WILLOWS, Calif., Nov. 12, 2024—Forest personnel are planning several prescribed fire operations at campgrounds and administrative sites this fall, winter and spring, as weather patterns shift to cooler temperatures and wetter conditions. 

Grindstone District fire personnel are starting with pile burning in higher elevations and will be moving down to lower elevations as weather conditions permit. On Wednesday, Nov. 13 and throughout the week, firefighters will be attempting to burn piles at Board Camp and Snow Basin. Pile burning may also occur at Letts Lake, Log Springs, Ides Cove, Paskenta station and Red Bluff Recreation Area.

In the coming weeks, Upper Lake and Covelo Ranger District fire personnel are planning to burn piles located along roadsides in various locations, including Bartlett Mountain, M1 Road, Pine Mountain, Horse Mountain and Packsaddle. 

Pile burning may also occur at administrative sites, including Hammerhorn, Little Doe and Deer Valley campgrounds. Potential understory burning operations include Howard Mill, Westshore, Pillsbury Homesites and possible North Shore project. 

Fire managers conduct prescribed fire activities during the safest possible “burn windows” in the coming months. Numerous factors including wind, humidity, air quality, fuel moisture and availability of fire crew personnel must be met before crews are authorized to move forward with burning.

Residents and visitors are asked to avoid areas where prescribed fires are being conducted. Some smoke may be visible. Fires are carefully monitored. Local fire and government authorities are notified prior to burn days and kept informed throughout operations. 

Prescribed fire is a tool that uses fire under planned ignitions to mimic the natural role of fire in the environment. Without fire, hazardous fuels can build up and carry wildfire from the forest floor to tree canopies, creating extreme fire behavior that poses risk to firefighters, surrounding communities and natural resources.

All burning activities are weather dependent. Maps, locations, photos and updates on planned prescribed burn activities will be available on Inciweb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/camnf-mendocino-nf-fall-2024spring-2025-rx-fire-projects.

Pending favorable conditions, firefighters on the Lolo National Forest are planning to conduct pile burn operations today to reduce hazardous fuels from previous vegetation management operations. 

Missoula Ranger District: Pending conditions, firefighters plan to burn 3 acres of machine piles located in the Grizzly Campground up the Ranch Creek drainage.  Fire managers may also burn up to 57 acres of hand piles on the Granite Graves project area 4 miles up the Howard Creek drainage. Smoke may be visible from Highway 12. 

Ninemile Ranger District: Firefighters plan to conduct pile burn operations on the 41-acre Frenchtown Face project, located approximately 4.5 miles east of the Ranger District in the Sixmile drainage.  Smoke will likely be seen from Frenchtown and the surrounding area. 

Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District: Pile burning is planned for the Knowles and Henry Deemer project areas.  Fire managers may burn up to 30 acres of hand piles east of Paradise and 40 acres of landing piles 3 miles northwest of Paradise.  Smoke may be visible from Paradise, Knowles, Quinns, Highway 200 and Highway 135. 

Acreage Targeted:150

Acreage Completed:150

Elevation: 4700 

Location: Firing from Lewis Creek to Deer Cove Creek

Firing start Time:0930

Firing Completed:1330  (No control Issues)

Plan for Monday 11/11: Hold, secure, and monitor previous days firing operations, continue mop up at least 100 ft around all structures, and mitigate fire weakened trees that have potential to impact the road.

Smoke Report: Smoke rise 3000ft AGL then light dispersal to East

Fire Behavior: Low intensity in the understory and moderate intensity up high in heavy brush component, minimal torching, 4-6 ft avg scorch height, with surface flame lengths Averaging 6-8ft in heavy dead and down with 2-3ft avg flame lengths in the needle cast oak litter.

Consumption: 70-80% consumption on 1000 hr fuels, with a clean finished understory burn throughout

Primary Carrier: Needle cast, shrub, Grass, Heavy concentration of dead down

WX: SW 5-7 w/ Gusts to 8, with a low RH of 24@1200

Personnel on Scene

2 –SQF E347-SQF E-323

1 – SEKI E-42

1 – Arrowhead C91 C552

1 – Type 2 crew Scorpions 1

1 – UAS Module

1-Fire Efx Module

Acreage Targeted:150

Acreage Completed:150

Elevation: 4700 

Location: Hotel Creek West to The Lewis Creek cabins

Firing start Time:0930

Firing Completed:1540 (No control Issues)

Plan for Saturday 11/10: 150 Acres From Lewis Creek Waste Water Treatment headed West just past Deer Cove Creek to tie in black to black on 180

Smoke Report: Smoke rise 2000ft AGL then light dispersal to East

Fire Behavior: Low intensity SW aspect, minimal torching, 4-6 ft avg scorch height, with surface flame lengths Averaging 3-4ft and heavy dead and down consisted of 6-8ft avg flame lengths.

Consumption: 70-80% consumption on 1000 hr fuels, with a clean finished understory burn throughout

Primary Carrier: Needle cast, shrub, Grass, Heavy concentration of dead down

WX: SW 5-7 w/ Gusts to 8,  with a low RH of 24, RHs started pull up at about 1400 and fuels were still actively receptive and consuming well

Personnel on Scene

2 –SQF E347-SQF E-323

1 – SEKI E-42

1 – Arrowhead C91 C552

1 – Scorpions 1

1 – UAS Module

1-Fire Efx Module

Acreage Targeted:150

Acreage Completed:150

Elevation: 4700 

Location: NPS Housing Lane/Death Valley Drive Firing West to Hotel Creek

Firing start Time:1000

Firing Completed:1500  (No control Issues)

Plan for Saturday 11/9: 150 Acres From Hotel Creek headed West to 180 and tie into Lewis Crk

Smoke Report: Smoke rise 2000ft AGL with light transport winds to the East

Fire Behavior: Low intensity south aspect on 20% slope, minimal torching, 3-5 ft scorch height, with surface flame lengths Averaging 2ft and heavy dead and down consisted of 7ft avg flame lengths. Rate of spread in needle cast was approximately 1 chain per hour at head and backing at .20 chains per hour.

Consumption: 60-70% consumption on 1000 hr fuels, with a clean finished understory burn throughout

Primary Carrier: Long Needle, Oak Litter, Grass, Heavy dead and down

WX: Favorable SW 3-6 majority of day w/ Gusts to 7,  with a low RH of 22 @1200, RHs started pull up at about 1400 and fuels were still actively receptive and consuming well.

Personnel on Scene

2 – FS Type 3 Engines SQF E347-SQF E-323

1 – SEKI E-42 Type 6

1 – SMOD (Arrowhead, C91, 552) Firing and Holding

1 – Scorpions 1 2IA hand crew Patrol and Holding

1 – UAS Module.  PSD and IR

1-NPS Fire EFX Mod of 3
 

Start Date: October 28, 2024
Cause: Unknown
Size: 323 acres
Containment: 90%
Location: 4 miles west of Alto, 9 miles northwest of Ruidoso, located in the Blue 2 wildfire footprint in the White Mountain Wilderness
Resources: 7 personnel including members of the Type 6 USFS engine
Types of vegetation in the area (aka fuels): Grass, shrubs, dead/down fuel
Strategy: Full Suppression with direct and indirect tactics    
Road Closures: None     
Smoke: No smoke visible from the Blue Front Fire

This is the FINAL UPDATE for the Blue Front Fire unless significant fire activity occurs.

Update: An engine will remains assigned to the fire and will assess the conditions on the ground.. Yesterday’s forecasted weather did materialize and the entire fire area received rain and snow. The fire remains at 90% containment. Heavy fuels that remain in the fire area and are capable of retaining heat even under snow. 
The uncrewed aircraft (drone) has been cancelled due to the change in weather conditions. If needed, the uncrewed aircraft reconnaissance missions will resume under more favorable conditions to identify heat sources and any changes in perimeter growth.
Weather: The arrival of winter weather including rain and snow significantly affected the Blue Front Fire resulting in minimal to no fire behavior. The fire area received snowfall ranging from 6 to 9 inches. 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568076357114 
NM Fire Info: https://nmfireinfo.com/   
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmlnf-blue-front-fire 
 

Start Date: October 28, 2024
Cause: Unknown
Size: 323 acres
Containment: 90%
Location: 4 miles west of Alto, 9 miles northwest of Ruidoso, located in the Blue 2 wildfire footprint in the White Mountain Wilderness
Resources: One Type 6 USFS engine    
Personnel: 7
Types of vegetation in the area (aka fuels): Grass, shrubs, dead/down fuel
Strategy: Full Suppression with direct and indirect tactics    
Road Closures: None
Smoke: There is no smoke showing from the Blue Front Fire
Update: A USFS engine remains assigned to the fire and will assess the conditions on the ground.  Their task is to detect remaining heat that could be caused by smoldering fuels. An approaching weather system is forecasted to bring in snow and rain. This moisture will minimize any observed fire behavior. These improving conditions have allowed for containment to be raised to 90%. 
Weather permitting on Friday, an uncrewed aircraft (drone) will be utilized for an infrared flight and video footage of the fire area. Fire managers will be able to assess if there is remaining heat in and on the perimeter of the Blue Front Fire.
Weather: Weather forecast calls for colder temperatures accompanied by rain and snow throughout the day, which includes the general area of the Blue Front Fire.