Incident Publication

Windy conditions prompt additional spot fires, firefighters catch and line them Saturday

MITCHELL, Ore. – Firefighting resources on the Shoe Fly Fire continued to be challenged by spot fires today, beginning as early as 6 a.m. Three new ones were found, two on the southwest side and one on the northeast corner. Firefighters spent the day lining these fires and were able to get all three of them circled with bulldozer line. Mop-up operations followed, which will continue into this evening. 

Across the rest of the fire, resources continue to hold and improve lines and push forward on mop-up operations, which will continue to add toward overall containment. Tonight, crews will continue this work.

Weather systems brought short bursts of showers throughout the middle of the day, but not enough rain to make a difference on the fire. Windy conditions are expected to persist, as a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service is now extended to 11 p.m. 

Temperatures heated up in the afternoon and relative humidity dropped, however chances for precipitation continue tomorrow and a predicted cold front that is expected to move into the area early next week. A chance of thunderstorms remains in the forecast for tomorrow and firefighters are ready to respond to any new reports of fire in the event of lightning strikes.

Three Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) structural task forces remain engaged protecting structures near the fire. Overnight, structural firefighters assessed homes on the north side of Highway 26 in Mitchell and created mitigation plans, which day shift task forces began carrying out on Saturday. This work is precautionary and will help to protect structures if the fire moves closer toward town. This is a coordinated effort between Wheeler County Fire Defense Board, OSFM and Team 1 operations.

Evacuation notices for residents around the fire continue to be evaluated by the Wheeler County Sheriff, Wheeler County Fire Defense Board Chief, and Team 1 Operations personnel. More information on current evacuations is available at https://tinyurl.com/RAPTOR-Evacuation-Info

While there are no current road closures due to the Shoe Fly Fire, other fires nearby may be impacting travel. Check https://tripcheck.com/ for current closures and potential delays.

Incident Commander: Chris Hericks
Location: Southwest of Branham Lakes Campground
Start Date: 09/05/2024
Cause: Lightning
Size: estimated at 22 acres
Resources on Site: 3 Initial Attack Modules
Total Personnel: 14

The Pedro Mine Fire, located nine miles east of Sheridan in the Mill Creek area, is burning in steep, rocky terrain with little to no access for firefighters. The area contains a large concentration of standing dead trees (“snags”) that pose challenges to ensuring firefighter safety and in responding to potential medical emergencies, jeopardizing the well-being of firefighters and other responders.

Fire managers from the Forest, working in collaboration with local Madison County officials have identified and prioritized critical values at risk in the fire area. Firefighting efforts will focus available resources on the protection of structures on private inholdings and active mining claims approximately .1-.7 miles from the fire and the Branham Lakes Campground 1.5 miles from the fire.

There are several factors involved in making wildfire management decisions. These factors include, firefighter safety, resource availability and threats to public safety and property. As well as, terrain, fire behavior, fire season outlook and modeling, and past prescribed fire units and vegetation management projects in the area. Fire managers are strategic in their approach and continually reassess conditions and alter management strategies to protect critical values.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:
Fire managers were focused on point protection for the cabin closest to the fire and completed the sprinkler installation today. They continue to assess the other identified values at risk for protection needs, order the appropriate resources and equipment, and identify timely implementation of the protection measures. Point protection objectives will be accomplished by reducing fuels around the structures and installing sprinkler systems. These actions will only occur if the fire poses an imminent threat to the structures.

Tomorrow’s actions will focus on mechanically reducing fuels around the other values, monitoring fire activity and subsequent movement, observing and recording weather trends, and furthering a long-term strategy for the fire until a season-ending weather event occurs. An additional four-person Initial Attack module will arrive on the fire Monday morning to replace one of the modules who have worked their 14-day assignment and will be headed home at the end of the shift on Monday.

These actions are designed to allow fire personnel to protect the identified values at risk while operating in areas that have much better access and egress to safety.

Agency representatives will be compiling contact information for affected landowners immediately adjacent to the fire area. The Madison Ranger District, Madison County, and Sheridan VFD encourage people to refrain from using the Mill Creek area, allowing fire personnel to operate without congestion on FS RD 111.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
The warm and dry conditions with little winds experienced the last few days will be ending tomorrow. The forecast
shows a chance of mainly dry thunderstorms that could produce gusty, erratic winds up to 40 mph around outflows
Sunday through Tuesday. The low-pressure system forecasted for mid-week is trending towards having higher
amounts of moisture associated with it, while conditions return to a cooler, more fall-like weather pattern.

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:
The Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are allowed only in a permanent metal fire grate/ring provided
by the Forest Service in a designated, developed recreation site. Smoking is restricted to vehicles, in buildings, or in
an area clear of flammable materials. Devices with an on/off switch that use LPG fuels are allowed in an area clear
of flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.

Middle Fork Complex Operations Update 9-7-2024

OLA, Idaho, September 7, 2024 – Wyoming Team 6, a Type 3 Incident Management Team, took command of the Lava Fire at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 7. The lightning-caused fire was first reported on September 2 at 11:20 p.m. and is currently 1,611 acres in size, burning in heavy timber, brush and grass approximately 9 miles north of Ola, Idaho, in the Chief Eagle Eye Creek Drainage. 

Firefighting resources include multiple fire engines, air resources and three hand crews, with 191 personnel currently assigned to the incident. Additional resources have also been ordered. 

Yesterday, the fire moved predominately south due to windy conditions. Crews worked to contain the northeast flank of the fire and retardant lines near Third Fork Ridge are holding. Retardant from air resources and helicopter bucket drops have helped slow fire growth. One common way fire retardant works is by reducing the receptiveness of fuels in the surrounding area to slow the rate of combustion and limit the spread of flames. Due to windy conditions, short range spotting is occurring outside the fire perimeter and crews are working to suppress those spots. Today, there will be continued use of air resources to support firefighting efforts. The Forest Service uses all available strategies and tools to suppress wildfires, and public and firefighter safety are the top priorities for fire managers. 

Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue today. Expect to see increased fire activity during the afternoon. 

The Boise National Forest has implemented the Lava Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure 0402-06-62 (map) for public and firefighter safety. Visit the Boise National Forest Alerts and Notices webpage for further details. 

An InciWeb page has been established for the Lava Fire. Visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incidentinformation/idbof-lava-fire for more information. 

For other news, events and information about the Boise National Forest, visit the Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/boise and follow the Boise on Facebook @BoiseNationalForest.

Incident Commander: David McPhee
Location: 16 miles northwest of Philipsburg, MT
Start Date: 8/26/2024
Cause: Undetermined
Size: 216 acres
Resources on Site: 2 crews; 2 engines; 1 helicopter; miscellaneous heavy equipment
Total Personnel: 31

The McDermott Fire, located in the Upper Willow Creek area, is burning in an inaccessible area containing a large
concentration of standing dead trees (“snags”) that pose challenges to ensuring firefighter safety and in responding
to potential medical emergencies.

Fire managers from the Forest, working in collaboration with local county officials and cooperating agency
representatives, have identified and prioritized critical values at risk in the fire area. The closest values are located
three miles to the east of the fire’s location.

Helicopters dropped water on the fire during the initial attack phase, but high winds and the inaccessibility of the
fire location resulted in fire growth. Additionally, drift smoke from other large fires to the west and south resulted
in the inability to fly additional helicopters for air operations in subsequent days.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:
Helicopters will continue to support ground crews with water bucket drops on the east flank to cool hot spots and
prevent fire progression. The crew will continue to construct handline on the fire, east of the Black Pine Trail.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Gusty outflow winds associated with passing thunderstorms materialized over the fire area days ago, with little to
no measurable precipitation. Temperatures are expected to continue in the mid to upper 80s with low relative
humidities until early next week.

