Single Publication

Oregon Fire Morning Update for August 26, 2023 

Size:    10,898 acres                                  Start Date:  18 August 2023, 1600hrs

Point of origin: Under Investigation

Containment: 44%

Cause: Under Investigation

Total Personnel: 653

Resources: 43 engines |13 crews |6 bulldozers |15 water tenders |1 helicopters |4 skidgens

Current Situation: The strategy of the fire remains full suppression and crews continue to focus work on containment line, mop-up, and suppression repair. Major sections of the fire are now transitioning from mop-up activities to being patrolled. To further aid in residents’ return to their property, 24-hour operations will continue in the near term. Air resources continue to assist with hot spot detection and reconnaissance on the east flank of the fire. 

Today’s activities: Across the fire perimeter and interior, successful mop-up and suppression repair will lead to areas entering a patrol status as appropriate. Firefighters continue to make improvements to containment lines on the north/northeast to east flanks of the fire. These areas of the perimeter will continue to make use of engines, hand crews, air assets and skidgens as needed to work through mop-up. The west, north and south flanks of the fire will all be patrolled with resources at the ready for individual hot-spot response. Air assets will remain available to aid ground efforts.

Disaster assistance: Resources are available through the Spokane County Disaster Assistance Center located at the Spokane Falls Community College, Building 9, 3305 W. Whistalks Way, Spokane, WA  99224 - phone: (509) 998-2750. Additional resources for property clean-up can be found at Spokane Regional Health and Spokane Air: bit.ly/44o05BX.

Evacuations: Level 1 and 2 evacuation zones remain in effect throughout the fire area. For updated evacuation maps of Spokane County go to www.facebook.com/GEGEmergencyMgt and for evacuation maps of Pend Oreille County go to www.facebook.com/pocsheriff. Please check these two sources of information regularly for the most up to date information. Spokane County has a new tool for pin-pointing your address and its corresponding evacuation status: https://arcg.is/1z98v10. The evacuation center is currently located at Riverside High School 4120 E. Deer Park Milan Rd, Chattaroy, WA 99003.

Weather: Today will be the warmest and driest weather over the fire since the day it started. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s with a low relative humidity of about 15%.  Increased fire activity is possible with the continued warming and drying. Wetting rains and thunderstorms are predicted on Tuesday and Wednesday, with temperatures dropping slightly and SW winds with gusts up to 20 mph.

Smoke Outlook: Washington State Department of Ecology has up to date air quality information at: enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/map.

Fire Information:(509) 508-3323 (8:00am – 8:00pm)       Email: 2023.oregon@firenet.gov

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/newfireinfo         Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/wanes-oregon-fire