Single Publication

 
 NORTHERN ROCKIES TEAM 5     INCIDENT COMMANDER: JOE SAMPSON 

 Williams Creek & Twin Lakes Fires
 Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
 Fire Information 208-274-9674 
 September 9, 2022 

WILLIAMS CREEK FIRE (5 miles west of Orogrande) 

Start Date: 8/29/2022       Cause: Lightning       Size: 11,881 acres       Completion: 0 %  

Total Personnel: 137      Engines: 4       Helicopters: 1       Hand Crews: 2     

The community of Orogrande remains under a "Level 3-GO" evacuation notice, issued by the Idaho County Sheriff's Office.  

Aerial supervision was over the fire all day, providing continuous coverage, managing the airspace, directing helicopters, and prioritizing locations for water bucket drops. Three large helicopters dropped water on hot spots, assisting the ground crews in mopping up areas of residual heat. Last night, “hotshot” crews completed small-scale burnout operations behind structures on the west side of Orogrande, eliminating unburned fuels and securing the properties. 

Resources will continue to engage the fire in Orogrande and the Crooked River corridor, addressing and extinguishing hot spots and conducting damage assessments. The fire and associated winds did impact structures and outbuildings; crews are still assessing the extent of the damage. Fallen trees, burned “snags” and downed powerlines continue to present safety hazards. 

An overnight infrared flight mapped the fire at 11,881 acres. This increase in acreage reflects better mapping, rather than fire growth and progression, due to clouds and smoke obscuring the infrared flight from the previous night. 

TWIN LAKES FIRE (east of Twin Lakes and Hagen Creek) 

Start Date: 8/25/2022       Cause: Lightning       Size: 924 acres       Completion: 0 %  

Total Personnel: 9      Wildfire Fire Module: 1    

An overnight infrared flight mapped the fire at 924 acres. The fire was moderately active yesterday, mainly on the northern flank. Helicopters dropped water, assisting ground crews, for one fuel cycle. Firefighters have completed structure protection measures at Square Mountain Lookout and continue to monitor fire behavior and fuels conditions.  

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR 

Cooler temperatures and lingering dry conditions persisted throughout yesterday, with northwest winds channeling through drainages. With the smoke “cap” over the fires, activity was limited to three to four hours in the afternoon. Existing roads and timber harvest units are helping to limit and slow the fire spread on the east side of Orogrande. Fire behavior was mostly ground fire with some torching, as interior unburned pockets of fuel between the spot fires burned to fill in the perimeter. 

Cool and stable air will remain over the fire areas, with an inversion acting as a “cap” to limit venting. Air will remain dry, with afternoon relative humidity levels reaching the 20% range. A “back door” cold front will push in from the east this afternoon, resulting in a wind shift to the east-northeast with gusts to 20 mph. Overnight temperatures will again plunge below freezing. This moderation in weather should keep fire behavior relatively subdued due to the inability to vent. The stable atmosphere should prevent large-scale growth. Conditions are favorable for spot fires on the east side of Orogrande to continue to grow together. The afternoon wind shift presents an additional safety concern for firefighters. 
 

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES 

Closures surrounding both fire areas are necessary to protect the safety and welfare of the public and provide for safe firefighting efforts and access. An updated closure for the Williams Creek fire area is forthcoming, given the fire movement and progression earlier this week. Additional roads and trail will be closed for public safety.  

The Twin Lakes Fire closure includes the following roads and trails: 

OPEN:   

NFSR 444 Gospel Road – open from junction with NFSR 221 to Moore’s Guard Station/Campground 

CLOSED: 

NFST 312 – North Moore’s Trail – closed from trailhead to MP 6.83/jct with NFST 383 Square Mountain 

NFST 383 – Square Mountain Trail – closed from MP 6.64/jct with NFST 315 to MP 7.16/jct with NFST 312 

NFST 315 – Kentucky Creek Trail – closed from trailhead/jct with NFST 313 to MP 7.71/jct with NFST 383 

NFST 313 – Hump Trail – closed from MP 15.4/jct with NFST 384 to MP 18.1/jct with NFST 315 

NFST 384 – Square Mtn. Spur Trail – closed from trailhead/jct with NFST 383 to MP 1.37/jct with NFST 313 

NFST 383 – Square Mountain Trail – closed from trailhead/jct with NFSR 444 to MP 1.59/jct with NFST 384 

NFSR 444 – Gospel Road – closed from MP 11.57 at Moore’s Campground to end of road at Square Mountain Lookout 

The Williams Creek Fire closure includes the following roads and trails:
CLOSED:   

NFSR 233 – Crooked River Road – closed from jct with NFSR 522 to jct with NFSR 233I at Orogrande Summit 

NFSR 492 – Santiam Sourdough Road – closed from jct with trail 415 to jct with trail 416 

NFSR 233I – Wild Horse Campground Road – closed from jct with NSFR 233 to end of road 

NFST 299 – Crystal Lake Trail – closed from TH /jct with NSFR 233I to jct with trail 803 at MP 2.04 

NFST 803 – Ten Mile Spur – closed from TH/jct with Trail 299 to end of trail/jct with Trail 415 

NFST 415 – Ten Mile Trail – closed from TH/junction with Trail 803 at MP 6.49 to TH/jct with NFSR 492 

NFST 416 – Old Golden-North Hill Trail – closed from TH/jct with NSFR 492 to end of trail jct with NSFR 478A.  

NFSR 478A – Forest Road 478A – closed from jct with Trail 416 at 0.2 to jct with NSFR 478 

NFSR 478 – Nipple Mountain Road – closed from jct with NSFR 478A at MP 1.56 to jct with Trail 807 at MP 1.65 

NFST 807 – Five Mile Trail – closed from end of trail/jct with NSFR 478 to TH/jct with NSFR 2003  

NFSR 2003 – Five Mile camp Road – closed from jct with Trail 807 at MP 0.15 to beginning of road/jct with NSFR 233