Start date: July 11, 2024 

Location: 9 miles east of Ironside, OR 

Total personnel: 194 

Fire size: 114,559 

Cause: Human caused, under investigation 

OSFM task forces: 5 

Containment: 0%  

Vale, OR— Starting at 6:00 a.m. this morning, the Cow Valley Fire and Bonita Fire are being managed under Unified Command by Oregon State Fire Marshall Red Team and NW Team 6, which are both Complex Incident Management Teams. The Oregon State Fire Marshall Red Team will lead structure protection efforts and defend critical infrastructure. NW Team 6, will focus on fire suppression and request and coordinate wildland firefighting resources including firefighters, engine crews, aviation, and heavy equipment. More resources are being ordered and should arrive over the next several days.  

The Malheur County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation orders, check below for more information or visit the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.  

The Cow Valley Fire started on July 11 and the cause is under investigation. The fire grew rapidly in size through dry flashy fuels (grass and juniper) due to severe weather conditions conducive to fire including high temperatures, low humidity levels, high winds, and a lack of overnight recovery time. On July 12, 2024 Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act which mobilized Oregon State Fire Marshall task force units from Marion, Clatsop, Multnomah, Lane, Umatilla counties to Malheur County for the first time in over 30 years.  

Yesterday, the Cow Valley Fire grew southeast towards Bully Creek Reservoir and Cottonwood Mountain Lookout Road. Firefighters completed some strategic firing operations from Bully Creek Road to prevent the advancement of the fire towards the geothermal power plant. The fire remains northwest and west of the community of Brogan and west of Hwy 26 near the communities of Jamieson and Vale.  

Today, crews will be working to suppress the Cow Valley Fire using direct and indirect attack. Indirect attack will include the creation of fireline, also know as handline or dozer line, some distance away from the fire. Fireline is created by firefighters or heavy equipment when they dig down to the mineral soil to create a perimeter around the fire. Indirect attack also includes the use of water from fire engines and water and retardant drops from aviation. Direct attack tactics will include strategic firing operations to reduce consumable (green) fuels ahead of the fire and to create fireline next to active fire. Firing operations will be minimized the smallest extent possible. 

BONITA FIRE: The Bonita Fire started on July 11 and the cause of it is under investigation. It is currently 2,275 acres. Yesterday, the fire spotted over the fire perimeter, but crews were able to extinguish the flames. Firefighters will continue to mop-up the fire perimeter by removing pockets of heat using water, hand tools, and heavy equipment.  

WEATHER AND SMOKE: A red flag warning is in effect until12:00am Sunday evening. A red flag warning occurs when the weather conditions show high temperatures, low humidity levels, and strong winds. This combination of weather conditions creates unstable conditions and could lead to extreme fire behavior. Thunderstorms are expected to move into the area later this afternoon. Lightning could create new fire starts and firefighters are prepared to address those. Temperatures could reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit today. Winds will be moving southeast at 3-14 mph, with gust up to 60 mph.  

Yesterday, smoke from the fire drifted east with the wind during the day and shifted west during the evening. For the current smoke information and the air quality index, visit airnow.gov.   

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES: 

Level 1 – Be Ready – Green 

The communities of Westfall and Vale. 

• Level 1, or “Get Ready”, evacuation means residents should prepare to evacuate and start packing essentials for themselves, pets, and livestock. 

Level 2 – Be Set – Yellow 

Residents along Highway 26 from Brogan to Willowcreek. This includes residents located north and west of Range Road (also known as Reservoir Road). 

• Level 2, or “Get Set”, evacuation means that there is high danger in the area and residents should prepare to leave at a moment's notice. If you or your family require additional time to evacuate, now is the time to do so.   

Level 3 – GO NOW – Red 

No locations are under this level of evacuation at this time. 

• Level 3, or “Go Now”, evacuation means that there is immediate danger. Leave without delay and do not return until officials announce that the area is safe.  

FIRE PREVENTION: A burn ban is currently in effect for all of Malheur County. For more information, visit https://www.malheurco.org/category/public-notices/.  

Cow Valley Fire Incident Website 

Cow Valley Fire Facebook 

Cow Valley Fire Phone Number: 541-208-4371    (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) 

Bench Lake Fire Update

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Contact Fire Information: 208-901-7230 or 2024.benchlake@firenet.gov

Start Date: July 11, 2024

Cause: Unknown, Under Investigation

Size: 150 acres

Percent Containment: 0%

Helicopters: --

Scooper Planes: 2

Engines: 6

Crews: 4

Total Personnel: 186

Great Basin Complex Incident Management Team 4, led by Incident Commander Steve Shaw, assumed command of the Bench Lake Fire Saturday evening. The fire started Thursday about eight miles south of Stanley, and by Friday Sawtooth National Forest officials ordered the closure of the popular Redfish Lake and surrounding recreation area because of its close proximity to the fire and potential for fire growth under the current conditions. 

