Incident Publication

• On the La Jara Prescribed Fire, Resources continued to implement the long-term patrol and monitor plan for the La Jara unit, securing control features along the fires edge including the removal of hazardous fuels along Highway 64.  Weather conditions did not meet the desired conditions to ignite fuel in the Apache Unit where ignitions have been postponed for the foreseeable future.  This decision is a part of a new approach to prescribed fire.  The public should expect to see smoke diminishing in and around the area in the following days.
• In case you missed it, managers are looking at the possibility of beginning the Powderhouse Prescribed Fire in Valle Vidal as early as Oct. 15. Read the October 10 news release for more details.
• Crews continue to patrol and monitor the Sotano and American Creek prescribed fires, which were completed recently. 

Containment lines withstand another wind shift; suppression repair includes trail

Daily Update: October 13, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 503-854-3366 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) 

Email: 2024.Bingham@firenet.gov 

Acres: 199      Containment: 93%

Location: Areas of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, east of Marion Forks.

Start Date: September 30,2024             Personnel:   162                 

Resources: 5 crews | 1 engine | 2 bulldozers | 1 water tender | 1 excavator

Highlights: For three consecutive days, winds above the Bingham Fire have shifted from out of the east to out of the west, and acreage continues to hold at 199 acres. Containment nudged up a percentage point from Saturday to 93 percent today. 

Firefighters remained encouraged that regardless of wind direction, the fire stayed within its existing footprint and no major heat sources were found near the containment perimeter. Crews will continue patrolling containment lines and seeking out hot spots within the fire’s interior.

Firefighters and heavy equipment operators will repair roads and terrain damaged by containment line construction and other wildfire suppression tactics. Part of that work will include repairing portions of the Bingham Ridge Trail inside the fire’s perimeter.

Motorists enjoying the holiday weekend are advised to be mindful of firefighting vehicles on and around Highway 22 as firefighters begin removing equipment and supplies from the area. 

Evacuations: The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has reduced the size of LEVEL 3: GO NOW! evacuation areas Oct. 10, converting them to LEVEL 2: GET SET evacuation alerts. The Level 2 evacuation area extends along Highway 22 to a ½-mile west of Highway 22, from Pamelia Road (NFS Road 2246) south to Parrish Lake Road (NFS Road 2266). Please refer to the Linn County Wildfire Map for more information: https://tinyurl.com/LinnCoFireMap. Highway 22 remains open. 

The Willamette National Forest also reduced its closure area Oct. 10 within the same footprint as the county’s Level 3 evacuation zone. Details of the closure order can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/2y4sacl8. The Pacific Crest Trail through the Mount Jefferson Wilderness remains open. Impacted trails include Bingham Ridge Trail, Independence Rock Trail, Marion Lake Trail and Lake of the Woods Trail. With hunting season started, Forest Service staff will work with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office to reduce closure areas as soon as it is safe to do so.

Weather: No rain or lightning materialized over the fire Saturday. Morning easterly winds today will bring warmer and drier air before switching back out of the west in the afternoon. A 40 percent chance of precipitation is forecast for Tuesday.

Current Situation: The Tiger Creek fire is now at 534 acres. Acreage is calculated with on the ground mapping and infrared flights. Containment has grown to 23% with 468 personnel assigned to the incident. The fire remains in its current footprint while a full suppression strategy remains the top priority. Mop up and backhaul of equipment in contained areas is ongoing. Crews were able to secure the south end of the Tiger Creek drainage while Forest service road 65 was graded. The fire is now showing little smoke and firefighters are making great progress.
The Umatilla National Forest and California Interagency Incident Management Team 15 would like to remind the public that the flying of personal unmanned aerial systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones, is illegal over the wildfire area. When a personal drone enters the temporary flight restriction area, all firefighting aircraft must land until the area is cleared, thus impeding the progress of full containment of the Tiger Creek fire.

Closures and Restrictions: Access through Forest Service Road (FSR) 65 up through FSR 64 to the junction with Indian Camp is closed. Government Mountain Road/FSR 6511 is closed from North Fork Walla Walla trailhead to the junction with FSR 65 at Tiger Saddle. Government Mountain Rd/FSR 6511 is open from the west to North Fork Walla Walla trailhead. The current fire danger rating is MODERATE and public use restrictions phase A for Umatilla National Forest are in effect. For more information regarding restrictions, please contact Umatilla National Forest Toll-free Information Hotline: 1.877.958.9663.

Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy Saturday morning with skies clearing by midday. Highs upper S0s to upper 60s with afternoon humidity 25-40%. Light and variable winds along ridges with light upslope winds developing late morning in terrain.

Smoke: Walla Walla’s air quality for today is good, some residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke as the fire continues to burn. Check out https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1 for more information.

Current Situation: The Tiger Creek Fire is currently 571 acres, and is 19 percent contained with 493 firefighting resources assigned. Crews continue to work toward full suppression of the fire.
A community meeting was hosted last night at 6:30 p.m. at Walla Walla Fire District 4 Station 5. We would like to thank everyone in the community who attended in person and virtually for their kind words, engaging questions, and unwavering support.
Crews continued mop up 75 feet in on the south end off the 65 road near Tiger Creek. A hose lay was installed along the eastern side of the main fire moving north toward the Indian Ridge Trail. On the western side of the main fire crews continued to strengthen and improve established containment lines. Along the spot fire crews were able to improve and install direct handline from the north end down into Low Creek and will be working towards connecting the hose lay and wrapping the spot fire with it today.
An unmanned aviation system (UAS), otherwise known as a drone, will continue to fly over the area to assist in finding spot fires so they can be quickly addressed.

Closures and Restrictions: Access through Forest Service Road (FSR) 65 up through FSR 64 to the junction with Indian Camp is closed. Government Mountain Road/FSR 6511 is closed from North Fork Walla Walla trailhead to the junction with FSR 65 at Tiger Saddle. Government Mountain Rd/FSR 6511 is open from the west to North Fork Walla Walla trailhead. The current fire danger rating is MODERATE and public use restrictions phase A for Umatilla National Forest are in effect. For more information regarding restrictions, please contact Umatilla National Forest Toll-free Information Hotline: 1.877.958.9663.

Weather: A cold front moves in today, which will bring clouds, higher wind speeds, and a rise in humidity. These conditions will limit fire activity and growth. Today’s weather will be cloudy with highs in the mid 60s to mid 70s and afternoon humidity will reach 45-55%. The winds on the ridge line will be West-Northwest at 10-15 mph with gusts around 20-25 mph later in the day. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with some sun in the afternoon but temperatures around 40-50 degrees.

Smoke: Walla Walla’s air quality for today is good to moderate, some residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke as the fire continues to burn. Check out https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1 for more information.

Current Situation: The Tiger Creek Fire is currently 593 acres, a reduction from yesterday’s total due to crew’s ability to obtain more ground points and get a more accurate read on its size. It is seven percent contained with 487 firefighting resources assigned. Crews continue to work toward full suppression of the fire.
Firefighters have been able to contain the fire to the east of the Tiger Creek riparian area, and secured the northwest flank of the fire where it meets Forest Service Road 65. Hand and dozer lines have been cut on the northern and southern edges of the fire. Some areas to the east near Low Creek and Tiger Creek Lookout continue to spot due to the low humidity conditions and dry, grassy fuels -- this behavior is expected to decrease with the change in weather toward the end of the week.
An unmanned aviation system (UAS), otherwise known as a drone, has been brought in to fly over the area to assist in finding spot fires so they can be quickly addressed. Other aviation resources include three type 1 as well as type 2 and 3 aircraft.

Closures and Restrictions: Access through Forest Service Road (FSR) 65 up through FSR 64 to the junction with Indian Camp is closed. Government Mountain Road/FSR 6511 is closed from North Fork Walla Walla trailhead to the junction with FSR 65 at Tiger Saddle. Government Mountain Rd/FSR 6511 is open from the west to North Fork Walla Walla trailhead. The current fire danger rating is MODERATE and public use restrictions phase A for Umatilla National Forest are in effect. For more information regarding restrictions, please contact Umatilla National Forest Toll-free Information Hotline: 1.877.958.9663.

Weather: While low relative humidity will continue early this week, a cold front is predicted for Wednesday, which will bring clouds, higher wind speeds, and a rise in humidity. These conditions will aid efforts to contain the fire. Sunny today with a few clouds late in the day. Highs mid 60s to mid 70s with afternoon humidity 15-25%, driest on the east side. West-southwest winds 5-10 mph with gusts around 15 mph in the afternoon.

Smoke: Walla Walla’s air quality for today is good to moderate, some residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke as the fire continues to burn. Check out https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1 for more information.

Incident Activity: Containment grew to 79% thanks to helicopter water drops and the work of ground crews. A large portable water holding container is now in place in the north area of the fire. This decreases travel time for water tender engines. The water is used to extinguish hot spots and further strengthen containment line. The north/northeast portion of the fire is still the most active. Ground crews will be moving further into the fire footprint to address the remaining interior burning. Fire activity is still a safe distance from the community of Robie Creek. Crews continue to monitor the south and west portions of the fire visible from Boise. No injuries have been reported and no primary structures lost.

Recreation Message: The Valley Fire is still active and firefighting efforts continue. The public is asked to be aware of closures prior to being in the area and honor closures. Closures are in place for public safety. Even if there is no visible fire activity, there could be hot spots, damaged trees that could fall, fire traffic, and other safety concerns.

Closures: All roads and trails on the Boise Front segment of the Boise River WMA west of Highway 21 and north of Warm Springs Avenue are closed to all entry until further notice. This closure also extends to all travel off roads and trails. There is a Boise National Forest Valley Fire Area, Road and Trail Closure. Contact the Mountain Home Ranger District at 208-587-7961. 

Evacuations: The Robie Creek area is still in a "Ready" or Stage 1 evacuation status.

Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory: Fuels, such as grasses and timber, are back to critically dry conditions in the Great Basin, with record-level dry conditions in many cases. Extreme Fire Behavior has been observed on existing fires as well as new and emerging fires.

Weather: Dry conditions continue with highs averaging 70 degrees in the Valley Fire area and light winds.

Valley Fire Overview: The fire was reported Friday, October 4, 2024, about 1 mile east of Boise on the north side of Idaho State Highway 21. The fire was very visible from East Boise as it burned in mostly grassy fuels in the Boise Foothills. Quick work on initial attack stopped the fire from reaching nearby homes.

No Fly Zone: Flying drones in the fire area is NOT ALLOWED. Drones pose a safety risk for firefighting aircraft and can result in having to stop air operations. Please remember, if you fly, we can’t.
 

Rail Ridge Fire Update
October 13, 2024
Central Oregon Wildfire Information: centraloregonfire.org
Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov – Phone: 541-208-7111
Social Media, Evacuation and Closure Information: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
Acres: 174,641 – Containment: 89% – Detection: 09/02/24 – Cause: Lightning – Personnel: 614

Forest visitors near the Rail Ridge Fire should be aware that Forest and BLM closures as well as fire restrictions around the Rail Ridge Fire remain in place.
Operational Update: Yesterday, the cloud coverage that was providing shade over the fire lifted in the afternoon, causing fuels within the fire area to begin drying out as the sun intensified and humidity lowered. While there was no significant wind to propel the fire, fire activity did increase from the very mild behavior that we have witnessed the last few days. The area that began as the spot fire on Cougar Ridge earlier this week merged with the main footprint and is still displaying active fire behavior in the northwest corner of the fire. Along most of the fire’s edge, fire crews continued to work diligently to continue patrol, mop up, and complete suppression work. This included removing hazard trees, road grading, mop-up of stump holes and hot spots that are still smoldering.

Fire personnel moved more of the heavy equipment away from contained areas of the fire to focus efforts on establishing indirect fire line around the active fire area near Cougar Ridge. Fire managers are utilizing existing roadways and heavy equipment to establish this line, as this method minimizes danger to firefighters. Structures near the uncontained fire line on northwest edge of the fire are being prepped with sprinkler systems by firefighters.

Today, weather conditions are expected to continue to dry with warmer temperatures and lower humidity. Expect to see increased smoke and fire behavior as we move through the weekend. Primary fire behavior at this time is largely backing and flanking in the northwest corner of the fire near Cougar Ridge. The possibility of spot fires up to a half mile from the active fire are possible today due to the continued dry weather. Any fire growth at this time is predicted to be within the containment lines that are being prepared. Heat sources continue to smolder and are widely scattered within the interior of the fire. Firefighters remain across the fire area to monitor for any fire activity and to mitigate hazards that are still present. Air attack and helicopters will continue to be used today as needed.

The fire team and local agencies continue to work with local landowners, businesses, and affiliates who need access within the fire area closures. Due to the multitude of hazards within the fire area, these requests are being prioritized and official escorts are being provided as safety and availability of escorts are feasible.

Weather: High pressure will be overhead through the beginning of this week. Although winds will remain light today, RH values this afternoon will drop to near 20%. Expect similar or slightly drier conditions on Monday and Tuesday as this high-pressure system remains positioned over the area until late Tuesday. Winds will be light and mostly terrain driven through Tuesday. The weather pattern will make a significant change on Wednesday, with much cooler conditions and possibly some light rainfall as well.

Forest & BLM Closures / Evacuation Information / Fire Restrictions for the Rail Ridge Fire area can be found at: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire.

Middle Fork Complex Fire Update

October 13, 2024

Middle Fork Complex Fire Information: 208-992-3045 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

Email: 2024.middleforkcomplex@firenet.gov

Middle Fork Complex: 61,495 acres, 90% completed, 114 personnel

Snag Fire: 33,437 acres, 90% completed, 19 personnel

Goat Fire: 34,920 acres, 20% completion, 203 personnel

Weather: Humidity yesterday initially dropped lower than expected, but then recovered throughout the day.  A light cloud covering also stayed in the area with temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s. Today, there will be a cloud covering early and temperatures in the 70s with clearer skies moving in after noon. Winds will mainly be terrain driven as the smoke conditions improve around the fire. Wednesday and Thursday are still forecast to bring much cooler and possibly wet weather. By Wednesday, there is a 50% chance of a wetting rain and by Thursday, there is an 80% chance of some snow at high elevations on the fire area.

Goat Fire: The northern flank of the Goat Fire is in monitor status, where there is still a little bit of smoke in the Rice Creek area and around the Yellow Jacket Trailhead. South of Warm Lake, crews will continue to prep the contingency line along the Bear Creek Road. Crews and equipment remain in the Yellow Jacket Trail area keeping an eye on hot spots, ready to take suppression action where needed.

On the south flank of the fire, firefighters and engines will be on the 678 and 671 roads today to continue to mop up and will cut hazard trees along the road in order to get these roads back to a safe travel condition. Crews will also be monitoring the fires edge that is continuing to back down towards the Middle Fork in the area where it hasn’t completely reached the river, helping it along as necessary to secure the fire edge.

Snag Fire: The Snag Fire continues to see little fire activity. Crews are continuing to patrol and monitor the area looking for hot spots, keeping an eye on the Middle Fork on the west side, and will utilize aviation support as needed if there is any increase in fire activity. Repair work consisting of road grading continues on the southern end of the Snag Fire should be complete today.

Middle Fork Complex: Fire behavior on the Nellie and Bulldog continues to show little activity and no growth is expected, remaining in patrol status. Firefighters are completing repair work on the 555 Road. This work needs to be completed before the road can be reopened and includes cleanout culverts and hazard tree removal.

Notice: Please be aware there will be increased fire traffic in the Warm Lake area from firefighters and equipment traveling to the Logan Fire that is burning near Edwardsburg. General deer hunting season started this week, and hunters should be aware of additional fire traffic in the area. 

Closures: The Boise National Forest has issued a revised Area, Road, and Trail Closure Order for the Middle Fork Complex, and Snag and Goat fires. The revised closure order and map can be found at the following link: 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices.

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Important Message: For the second time in two days, a civilian drone entered the restricted airspace over the Tiger Creek Fire, forcing fire managers to halt aerial firefighting operations and once again cause a critical delay in wildfire suppression efforts. According to Marshall Wallace, Region 6 Unmanned Air Support (UAS) Specialist, “Due to the drone incursion, operations had to halt air operations for at least 30 minutes until the airspace was confirmed clear.” When drones fly within the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR), airtankers and helicopters cannot safely operate. These suspensions put lives, property, and natural resources at risk by allowing the fire to grow and spread beyond containment lines. Wallace continued, “While the safety of the crews remains the number one priority, a violation of a TFR can result in a $10,000 fine from the FAA.”  

Current Situation:  The fire remains at 534 acres and due to the hard work of firefighters on the line containment has increased to 53 percent with 392 firefighting resources still assigned. As of Saturday, crews have completed line construction around the entire fire. The steep, difficult terrain will be patrolled daily with direct handline containment continuing to increase. Firefighters will begin the task of collecting over four miles of hose lay around the fire. On Saturday, road crews began repairing and grading all gravel and dirt roads leading to the fire. Thank you to the community for your continued support and cooperation as we work to keep everyone safe. 

Closures and Restrictions: Access through Forest Service Road (FSR) 65 up through FSR 64 to the junction with Indian Camp is closed. Government Mountain Road/FSR 6511 is closed from North Fork Walla Walla trailhead to the junction with FSR 65 at Tiger Saddle. Government Mountain Rd/FSR 6511 is open from the west to North Fork Walla Walla trailhead. The current fire danger rating is MODERATE and public use restrictions phase A for Umatilla National Forest are in effect. For more information regarding restrictions, please contact Umatilla National Forest Toll-free Information Hotline: 1.877.958.9663.  

Weather: Beginning today, a warm and dry trend will settle in for the next few days with highs in the 60s to 70s and light northwest wind at three to six miles per hour.  For the next few days, humidity likely will stay around 15 to 30 percent. Cloud cover will begin to move in Tuesday with a chance of rain in the fire area. There is a chance of snowfall at higher elevations beginning Wednesday into Thursday.   

Smoke: Walla Walla’s air quality for today is good to moderate. Some residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke as the fire continues to burn. Check out https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1 for more information.   

Pack Trail Daily Update October 13, 2024

Total Acres: 75,370

Confined: 62%

Total Personnel: 611

Evacuations – Brooks Lake Lodge, Pinnacle Cabins, Falls Camp, and Long Creek have been reduced to a Level 2 “Set” Evacuation Warning. Level 3 “Go” evacuation orders remain in effect for Lava Mountain Lodge and McKenzie Highland Ranch. The Dunoir Road Corridor has been reduced to a Level 1 “Ready” Evacuation Warning. The Upper Gros Ventre area, including Goosewing and Elk Track Ranches in Teton County, has been placed under a Level 2 “Set” Evacuation Warning. Evacuations and evacuation alerts for several subdivisions and ranches in Fremont County, WY remain in place. See the Fremont County Emergency Management Facebook Page for alerts and updates. See the Teton County Emergency Management website updates and to sign up for emergency alerts through Everbridge.

Operations – Today, calm wind conditions should result in less active fire behavior. Yesterday, light winds and dry weather also helped moderate the fire’s activity. The Pack Trail Fire continued to back into the areas around Cowboy Camp, Strawberry Warming Hut, and Fish Creek Guard Station, where firefighters used aircraft to temper persistent fire behavior while cleaning up hotspots, patrolling, and refilling tanks for sprinkler systems set up for point protection. The fire remains contained north of Union Pass Road. On the west flank, firefighters are patrolling the Burnt Ridge area as the fire creeps slowly downhill. Structure protection crews are wrapping buildings, installing hose lays, and setting up sprinklers at Elk Track Ranch and in the Gros Ventre area. Ground crews are completing a shaded fuel break on 540 Road, east off Highway 26. Overnight on the south side, active fire behavior persisted as crews observed fire behavior near buffalo meadow. On the north side, no new fire activity was observed, but some heat remains in the interior, with smoke still visible. Crews continue patrolling for new smoke and fire growth

Safety - Drivers on US-26 may experience periods of smoke today due to high winds. Please use caution while driving, use headlights, and expect to encounter fire vehicles along the road. If planning travel on US-26 across the Continental Divide monitor WY-DOT for possible closures due to fire activity.

Teton Interagency Fire managers are maintaining the  Very High Fire Danger Rating for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the Shoshone National Forest , and the National Elk Refuge. Due to excessively dry fuels, any spark can ignite fire which can spread rapidly, becoming a large fire and exhibit extreme fire intensity. Residents and visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution with fire or possible ignition sources. Always build your campfires away from dry grass, leaves, and overhanging branches to reduce the risk of spreading wildfire. Clear at least a 10-foot perimeter around your fire, removing any flammable material, and make sure your fire is dead out and cool to touch before you go to sleep, or leave the area. 

Weather – Today’s weather conditions present the potential for moderate fire behavior. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, with temperatures ranging from the low to mid-60s. Winds will come from the south at 6 MPH, with gusts reaching up to 13 MPH. Relative humidity will be between 19% and 24%. To learn more about air quality, visit Fire.AirNow.Gov. 

Road Closures – The Union Pass Road is closed on the Pinedale District (BTNF) from Mosquito Lake to the DuNoir on the Wind River District (SHO).

Forest Closures - Closure Order #04-03-24-316 is in effect from October 9, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. through November 1, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. unless rescinded. This order supersedes previous orders, including #04-03-24-315, prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same described area. 

For more information, visit: Facebook: USDA Forest Service - Bridger-Teton National Forest, USDA Forest Service - Shoshone National Forest  Pack Trail Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-pack-trail-fire