Incident Publication

For Immediate Release
September 17th, 1445mdt
Lava Fire Evacuation Notices

The Gem County Sheriff’s Office has ordered downgrade evacuations from Level II-Yellow-“Be Set” to Level I-Green-“Be Ready” for the following:

• Residences on Third Fork Road, North of Nesbitt Lane.
• Residences on Second Fork Road, North of Nesbitt Lane.

Residents on Nesbitt Lane have been at level I-Green-“Be Ready” and will remain at level I-Green-“Be Ready” status.

The wet weather has aided in the decision to downgrade based on fire control. The rain and current conditions have brought potential concerns to the area including mudslides, flash floods, and falling rocks and trees. Please be aware of the surroundings and the potential road hazards.

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Great Basin Team 5 team members meet with the public to update them on the Middle Fork Complex, answer questions and thank the community for all their hospitality during their term of service.

https://youtu.be/RxKC2gvakdQ?si=A39A0sxW8SUSMnbp

With continued the success of fire operations and improved conditions, fire managers are recommending dropping all evacuation notices on the Little Lava/Bachelor Complex.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Sunriver Police Department is lowering all evacuation levels to normal status today.

Even though evacuation levels are dropped, there will be continued hazards near the fires and fire operations.

The Deschutes National Forest has implemented an Emergency Forest Closure around these fires.

For more information, please go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/deschutes/home

For up-to-date incident information, go to: http://deschutes.org/emergency

THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THE EVACUATION ZONE STATUSES THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

ZONE 1- WILL REMAIN IN “GO” STATUS

ZONE 2- HAS BEEN RESCINDED 

ZONE 3- WILL REMAIN IN “READY” STATUS

ZONE 4- WILL REMAIN IN “READY” STATUS

Zone 1: Yellowjacket drainage 

Zone 2: Cobalt to Forney

Zone 3: Forney to road #252 to road #103 and back to Moyer

Zone 4: Silver Creek, Rams Creek, and Camas Creek from Hammer Creek to White Goat Creek.

Click here for more details

KNGV Radio host RC interview outgoing Incident Commander Trent Ingram from Great Basin Team 5 and Incoming Incident Commander Tony DeMasters from Great Basin Team 2. 

https://youtu.be/JB8dSSQmULk?si=3zZC_-lFWxraR0rR

Below average temperatures and moderate relative humidity minimized Line Fire behavior overnight. The fire continued to be active in areas with remaining dry vegetation and heat. There is opportunity to make more progress strengthening control lines and mopping up hot spots over the next several days thanks to favorable weather.

An updated Smoke Outlook was published Monday. It can be found at fire.airnow.gov.

Damage Inspection Teams (DINS) are working in the fire area. So far, they have identified three structures that were damaged and one that was destroyed. Their inspections include residences, multi-family dwellings, outbuildings, and commercial buildings.

There are currently 56,100 structures threatened, including 11,400 under Evacuation Orders and 44,700 under Evacuation Warnings. Damage Inspection Teams (DINS) are working in the fire area. So far, they have identified 3 structures that were damaged and 1 that was destroyed. Their inspections include residences, multi-family dwellings, outbuildings and commercial buildings.

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the California National Guard will support the state’s ongoing response to the Line Fire.  Through its activation, authorized under the Line Fire State of Emergency, the California National Guard is deploying:  

• Four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for water bucket dropping operations
• Two C-130 aircraft with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS)
• Four 20-person hand crews (80 soldiers). They will be assigned to the Line Fire on Thursday in support of CAL FIRE.
• One military police company to support the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department with traffic control points in evacuated areas. 

As of September 17, the Marsh Creek Fire closure has been rescinded 

Swauk Creek Fire

September 17, 2024

Estimated size: 331 acres

Containment: 37%

Start Date/Time: 9/8/2024 at 3:54 PM

Area of Origin: Adjacent to Highway 97, 14 miles east of Cle Elum, WA

Cause: Human                                                      

Structures Damaged: 0

Update: Yesterday, crews began a firing operation along the fire's northern flank. Crews spent multiple days preparing fire lines and ensuring the burn area was ready for firing. Around 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, the weather conditions were favorable, and crews began the firing operation. Overnight, crews staffed the fire, monitoring for any unexpected flare-ups. The firing operation will continue today while crews continue monitoring and working the fire edge. Mop-up has begun around the burnt areas and will continue into the coming days.

Firing operations are being used to safely consume the available fuels ahead of the active fire edge, reducing the potential for negative impacts and resource damage caused by higher-intensity fire. This improves our ability to contain the fire with direct control lines against the fire’s perimeter.

