Bucktail Fire

Community Meeting 

with Fire Managers

Tuesday, August 6

6-8PM

Nucla Community Center 

Whisky Creek Fire Daily Update / Actualización diaria del incendio Whisky Creek

August 4, 2024 / 4 de agosto de 2024

Size / Tamaño: 1,003 acres

Start Date / Fecha de inicio: July 20, 2024 / 20 de julio de 2024

Cause / Causa: Human – Under Investigation / Humana, a ser determinada

Location / Ubicación: 6 miles SE of Cascade Locks, OR / 6 millas al SE de Cascade Locks, OR

Containment / Contención:  0%

Fuels / Combustibles: Scrub oak, timber, and grass / Arbustos de roble, restos de madera y césped

Highlights / Aspectos destacados::

The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 2, led by Incident Commander Scott Schuster, assumed command of the Whisky Creek Fire today, August 4, 2024, at 6 a.m.  Fire Operations assessed the fire by air and reported minimal fire activity with growth mainly on the west and south.

Hoy, 4 de agosto de 2024, a las 6 a.m el Equipo de gestión de Incidentes 2 del Complejo Northern Rockies, dirigido por el Comandante de Incidentes Scott Schuster, asumió el mando del incendio Whisky Creek. Las encargados del incendio lo evaluaron por el aire e informaron una actividad mínima con crecimiento principalmente en el oeste y el sur.

Operations / Operaciones:

Helicopters conducted water drops on the western edge of the fire where it is slowly backing downslope into the Herman Creek watershed below Wooly Horn Ridge. Firefighting aircraft are being requested to deploy retardant to prevent further movement westward. Due to the moderate growth of the fire, helicopter rappelers will assess northwestern edge of the fire to identify potential landing spots and determine if direct fire suppression tactics will be feasible on that edge of the fire. Construction of primary indirect line and strengthening of secondary line continues.

Los helicópteros vertieron agua en el borde oeste del incendio donde se retrocede lentamente cuesta abajo hacia la cuenca de Herman Creek, por aajo de Wooly Horn Ridge. Se están pidiendo aeronaves de extinción de incendios para dejar caer retardante y así evitar la propagación hacia el oeste. Debido al crecimiento moderado del fuego, los rapeleros de helicópteros evaluarán el extremo noroeste del incendio para identificar posibles puntos de aterrizaje y determinar si el trabajo de extinción directo del fuego será buena idea en ese borde del incendio. Se siguen construyendo líneas indirectas primarias y reforzando la línea secundaria.

Fire Behavior and Weather / Clima e intensidad del incendio::

Warm and dry weather is expected to continue into next week with a very slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Fire behavior over the past week has been moderate, with creeping and smoldering behavior, but is expected to increase in the afternoon with slight to moderate spread and increased smoke production as warm and dry conditions persists. 

Se espera que el clima caliente y seco continuará hasta la próxima semana con una pequeña posibilidad de lluvias y tormentas eléctricas esta tarde. Ha sido moderada la actividad del fuego durante la última semana, con una actividad lenta y humeante, pero se espera que aumente por la tarde con una propagación leve a moderada y juto con más humo a medida que persistan las condiciones cálidas y secas.

Road and Trail Closures / Caminos y vías cerrados:

The Mt. Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area closure information can be found at: Whisky Creek Fire Closures in Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. Hood River County has closure information can be found on their website.

Información sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional Mt. Hood y el Área Escénica Nacional del Río Columbia se puede encontrar en: Cierres por el incendio Whisky Creek en los espacios naturales de Mark O. Hatfield. El condado de Hood River tiene información sobre los cierres en sus páginas web.

Total Fire Resources Assigned / Total de recursos asignados al incendio:

• Approx. 400 personnel/personal, 10 hand crews/equipos de obreros, 2 engines/camiones de obreros, 4 water tenders/tanques de agua, 3 dozers/topadoras, 5 masticators/trituradoras , and/y 2 skidders/tractores.                                

Contact Information / Información de contacto: 

Email / Correo electrónico: 2024.whiskycreek@firenet.gov

Phone / teléfono: 541-208-1743, 8 A.M - 8 P.M 

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:

Public Information Officer, Glen Sachet, (970) 823-4060

Bucktail Fire Update – August 4, 2024, 11:00 a.m. 

Nucla, Colorado, 

Start Date: August 1, 2024

Cause: Unknown

Size: 3,515 acres

Percent Contained: 5%

Resources Assigned: 154 personnel

Crews (4); Engines (6); Water tenders (2); Air Resources (3); Heavy Equipment (5)

Special Thank you to the local communities. Your support has been amazing!

Yesterday: On the west flank of the fire, firefighters continued to build fire line northward. Along the southern flank, fire fighters built fire line toward Bucktail Creek. Two helicopters worked to cool hotspots with water drops. Firefighters scouted out fire line locations for the next day’s work. While the fire grew approximately 200 acres yesterday, the growth slowed significantly from the previous day’s due to firefighters work and weather changes.  

Today: Like yesterday, there are two divisions of firefighters. One division is continuing to work northward along the west side and the second division is working eastward along the southeast side. Firefighters will continue to scout for fire line options. Helicopters will continue to drop water on hot spots to check the fire’s spread. Fire managers anticipate this to continue for the next several days. 

Weather: Partly cloudy till noon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. At 8000 ft. temperatures will range from 73-83F with minimum relative humidity 22-32%. At 6000 ft. temperatures will range from 86-96 with minimum relative humidity 16-26%. Winds will be upslope 4-8 mph after 11 a.m. with more erratic and gusty winds where thunderstorms are present. 

Evacuations: None.

 Closures:  Road closures are in place within the area of the fire. County Road 25 Mesa is now closed due to emergency operations on the Bucktail Fire. The closure extends from the 25 Mesa/Divide Road intersection to where the pavement starts on 25 Mesa outside of Nucla. Houser Cow Camp Road is closed, down to Old Highway 90 (https://www.facebook.com/MontroseCountySO). A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If You Fly We Can’t Fly https://knowbeforeyoufly.org/home

Smoke Information: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has issued another Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke in Montrose County. Visit https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_advisory.aspx for details. For more information on current air quality got to Fire and Smoke Map (airnow.gov) and zoom in on Southwest Colorado. 

Fire Prevention: Fire managers would like to remind everyone to be attentive to their actions and surroundings, especially in areas with dry vegetation or dead/down trees. Preventing human-caused fires is the most important thing anyone can do to help firefighters. Check for local fire restrictions. Practice smart wildfire prevention behavior including never leaving a campfire unattended, and ensuring their fires are completely out and cold. Make sure trail chains don’t drag because, every spark can start a fire! 

Red Fire

August 4, 2024

Daily Fire Update

Online: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-red-fire

Facebook: 2024 Red Fire Information

YouTube Channel: EA CIMT

Fire Information Line: 541-208-1766, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Email: 2024.red@firenet.gov

Red Fire Quick Facts

• Size: 490 acres 
• Start Date: July 17, 2024   
• Origin:  5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, OR
• County: Klamath
• Cause: Lightning   
• Total Staff: 290
• Containment: 0%   
• Shaded Fuel Break Completed: 1.75 miles
• Hand Line Completed: 0.8 mile

Operations: Yesterday’s scattered light showers produced a tenth of an inch of precipitation over the fire, which helped increase humidity but was not enough to have a significant long-term impact on the fire. Crews completed the work to reduce fuels along the southwest shore of Odell Lake. The shaded fuel break between Crescent Lake and Odell Lake is nearing completion with an additional .25 miles from Crescent Lake Resort toward Crescent Lake State Airport completed. Crews have completed structure protection assessments around Odell Lake Resort and surrounding homes, preparing structure protection gear that can be deployed if needed. Over 550 structure assessments have been accomplished in total. Crews have also completed about 60 out of 100 acres of ladder fuel reduction between Forest Service Road 60 and the residential service road by removing grass, brush, small trees, and low-level limbs that can convey fire into tree canopies. Road crews continued to improve Forest Service Road 6010 with a dozer, making it safer and more accessible for heavy equipment. Road improvement work expanded to Summit Lake. 

Today, firefighters will resume their efforts to protect homes, infrastructure, and natural resources. Crews will soon finish extending the shaded fuel break between Crescent Lake and Odell Lake and removing ladder fuels between Forest Service Road 60 and the residential service road, which will help create defensible space for residences in the area. 

Round Mountain & Wickiup Fires: Please be aware fire operations will continue around these fires.

Round Mountain Fire is 108 acres and 85% contained. Firefighters continue to patrol, mop-up, and complete repair work. 

The Wickiup Fire is 168 acres and 90% contained. Firefighters continue to patrol and mop-up.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office lifted the evacuation order around the Wickiup Fire. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has dropped all evacuation levels around the Wickiup Fire. This includes the Haner Park area and the Deschutes National Forest between Forest Service Road 4262 and Forest Service Road 44, south of South Century Drive (FSR 42) and Burgess Road (FSR 43).  Temporary emergency closures around the Wickiup Fire decreased to open Bull Bend & Wyeth Campgrounds and Tenino Boat Launch. Temporary emergency closures remain in effect for areas around the Wickiup Fire and Round Mountain Fire.

Closures: The Deschutes National Forest has implemented an emergency closure around Crescent Lake and in the Diamond Peak Wilderness. Closure information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices/?aid=89091 

Evacuation Notices: The WILDFIRE! Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate notice issued by Klamath County Emergency Management for the Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, and Crescent Junction areas remains in effect (INCENDIO FORESTAL! Nivel 1 - ESTÉ PREPARADO para evacuar de las siguientes zonas: Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Crescent Junction). For information, or to sign up for alerts, visit: www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergency-management 

Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions which prohibit open fires, including in developed campgrounds, are in effect for the Deschutes National Forest.  Visit the Deschutes National Forest’s website fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/home/?cid=stelprdb5297376 for more information. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level is currently Level IV “General Shutdown”.

Weather: Sunny with temperatures reaching 80° and 30% relative humidity. Winds out of the west gusting up to 17 mph. There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.

Smoke: Air quality information can be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/. 

11:00 AM, August 11, 2024

Estimated size: 115 acres
Start Date/Time: July 17, 2024
Area of Origin: Johannesburg Mountain. 1 Mile East of Mineral Park C.G.
Cause: Lightning
Fuels/Topography: Timber, rugged terrain
Structures Damaged: None, there are no homes threatened at this time.
Evacuations: None

Closures: Cascade River Road at and including Marble Creek Campground, Mineral Park Campground, and all tributary roads, trailheads, and trails are all closed. The public is not to enter the area for public and firefighter safety.
Full closure orders available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs

Update: Minimal fire growth occurred yesterday due to cooler temperatures and light precipitation in the late afternoon. The fire continues to hold approximately 50’ from the Cascade River Road. The requested reconnaissance flight was cancelled due to weather conditions. Firefighters continue to monitor the area and engage in suppression for emerging hotspots. Today, firefighters intend to install hose lines along the 1590 road to prepare for the possibility of the fire moving further down the hill.

Weather: Cooler conditions over the next few days with a trough over the region. Expect excellent humidity recoveries. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms which may produce gusty and erratic winds. Partly sunny, haze. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Max temperatures around 75 degrees. Light winds becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds expected near thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Smoke: For more information on smoke and air quality please visit: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Air Space Restrictions: There are no air space restrictions at this time.

Forest Restrictions: The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie has a full campfire ban and forest-wide shooting restrictions in place to help prevent human-caused starts during this period of unprecedented resource scarcity. Additional details at: www.fs.usda.gov/mbs
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Size: 1,311 acres

Start Date: July 22, 2024

Cause: Undetermined

Location: 5 miles west of Mosier, OR

Containment:  84%

Fuels: Brush, timber, and grass

Highlights:

The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 2, led by Incident Commander Scott Schuster, assumed command of the Microwave Tower Fire today, August 4, 2024, at 6 a.m.  Fire operations assessed the fire by air and reported minimal fire activity.

Operations:

The hot spots identified during the aerial reconnaissance were smoldering stumps and vegetation within the fire’s interior, and away from the fire perimeter. Located in inaccessible areas with steep rocky terrain, these hot spots are expected to burn out. Crews patrolled the perimeter to strengthen and secure firelines. 

Today, engine crews will continue to patrol the fire’s perimeter looking for smoke and mopping up accessible hot spots. Suppression repair will begin along fire lines to reduce erosion and return disturbed areas to as natural condition as possible.  Resources have also been identified to support the local unit with initial attack of any new fires.

Fire Behavior and Weather:

Clear skies return with northwesterly winds. Temperatures remain hot and forest vegetation is dry. Isolated interior pockets of unburnt fuel will produce visible smoke as consumed. Drivers are asked to please use caution on Interstate 84 as firefighters are still working in the area. 

Evacuations:

Level 2 and 1 evacuations remain in effect for Wasco County: https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff 

Level 1 evacuations remain in effect for Hood River County: https://www.facebook.com/hrcso 

Road and Trail Closures:

For public and firefighter safety, closures are in place for The Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and for roads in Hood River County. Details of these closures are available on their websites: https://www.hoodrivercounty.gov/closures and https://stateparks.oregon.gov/

To stay informed on the most up-to-date road conditions on Interstate 84, visit https://tripcheck.com/ 

Total Fire Resources Assigned:

Approx. 107 personnel, 3 hand crews, 8 engines, 2 water tenders, 2 dozers, and 1 skidder.                                   

Contact Information: 

Email: 2024.microwavetower@firenet.gov,

Phone: 541-208-1744, 8 A.M - 8 P.M   Scan QR code for information. 

11:00 AM, August 11, 2024

Estimated size: 642 acres
Start Date/Time: July 17, 2024
Area of Origin: 21 air miles east of Darrington WA
Cause: Lightning
Fuels/Topography: timber, rugged terrain
Structures Damaged: None, there are no homes threatened at this time.
Evacuations: None

The Miners Complex consists of ten wildfires caused by lightning strikes in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The fires included in the complex are: Miners Fire, Vista Ridge Fire, Dolly Creek Fire, Sulphur Three Fire, Sulphur Four Fire, Sulphur Thirty-Four Fire, Upper Sulphur Thirty-Two Fire, Lower Sulphur Thirty-Two Fire, Plummer, and Middle Ridge Fire.

Update: Yesterday, the Sulphur fires continued to put up more visible smoke and monitoring continued. The requested reconnaissance flight was cancelled due to weather conditions. Today, monitoring and patrolling will continue as resources are available. Firefighting resources continue to be limited due to the quantity and complexity of other incidents in the region.

Weather: Cooler conditions over the next few days with a trough over the region. Expect excellent humidity recoveries. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms which may produce gusty and erratic winds. Partly sunny, haze. Chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Max temperatures around 75 degrees. Light winds becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds expected near thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Smoke: For more information on smoke and air quality please visit: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Closures: The following is a summary of the areas closed due to the fires in the Miners Complex. Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000.2 from Mica Lake to Suiattle Pass, Suiattle River Trail #784, Miners Ridge Trail #785, Buck Creek Pass Trail #789, Miners Cabin Trail #795, Grassy Point Trail #788, Sulphur Mountain Trail #794, Sulphur Creek Trail #793, Sulphur Creek Campground, Sulphur Creek Trailhead, and the Downey Creek trailhead. The full Closure Orders visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs
Forest Restrictions: The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie has a full campfire ban and forest-wide shooting restrictions in place to help prevent human-caused starts during this period of unprecedented resource scarcity. Additional details at: www.fs.usda.gov/mbs
 

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Falls and Telephone Fires Update for Aug 4, 2024

Telephone Fire Quick Facts:

Size: 50,863             Start Date: July 22, 2024                         Location: 12 miles NE of Burns, OR

Containment: 23%.  Total Personnel: 483 personnel          Cause: Lightning/Natural

Resources Assigned: 14 hand crews, 37 engines, 6 bulldozers, 12 water tenders, 4 skidders

Falls Fire Quick Facts: 

Size: 146,000              Start Date: July 10, 2024                    Location: 13 Miles NW of Burns, OR

Containment: 73%     Total Personnel: 1,011                       Cause: Human-caused, under investigation

Structures Triaged: Residences: 386; Commercial: 119 Outbuildings: 760

Resources Assigned: 30 hand crews, 48 engines, 15 bulldozers, 22 water tenders, 7 masticators, 7 skidders

Sand Mountain Fire Quick Facts:

Size: 5,805               Start Date: July 25, 2024                        Location: 17 miles SW of Seneca, OR

Containment: 0%   Total Personnel: Staffed by Falls Fire personnel   Cause: Lightning/Natural

Other Fires Quick Facts:

Whiskey Mountain: 4,345 acres; Cow Creek: 86 acres; Parasol: 485 acres; Poison: 1,047 acres; Ritter: 461

Total Personnel: Staffed by Falls Fire personnel.     

Aerial resources assigned: 2 Type 1 helicopters and One Type 1 Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) assigned and available to all fires in the area.

Community Meetings Scheduled:

Sunday, August 4 at 3 pm, at the Izee Schoolhouse, 45477 Izee Paulina Lane, Izee, OR

Leaders of the Alaska Incident Management Team will be in Izee for a community meeting to provide an update on the Telephone Fire, Falls Fire and several other fires we are working to suppress in the area. The meeting will also be shared on the Malheur National Forest Facebook page, as well as the Falls and Telephone Fires Facebook page.

Priorities for Sunday, August 4: 

1. Initial Attack (IA): The potential for new fire starts in the area remains significant, and firefighters remain vigilant and focused on IA, ready to respond to any new threats
2. Installation of sprinkler kits to structures near the fire perimeter.
3. West side of the Telephone Fire
4. Gilbert Ridge area
5. Northwest side of the Falls/Sand Fires

Fire Summaries:

Telephone Fire: 

Despite a weather system that came in yesterday with dry lightning and down drafts, no overall growth was detected on the Telephone Fire. The fire area received 0.1 to 0.2 inch of rain last night, which helped to moderate fuels, slow fire progression, and help firefighters get a foot hold. There is containment line around most of the east side of the fire, and crews have completed tying into Pine Creek on the northeast corner of the fire. Crews are continuing to work on areas of potential threat in the Poujade area. Today, along the eastern side of the fire, crews will continue mopping up to additional depth and taking care of any heat areas detected. On the west side of Telephone, which has had the most significant growth over the last few days, there was a slopover several shifts ago which came up the south side of King Mountain moving toward the south end of Silvies Valley and Purdy Ranch. Crews continue to work that slopover area. There was also some spotting last night near the Rattlesnake area; night shift crews were able to do small-scale ignition operations to address issues, continuing to secure their anchor as they work north, which is extremely important for safety, efficiency, and progress. Crews are scouting this area for opportunities to tie into road systems to go direct where available. Crews will also continue to address the slopover across the 2820 road today. With hot and dry weather conditions, we do expect some growth on the Telephone Fire, and crews are working hard to get containment on some of these features. 

Yesterday, structural crews with the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) successfully defended a home and nearby structures along Roach Creek by utilizing wrap, removing nearby fuels, and holding containment lines around the home and multiple structures on the property. Structural task forces also worked in the northeast and northwest portions of the fire to put out hotspots and prep homes along the 3935 and Purdy Road.

Overnight and through today, task forces will work to complete their structure prep objectives and install sprinkler kits. Sprinkler kits can be a valuable tool to help fire crews protect homes with a smaller number of firefighting resources. Sprinkler systems are tied into nearby water sources or portable tanks and then activated if the fire moves towards structures. Based on progress made in structural protection, the task force from Clatsop County is returning home today, and OSFM will continue to monitor fire progress and conditions to determine if more task forces may be sent back to their home agencies in the coming days.

As fire crews work in the western area of the Telephone Fire, Resource Advisors (READs) and Agency Administrators are in communication with local Tribal representatives to ensure that cultural resources in the area are identified and safeguarded to every extent possible. In addition, resources are also being utilized to address and mitigate environmental impacts on the land as a result of fire suppression efforts. READs work closely with area archeologists, range technicians, and other local experts to coordinate restoration and support the success of the operation.

Falls/Sand Fires: 

The Falls and Sand fires are now merged and will be summarized together here going forward. Over the last few shifts, there was some growth on the Sands and Falls Fires with the two merging, and crews are dealing with a few slopovers and spots, and otherwise going direct. “Direct attack” is when firefighters work right on the fire’s edge and do their best to put in dozer line or handline and use fire hose to stop the fire’s spread. On the west side, crews are mopping up further into containment line, and beginning to backhaul equipment. A recent slopover in the Myrtle Creek area was addressed and is holding well, and crews on this side of the fire continue to mop up farther into the containment area. A lot of resources are being used on the northwest edge of the Sand Fire and the most northerly portion of the Falls Fire to protect the community of Izee and other associated values at risk. These fires do have the potential for more growth, in particular going east toward the 31 road and west towards the Gilbert Ridge area. Crews continue working hard to implement contingency plans for this possibility, including creating an anchor point to do small-scale firing ignitions to remove fuel in this area when conditions allow. Night shift crews completed hose lay in the area and are addressing a recent slopover. Work on a large fuel break on the 31 road is nearing completion. This is in preparation for small-scale firing operations which will eliminate fuel using fire between the fire edge and the 31 road. The northeast corner of the Falls Fire area is looking very good. Fire behavior in the area moderated somewhat overnight, and crews are working to attain 100% mop up, which means there are no heats or smokes for a number of shifts, so that this area is secure.