Another reason for issuing the Redfish Lake Recreation Complex closure is to provide water scooping aircraft and helicopters unobstructed access to the lake as they have worked continuously to limit the fire’s growth, dousing the flames with thousands of gallons of water from the lake. 

Yesterday afternoon’s gusts increased fire activity and growth. The fire’s acreage will be updated when an infrared flight can be conducted; at this time, it’s estimated at 150 acres. About 186 firefighting personnel are assigned to the incident and additional resources are being mobilized for the full suppression effort.

Fire engines are in place at the north end of the lake to offer protection for Redfish Lodge and other structures.  Hot shot crews are being positioned to assess where they can engage the fire directly by digging hand line and utilizing natural features such as rock screes to begin containing the fire perimeter. Incident managers note that ground crews will be exercising extreme caution because of the significant hazard posed by dead and diseased trees in the area.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Closures:  Sawtooth National Recreation Area officials issued an emergency closure for the Bench Lake Fire (0414-04-147) July 12 for the Redfish Lake recreation complex, including the lodge and associated buildings, roads, trails, trailheads, and campgrounds in the area. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sawtooth/alerts-notices for a map and more details on the closure order. Highway 75 remains open.  

Fecha de inicio: 8 de junio, 2024

Ubicación: 31 millas al noroeste de Chelan, WA

Contención:  14%

Tamaño del incendio: 15,757 acres  

Causa: Causado por personas, bajo investigación

Personal total: 804

El incendio Pioneer arde en una zona montañosa y aislada en el Bosque Nacional Okanogan-Wenatchee, cerca de Lake Chelan. Aunque gran parte del incendio está en el área de Lake Chelan y el área de naturaleza Sawtooth, los bomberos están utilizando una extinción completa para proteger los valores en riesgo, la vida y la propiedad, al mismo tiempo que mantienen siempre la seguridad de los bomberos y del público como objetivo principal.Las comunidades de Chelan, Manson y Stehekin están abiertas y siguen recibiendo visitantes. 

El Departamento de Recursos Naturales de WA está ofreciendo un recurso a los terratenientes, "Asistencia financiera para la resistencia contra los incendios y la salud forestal". Puede ver los detalles en: https://tinyurl.com/3d3p3vmh

Ayer, las operaciones de quema a unas 8 millas al sureste de Stehekin disminuyeron los combustibles alrededor de las estructuras a lo largo de la orilla del lago entre Moore Point y Meadow Creek. Las condiciones fueron propensas para que los bomberos encendieran de manera ordenada pequeñas secciones y así remover los combustibles del suelo de una manera más controlada, lo que garantizó que el trabajo de quema consumiera lentamente los combustibles antes de que llegue el incendio. Este fuego de baja intensidad removió con éxito los combustibles y escombros secos del suelo. Al eliminar estos combustibles de antemano, se redujo signitivamente la amenaza para los hogares y la infraestructura a lo largo de la orilla del lago al proveer una zona de amortiguamiento ya quemada para proteger estas estructuras y al mismo tiempo limitar la probabilidad de que el fuego se propague manera muy intensa.

Los bomberos terminaron de colocar una manguera desde Nelson Butte hasta la orilla del lago y probarán el sistema hoy. También llevaron a cabo una misión de reconocimiento para localizar cualquier actividad de fuego en la zona. Las prioridades a corto plazo son la protección de puntos comunitarios para cabinas e infraestructura en tierras privadas y federales.

CLIMA Y HUMO: Hoy, el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional emitió un aviso de calor, junto con condiciones ventosas y extremadamente secas, que contribuirán a la actividad del fuego. El pronóstico de la calidad del aire se puede ver en https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Obtenga más información sobre el humo en smokeready.org. El jefe de bomberos emitió clasificaciones y restricciones de peligro de incendio; Consulte https://t.ly/WLBds para obtener más información. 

EVACUACIONES Y CIERRES: Permanecen vigentes los niveles de evacuación de nivel 1, 2 y 3 alrededor del incendio Pioneer; Visite https://t.ly/QoH9w para obtener más información. El Bosque Nacional Okanogan-Wenatchee tiene en marcha una orden de cierre para gran parte de la zona del incendio. Los detalles y mapas están disponibles en: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. Una restricción temporal de vuelo está en marcha sobre el incendio: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. 