Smoke will remain visible to citizens and travelers in local communities and along Highway 97 during the firing operation. The fire will continue to be fully staffed to monitor and maintain control lines on the northern flank.

Forest Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has area, road, and trail closures due to the Swauk Creek Fire. For a detailed list of closures, including a map of the closure area, please visit the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices/?aid=90533.

Road Closures: Highway 97 remains open. Due to the increased flow of fire vehicle traffic traveling in and out of the fire area, we ask that people drive slowly through the area using caution.

Weather: Low pressure dropping down the coast will bring cooler air, moistening humidity trends, and some cloud cover in the afternoon and evening. The chance for showers has decreased. Breezy to gusty northwest winds will be the main impact on the fire. Temperatures will be 67-72 degrees, with sunshine in the morning and increasing clouds in the afternoon and evening. Tonight, temperatures will cool to 46-48 degrees, becoming mostly clear overnight.

Evacuation Levels: Evacuation levels remain the same. They were updated as a precaution; there is no immediate residential threat from this fire. Evacuations can be found on the interactive map. Many Forest Service roads are affected in this area; please review the map if you want to know about a specific location/road.

Live map of active fires from Kittitas County:

https://kitcogis.maps.arcgis.com/.../minima.../index.html...

The First Creek area is currently closed to the public.

Notification Level 3 (Go Now) is shown on the map; however, this area has no residential structures.

Notification Level 2 (Get ready)

• Residences east of US 97 north of fire to Liberty Rd
• Forest Service Road 3506 south of fire to Upper Green Canyon Rd

Notification Level 1 (Be Fire Aware)

• The town of Liberty
• All Liberty Rd
• Forest Service Road 9726 and all of its extensions (including Deer Gulch, Pine Gulch, Robinson Gulch, and Harkness Gulch)

Currently, no evacuation notices are issued for residents south of First Creek or west of US Highway 97.

As always, conditions can change quickly; please stay alert and avoid the area if you feel unsafe.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Jackson & Blackrock Ranger Districts
Shoshone National Forest
Wind River District
Fish Creek Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure

PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) area, roads, and trails in the Jackson & Blackrock Ranger Districts, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the Wind River Ranger District, Shoshone National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area, Road, and Trails”):
1. Going into or being upon the Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § § 261.52(e)
2. Being on the Described Road. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e)
3. Being on the Described Trails. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a)
 

EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 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 or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2);and
2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.
 

DESCRIBED AREA/ROADS/TRAILS
Bridger-Teton National Forest Fish Creek Fire Closure area boundary begins where it meets the SW corner of Shoshone National Forest Fish Creek Fire area boundary that abuts the Continental Divide and Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary, at the boundary of Sections 22 and 27, T43N R110W. Continuing S along the continental divide and Forest Boundary to the intersection of trail 7094. Then S along the west edge of trail 7094 to a point on the divide due east of the end of the Purdy creek trail 4111, in section 16, R110W, T42N. W along this bearing to the NE end of the Purdy creek trail in Section 17, R110W, T42N. SW along the N edge of the Purdy Basin Trail to its intersection with the South Fork of Fish Creek trail 4077. W along the N edge of the South Fork of Fish Creek Trail 4077 to its intersection with the North Fork of Fish Creek Trail 4078. W along the north edge of the North Fork of Fish Creek Trail 4078 to its intersection with motorized trail 30410. W along the north edge of motorized trail 30140 to its intersection with Cottonwood Creek Trail 4202. Then N on the east edge of Cottonwood Creek trail 4202 to a point due east of the east end of motorized route 30417. Then W along the south edge of motorized route 30417 to the hydrographic divide. Then N along the hydrographic divide to its intersection with the hydrographic divide between Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts in section 34, R112W, T43N. Then NW and N to Dallas Fork/South Fork Spread Creek divide, then north along trail 30240 to its intersection with South Fork
Spread Creek Road (30100), then N and along and including the same road to its intersection with Hatchet Road (30160), then following and including Flagstaff Road (30100) east to its intersection with US Highway 26/287. Then east along the south edge of US Highway 26/287 to its intersection with the Continental Divide at Togwotee Pass, then south along the Continental Divide to its intersection with the origin point of the closure at the boundary of Sections 22 and 27, T43N R110W.

The Shoshone National Forest Fish Creek Fire Closure area boundary begins at the SE corner of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Fire closure area. Continuing E along the N side of the section line dividing T43N R110W Sections 27 and 22 to Forest Service Road (FS RD) 540. The closure area continues NW on the W side of FS RD 540 to the intersection with FS RD 540.1D. Continuing NW along the W side of FS RD 540.1D to the intersection with FS RD 540.1E, the closure continues NW on the W side of FS RD 540.1E to the W side of Pelham Lake Creek. Extending E on the NW side of Pelham Lake Creek to the confluence of the Wind River, the closure crosses the Wind River to the private property boundary. At the private property boundary, the closure continues N then E on the W side of the property boundary to Highway (HWY) 26/287. The closure area continues N then W along the south side of Highway 26/287, then W along the south edge of the Falls Campground, then W along the south side of Highway 26/287 to its intersection with the Continental Divide at Togwotee Pass, then south along the Continental Divide to its intersection with the origin point of the closure at the boundary of Sections 22 and 27, T43N R110W.
 

The Described Roads and Trails include the following NFS roads and trails located within and bordering the Described Area:

Bridger-Teton National Forest:
1. Portion of NFS Road 30750 (Moccasin Basin Road), to its intersection with NFS Rd
30800.
2. Forest Road 30100 (Flagstaff/South Fork Spread Creek Road) in its entirety.
3. Forest Road 30800 in its entirety.
4. NFS Trail 30240 in its entirety.
5. FS RD 30120 (North Fork Spread Creek) in its entirety.
6. FS RD 30140 (Grizzly Creek) in its entirety.
7. FS RD 30010 (Two Ocean Basin) in its entirety.
8. NFS Trail 4079 (Cottonwood Creek Trail), in its entirety.
9. NFS Trail 4106 (Spruce Creek Trail), in its entirety.
10. NFS Trail 6107 (Two Ocean Basin Trail) in its entirety.
11. NFS Trail 6071 (South Fork Spread Creek) in its entirety.
12. NFS Trail 4109 in its entirety.
13. NFS Trail 4110 in its entirety.
14. NFS Trail 4112 in its entirety.
15. NFS Trail 4078A in its entirety.
16.NFS Trail 4010N in its entirety.
17. NFS Trail 4104 in its entirety.
18. NFS Trail 4102 in its entirety.
19. NFS Trail 4105 in its entirety.
20. NFS Trails 4103 4103E in their entirety
21. FS RDs 30415, 30415A, 30418, 30419 at those locations east of the hydrographic divide between Dry Cottonwood Creek and Sohare Creek.
 

Shoshone National Forest:
1. FS RD 584 in its entirety
2. FS RD 537 in its entirety
3. That portion of FS RD 540 north of its junction with FS RD 540.1D
4. FS RD 540.1A in its entirety
5. That portion of FS RD 540.1E northwest of Pelham Lake Creek
6. FS RD 645 in its entirety
7. MT10 in its entirety
8. FS RD 589 in its entirety
9. FS RD 590 in its entirety
10. FS RD 591 in its entirety
11. That portion of FS Trail 823.1E Sublette Pass Trail from US Highway 26/287 in ½ mile from Togwotee Pass.
 

PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety during the Fish Creek Fire.
 

IMPLEMENTATION
1. This Order shall be in effect from September 18, 2024, at 6:00 A.M. through October 15, 2024, at 6:00 A.M., unless rescinded.
2. A map identifying the Described Area/Roads/Trails is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/btnf/alerts-notices 
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
5. Contact the Jackson Ranger District in Jackson, WY, (307) 739-5400, and BridgerTeton National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Jackson, WY, (307) 739- 5500, or the Wind River Ranger District in Dubois, WY, (307) 455-2466 for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.
 

Signed and issued on September 17, 2024.

11:00 AM, September 13, 2024

Estimated size: 1,098 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 eight 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, Plummer, and Middle Ridge Fire.

Update: Firefighters have begun preparations for re-opening the closures on the Suiattle River Road, as the Miners Complex Fires continues to show smoke at high elevations. Structure protections have been removed, and assessments of fire impacted trails are being completed over the next few days to determine suitability for potential reopening.

Weather: Temperatures cooler today and below average. A slight chance of rain this afternoon and evening. Drier Wednesday and Thursday although humidities remain high. Cooler and wetter weather Friday into the weekend, keeping fire danger low. High temperatures around 62°F, with west winds 5-8mph.

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. Suiattle River Road, closure beginning at Downey Creek trailhead. The full Closure Orders visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs Forest Restrictions: The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie has lifted the full campfire ban and forest-wide shooting restrictions, effective 8/28/2024. Additional details at: www.fs.usda.gov/mbs
 

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