Poison Fire: There was no movement on the Poison Fire despite yesterday’s weather. Crews are continuing to clean up pockets of fuel to more deeply secure the control line. 

*Note: The Ritter and Parasol Fires have not had any significant growth outside of containment lines for some time. They are being continuously monitored to check for any heat. Going forward, we will include acreage for these fires in the “Other Fires Quick Facts” section on page, 1, and they will not be summarized here unless there are any changes.

Weather: Today winds will be west/northwesterly, 8-12 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. Temps will be up to 90 degrees, with relative humidity of 18-25%. Low relative humidity, winds, and column establishment from instability are primary drivers of the fire, and conditions remain supportive for fire growth.

Evacuations: 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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068819321423.

Closures: A closure is in effect for the two portions of the Malheur National Forest that run west of 395B, north of Mt. Vernon and south of Long Creek, in the Fox Valley area, including all roads, trails, and camping locations within the fire closure area. A detailed map of the closure if included and available on the Malheur National Forest website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur/) and offices.

Investigation: U.S. Forest Service fire investigators are seeking the public’s assistance with any tips or information pertinent to the start of the Falls Fire on the Malheur National Forest. Please submit any information that could assist fire investigation efforts to SM.FS.R6TipHotLine@usda.gov.  

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): TFRs in the area have been changing; pilots should check the latest information on the Federal Aviation Administration TFR website prior to flying: https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr_map_ims/html/index.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Falls-Fire-2024-61562126623985/

Falls Fire InciWeb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormaf-falls-fire

Telephone Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormaf-telephone-fire

Fire Information Line: 541-208-4370, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Email: 2024.Falls@firenet.gov

Harney County non-emergency evacuation questions: 541-589-5579

Air quality questions: 541-573-2271. Air quality information, searchable by zip code: https://fire.airnow.gov/

Smoke Outlooks: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook

LAKE & APACHE POST-FIRE BAER ASSESSMENT UPDATE

August 4, 2024

Apache Post-Fire BAER Soil Burn Severity Map Released

Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists recently completed their data gathering and analysis for the Apache burned area to produce and finalize a soil burn severity (SBS) map. Forest Service BAER teams use the soil burn severity assessment of the burned area to ensure post-fire threats are identified.

The SBS map and data display categories of unburned/low, moderate, and high. Approximately 37% of the total 1,532 acres analyzed are either unburned and/or low soil burn severity, while 62% sustained a moderate soil burn severity, and only about 1% identified as high soil burn severity. All 1,532 acres that were burned in the Apache Fire were National Forest System lands.

The BAER assessment team used initial remote sensing imagery with their field validated soils data, to develop and produce a map showing soil burn severity levels for the burned areas The SBS is broken into four different classes: unburned (green), low severity (blue), moderate severity (yellow), and high severity (red). For more information on what these different SBS classifications mean, see BAER Information Brief at: Calpf Lake And Apache Postfire Baer - | InciWeb (wildfire.gov).

The BAER team relied on their refined soil burn severity map to produce data which they are using in their subsequent modeling and determination of post fire runoff and sedimentation. The BAER teams and the US Geological Survey (USGS) both utilized the soil burn severity map as an analysis tool to estimate post-fire flows and debris flow probability. In specific areas that experienced moderate to high burn severity, there could be increased runoff from steep hillslopes and resultant increases in post-fire soil erosion and potential debris flows.

The Apache post-fire soil burn severity (SBS) map can be downloaded at the Lake and Apache BAER InciWeb site: Calpf Lake And Apache Postfire Baer Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov) as a JPEG or PDF version under the “Maps” tab.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/lox/.

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