INCIDENT MORNING UPDATE

Date: 7-14-2024 Time: 9:00 am

Size: 2887 acres                                                                             Start Date & Time: 7-7-24 9:51 am

Containment: 43%                                                                          Cause: Under Investigation

Total Personnel: 651                                                                      Location: Southside of Lytle Creek

Structures Threatened: 416                                                           Unified Command Agencies: California Incident Management Team 15, San Bernardino County Fire Dept. 

Containment lines on the Vista fires northern flank were tested yesterday during the afternoon and evening with gusty outflow winds from thunderstorms causing erratic winds. Firefighters were able to hold the fire within its current footprint while maintaining initial attack response readiness. Crews on the eastern flank secured the line along the 3N06 Rd., mopping up and gridding to identify any hot spots with the increase in wind. Containment has increased to 43 percent.

“Our theme for today is risk management. On the San Bernardino National Forest, we are thankful to the crews for being risk managers, being actively engaged on this incident, and for keeping their heads on the swivel,” said Danelle Harrison, San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor.

A red flag warning has been issued by the National Weather Service and remains in effect until 9 PM tonight. Visit this link for more information: https://www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo=sgx#. 

Today there is a 15 percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms with continuous outflow winds and a decrease in relative humidity. With the potential for increased fire activity, initial attack crews are ready to respond to any new starts and supplement firefighters on the Vista Fire. Crews will resume mop up activities and monitor the fire for any smoke or pockets of heat. In areas of steep, rugged terrain along the western and southern flanks, crews are looking for opportunities to construct line and go direct to increase containment. 

The Forest Service has an area closure in effect for the Vista Fire 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. The closure is in effect to protect firefighter personnel and communities. 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.

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:

Mt. Baldy Resort.

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.

###

Falls Fire Update for July 14, 2024 

Falls Fire 2024 | Facebook

(541) 208-4370 Staffed 8 am to 8 pm

2024.falls@firenet.gov

The Falls Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior with significant growth on Saturday. The fire is estimated at 55,000 acres with 0% containment.

Evacuation notices have been issued in Grant and Harney Counties. For the most accurate evacuation information, please visit the Harney County Sheriff’s evacuation map here: https://tinyurl.com/3zst4sjy, or the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068819321423.

A community meeting will be held tonight (Sunday), July 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Harney County Chamber of Commerce, located at 484 North Broadway Avenue in Burns, Oregon.

The eastern and southeastern flanks were the most active portions of the fire yesterday. Westerly and northwesterly winds pushed the fire across Forest Service Road (FSR) 37 and to the confluence of Myrtle Creek and Silvies River. To the south, the fire has reached Skull Creek Road. Crews were able to hold the fire along FSR 43. Along the north, crews were also able to hold the fire along FSR 4780. Isolated lightning and thunder were observed in the northeast portions of the large smoke column generated over the fire area. Crews worked throughout the night holding control lines, engaging the fire directly when it was safe to do so, and scouted for opportunities to establish indirect control lines ahead of the fire.

Two helicopters, six single-engine air tankers (SEATs), two large air tankers (LATs), and two very large air tankers (VLATs) supported firefighters Saturday as they made progress securing containment lines on the fire’s north and south flanks along FSR 43.

Similar fire behavior is expected again today. Rapid fire growth is likely given the forecasted weather and fuels conditions. Firefighters will work to hold the fire along established control lines along the western and southern flanks. Crews will continue to scout for opportunities to create indirect control lines and protect values at risk ahead of the fire along the northern and eastern flanks.

Ten hand crews, 16 fire engines, five bulldozers, and six water tenders are assigned to the fire. Additional resources are also responding to the incident and more resources have been ordered.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for Sunday with temperatures in the mid-90’s and very low relative humidity. Winds will prevail from the west and southwest from 8-10 mph. Afternoon thunderstorms are predicted for the area which may produce gusty outflow winds reaching 20-25 mph. Little to no precipitation is expected from these isolated thunderstorms.

The Malheur National Forest issued an updated fire area closure yesterday, July 13. Emigrant Creek Campground, Falls Campground, Yellowjacket Campground, and Delintment Lake Campground are closed. A detailed map and additional information about the fire area closure are available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1188914. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire area.

Start date: June 8, 2024  

Location: 31 miles northwest of Chelan, WA  

Containment: 14%  

Fire size: 15,757 acres  

Cause: Human caused, under investigation  

Total personnel: 804

The Pioneer Fire is burning within a mountainous and remote area on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Lake Chelan. Firefighters are using a full suppression response in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness to protect values at risk, life, and property, with firefighter and public safety as the primary objective. The communities of Chelan, Manson, and Stehekin are open and continue to welcome visitors. 

