high rocky basins of the Tusher Mountains are a natural barrier to fire spread because there are very few opportunities for fire to progress.

Fire officials develop a strategy for managing every wildland fire that can include full suppression, confinement, point protection, or monitoring. Typically, a combination of strategies is used on any given fire. The Silver King Fire is being managed using full suppression and containment strategies to the north, east and south, containment and confinement along most of the western perimeter, and the protection of values at risk throughout the fire area.

When a combination of strategies is used, containment isn’t always the most accurate measure for work that has been done. In these situations, completion, measured as percentage of objectives completed, is used to more accurately describe the amount of work that has been accomplished. This changes the containment percentage to completion percentage.

The chance of flash flooding is low due to the lack of moisture and only a tenth of an inch of rain was measured on the east side of the fire. Temperatures are in the mid-80s over the lower elevations of the fire, and low relative humidities are around 19-24 percent. The chance for wetting rains remains low at less than 15 percent.

Air quality for most areas around the fire has improved. For more smoke information go to https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks.

The Fishlake National Forest has issued a Forest Closure Order and Stage 1 Fire Restrictions that can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fishlake/alerts-notices. The Castle Rock Campground remains open to the public.

Evacuations: There are currently “GO” orders in place for Tonto National Monument, Black Brush Ranch, Cross-P Ranch, Reevis Mountain School, Cottonwood Cove Picnic Area, Frazier, Windy Hill, Schoolhouse, and Grapevine Campgrounds. There are “SET” orders in place for Quail Run, Roosevelt Post Office, Lakeview Mobile Home Park, and Roosevelt Lake Marina and RV Park. Boat ramps at Cholla and Windy Hill are currently open. 

Closures: The Tonto National Forest has issued a closure for land surrounding the Black Fire. View the full closure on its website. Additionally, the Tonto National Monument is closed.

Operations: On Monday, crews continued structure protection efforts within the Tonto National Monument, focusing on cultural resources in the area. The fire spread at a rapid pace to the east throughout the day, causing crews to conduct firing operations ahead of the main fire to help stop fire spread toward the Black Brush ranch. Aviation resources, including helicopters and air tankers, were utilized along the east side of the fire to help slow it’s spread. Today, crews will continue to improve and reinforce firelines around the north and east sides of the fire and improve Forest Road 49 for use as a fireline on the west.  

Weather: The high Tuesday will be 103 degrees, with 20-25 mph southwest wind. There is a chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon bringing wind, lightning, and rain. Fuel moisture is critically low, and fuels are very receptive to fire. 

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the highest priority. Please avoid the area while crews conduct fire suppression operations. Citizens are urged to sign up for the Gila and Maricopa County Emergency Notification System. To learn more about the Arizona Emergency Information Network visit: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go. Firefighting aircraft and drones are a dangerous combination. Drones in the area could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly…we can’t.

Smoke: There is moderate to heavy smoke present from the Black Fire as well as other fires in the area.  Individuals who are sensitive to smoke or have conditions aggravated by smoke are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Location: South of Roosevelt Lake on the edge of the Superstition Wilderness

Start Date: July 11, 2024

Size: Approximately 8,679 acres

Percent Contained: 0%

Cause: Lightning

Vegetation: Tall Grass and Brush

Resources: 9 Handcrews, 7 Helicopters, 9 Engines, 1 Dozer, and 4 Water Tenders.

Number of Personnel Assigned: 362

Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire

InciWeb: Black Fire Fire email: 2024.black.az@firenet.gov Information Phone: 928-295-1514

Social Media: X @TontoForest and Facebook @TontoNationalForest

Firefighters prepare for oncoming rains on the Ridge Fire

Daily Update – Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Acres: 3,740                                                                            

Start Date: 7/4/2024

Location: 19 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                 

Personnel: 321

Containment: 20%                                                                  

Fuels: Timber, grass, understory

Highlights: Fire activity is expected to decrease with incoming rain forecasted today and through the week. Firefighters are completing erosion prevention activities around the fire area, including seeding and installing water bars on constructed handlines and Forest Road 159, and using chipping materials to add mulch to disturbed areas at the fire camp. 

Operations: Yesterday, firefighters completed a reconnaissance flight to establish a new perimeter and updated acreage for the fire. As temperatures rose, fire grew with low intensity on the southern and eastern edges. The fire continues to smolder across the basin and creek bottoms, burning through a heavy layer of dead and downed leaf litter. Despite some growth, crews were able to successfully hold their containment lines on Trail #151. Water bars were installed on Forest Road 159 to divert water off handlines in the event of heavy rainfall. Fire crews monitored the northern side of the fire perimeter down into Gilita Creek with an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) that captures infrared and aerial imagery to help inform strategic planning. Firefighters are using a chipper to cut branches and logs into small wood chips along Willow Creek on Forest Road 159. Crews are hauling the wood chips out of the area to minimize potential debris in Willow Creek. Firefighters expect to complete these chipping operations in Willow Creek by late morning, ahead of predicted rains. Grading will continue along Forest Road 159 to improve road conditions as fire vehicles travel the roadways. Fire activity is still limited to smoldering and creeping, although it is expected to decrease further with the incoming rain. UAS will likely be used again today to provide more information about fire progression in the Iron Creek area where the federally protected Gila trout are located. Deploying the UAS in steep terrain like Iron Creek is a strategic action fire managers use to minimize potential safety risks to firefighters.

Weather: An increase in moisture will result in numerous showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and into the night. Some gusty and erratic winds will occur in the vicinity of thunderstorms. The additional moisture could result in just slightly cooler temperatures than Monday, with slightly higher humidity values. 

Smoke: Smoke may be visible from Mogollon, Willow Creek, and Snow Lake. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. Smoke monitors are in place at the Glenwood Ranger Station, Cliff, and Gila Cliff Dwellings.

Closures: The Gila National Forest has issued an emergency temporary closure of trails and trail segments for the Ridge Fire. The purpose of the closure order is for the protection of firefighters and public health and safety during emergency wildfire suppression activities occurring in and around the trails. The full closure order (No. 03-06-05-24-002) and map are available on the Gila National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes uncrewed aircraft or drones. Flying drones near wildfires is dangerous for pilots and firefighters and can bring wildfire suppression efforts to a halt. Know before you fly. If you fly, we can’t. More information can be found at: https://uas.nifc.gov/. 

More Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmgnf-ridge-fire / 

575-323-8994 / https://www.facebook.com/GilaNForest / 2024.ridge@firenet.gov