Fire behavior initially was active, with spotting and group torching and a moderate rate of spread. The fire showed
little to no movement and was burning internal pockets of timber in the McDermott Ridge area.

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:
The Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are allowed only in a permanent metal fire grate/ring provided
by the Forest Service in a designated, developed recreation site. Smoking is restricted to vehicles, in buildings, or in
an area clear of flammable materials. Devices with an on/off switch that use LPG fuels are allowed in an area clear
of flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.

Forest fire managers have closed trails in the area near the fire for public safety.
These trails include the following:
Black Pine Ridge Trail #8006
McDermott Gulch Trail # 8238
Pole Ridge Trail # 8237
Horsetheif Trail # 8297
Schilo Creek Trail # 8240
Upper Will Trail #8106
Rattling Gulch Trail
The public is encouraged to refrain from entering these areas for their safety and to allow for safe and effective firefighting operations. Heavy equipment, helicopters, and firefighters will be operating near the eastern flank of the fire and adjacent areas.

Willamette Complex North 
News Update 
2024.WillametteComplex.North@firenet.gov 
Information line: 541-208-1262, 8 am to 8 pm 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/OreFireInformation2024/ https://www.facebook.com/PyramidFireInfo2024  

Inciweb: Willamette Complex North 

For immediate Release: 
The Linton Creek fire started Friday, September 6 and is located on the McKenzie Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The fire is currently 200 acres and actively growing around the Linton Meadows/Eileen Lake area, west of the Three Sisters Wilderness. Evacuation orders are currently being issued for the area with closure orders soon following. Recreationists, both day hikers and through hikers are encouraged to check for updates on the provided web pages. Pacific Crest Trail hikers will need to check for re-routes that may affect their itinerary. Search and Rescue teams will be sweeping the area for the public. Please evacuate the area safely and orderly. Please check inciweb and the Ore and Pyramid Facebook pages for updates. California Incident Management Team 13 has assumed command of the Linton Creek fire and will be part of the Willamette North Complex.

Click the link to view Lassen National Forest Supervisor Tara D Jones speaking from the Park Fire Incident command post in Chester, California

Click the link to view Public Information Officer Lenore Lamb provides Operational Briefing on Park Fire.

Check out the latest KXGV Radio Interview interviewing Garrett Stallings our Medical Unit Leader and Public Information Officer Alyssa Archuleta.

Bayfield, Colo. Aug. 26, 2024— To reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and improve forest health, the Columbine Ranger District is planning to burn approximately 5,000 acres in the Beaver Meadows and Southern HD mountains of the San Juan National Forest. The planned burn areas are approximately 10 miles northeast and 12 miles southeast of Bayfield. Operations may begin as soon as early September and may continue into November, depending on weather conditions and availability of fire personnel and other resources. 

Prescribed fires will only be ignited when all weather, fuels and smoke requirements are met. Ignitions will take place over several consecutive days and operations may take several weeks to complete. Burning operations will be conducted by district personnel and other fire resources from the Forest Service and partner agencies, using both ground and aerial ignition. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings following burning operations, although it should clear by midday. Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, and the U.S. Highway 160 and 151 corridors near those towns. 

These burn units are part of the larger Vallecito-Piedra and Southern HD’s Integrated Vegetation Management projects aimed at reducing hazardous ground fuels and long-term risk of catastrophic wildfire, as well as restoring ponderosa pine ecosystems and improving wildlife habitat. The forests in Southwest Colorado are part of a fire-adapted ecosystem, which has historically experienced frequent, low-intensity fires on a large scale. Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime under controlled conditions. 

Learn how smoke from prescribed fire may affect your health by visiting the Colorado Department of Public Health website: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health 

For more information, please contact District Assistant Fire Management Officer (fuels) Noah Daniels at noah.daniels@usda.gov. 

For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (X and Facebook).

-USDA-

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