The WA Department of Natural Resources is offering a resource to landowners, “Financial Assistance for Wildfire Resilience and Forest Health.” Details may be found at: https://tinyurl.com/3d3p3vmh 

Yesterday, firing operations approximately 8 miles southeast of Stehekin reduced fuel loading around structures along the lakeshore between Moore Point and Meadow Creek. Conditions were favorable for firefighters to methodically ignite small patches to clean up ground fuels in a more controlled manner, ensuring this firing operation slowly consumed fuels ahead of the approaching wildfire. This low-intensity fire successfully removed dry and dead ground fuels and debris. By removing these fuels in advance, the threat to homes and infrastructure along the lakeshore was significantly reduced by providing a burned-out buffer zone to protect these structures while also limiting the opportunity for wildfire to move through at high intensity.

Firefighters completed a hose lay down from Nelson Butte to the shoreline of the lake and will test that system today. They also performed a reconnaissance mission to locate any active fire behavior in the area. Near-term priorities are community point protection for cabins and infrastructure on private and federal lands. 

WEATHER AND SMOKE: Today, a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service, coupled with breezy and extremely dry conditions, will contribute to active fire behavior. The air quality outlook can be found at https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about smoke at smokeready.org. The fire marshal issued fire danger ratings and restrictions; see  for more information. https://t.ly/WLBds for more information. 

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES: Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire; please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure order in place for much of the fire area. Details and maps are available at: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure.   A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. 

Location: Siskiyou County, CA

Size: 14,309 acres

Cause: Under Investigation

Start Date: Wednesday July 3, 2023, at 1:27PM

Percent Contained: 2%

Personnel: 3,024

CURRENT SITUATION:

Yesterday, the fire experienced another highly active day as the inversion lifted. Containment lines in the northwest section were tested as the fire advanced with brief uphill runs. In the Shackleford drainage area, firefighters received aerial support from aircraft conducting water and retardant drops to slow the fire's progression and bolster primary and secondary lines.

Escalating fire intensity necessitated crews to pull back on the north east to the south east of the fire and adapt tactics to prioritize firefighter safety.

Today, efforts continue to directly engage the fire on Shackleford Ridge, moving southwest towards Campbell and Cliff Lakes. Structure defense remains the number one priority, with engine crews deployed strategically to safeguard nearby communities.

Highway 3 is temporarily closed from Etna to Fort Jones due to fire activity. Motorists in the Shelly Fire area are urged to exercise caution due to the ongoing presence of heavy equipment and fire personnel on or near the roadways.

WEATHER:

Sunday will be another hot and dry day with poor overnight minimum relative humidity recoveries. There is a RED FLAG WARNING in effect until 11:00PM today. Enhanced terrain-driven up-canyon winds will continue, with westerly down-canyon winds in the late afternoon and evening. Some isolated dry thunderstorms are possible throughout the day, with a Fire Weather Watch in effect through Monday at 9:00PM. Strong outflow winds are possible, near any thunderstorms, with gusts ranging from 35-45 mph. 

EVACUATIONS:

Multiple Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff and www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES Additional evacuation information and a map can be found on the Genasys site at: https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=14&latlon=41.550694%2C-122.905589

SHELTERS:

Kahtishraam Wellness Center - Yreka 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 96097 Showers and cots are available.

RV Dry Camping/Parking

West Webb St. and Hoag St. in Montague

Please note, at this time, there are no extra services (sewage/water/power hookups). This is currently set up for DRY camping.

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Animal shelters are available at the following locations(s) for those who have pets and animals that been displaced due to the Shelly Fire:

Dog Evacuation Shelter:

Rescue Ranch Yreka

2216 East Oberlin Road, Yreka CA 96097 Contact: John Golay 541-698-7526

Livestock Animal Evacuation Shelter (Horses, pigs, sheep, goats, birds):

Siskiyou Golden Fair

1712 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097 Contact: Tom Taylor 530-340-1038

Cat Evacuation Shelter:

Siskiyou Golden Fair - Armory Building 1712 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097

Contact: Becca 530-340-0656

CLOSURES:

An official closure area around the Shelly Fire went into effect on July 4th. Hikers are not permitted in the area and will be asked to leave the area. For details and a map of the closure are, please

visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1187463.pdf.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS:

Forest fire restrictions also went into effect on July 4th. Campfires and stove fires are restricted to those developed areas listed in the forest order located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices/?aid=88596.

Smoking, welding, and operating an internal combustion engine also have restrictions in place.

Pacific Crest Trail Information: https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures