Incident Publication

Quick Facts

Incident Summary

Approximate

Size:

24,730 acres

Fire
Containment:

5%

Incident Commander:

Jason Loomis

Resources
on the fires:

Crews: 7

Helicopters: 4

Engines: 25

Dozers: 4

Water tenders: 6

Total

Personnel:

380

Jurisdiction:

Umatilla National Forest, Spokane District Bureau of Land Management, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Asotin County Fire District

Inciweb:

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/

Facebook:  

Oregon Smoke Blog

http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Dry Gulch Fire

July 9, 2021

Fire Information 509-780-6238

E-mail: drygulchfireinfo@gmail.com

For Immediate Release

Incident Commander: Jason Loomis, Northwest Team 7

Clarkston, Wa. –Widespread lightning on July 7 started the Dry Gulch and Lick Creek Fires, ranging from two miles SW of Asotin, Washington to approximately 15 miles SW of Asotin. The fires have burned together and are now being managed as a single fire, the Dry Gulch Fire.

Start Date: July 7, 2021     Cause: Lightning     Size: approx. 24,730 acres. Containment: 5%   

Status: The fire has not moved significantly to the north and east in the past 24 hours. It has moved rapidly to the south and west. Overnight, crews accomplished burning out fuels near Smoothing Iron Ridge, and have established point protection measures for threatened structures.

Weather: The current and forecasted weather are very conducive to fire spread, with historically dry and hot conditions, and an unstable atmosphere favoring fire growth and spotting.

Closures and Evacuations: Area Closure and fire perimeter maps are posted on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615

Public Meeting: A meeting will be held today July 9 at 7:00 pm at Asotin County Fire District Station, 2377 Appleside Blvd. Clarkston, WA 99403. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the Asotin County Fire District #1 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/asotincountyfd1/

Prevention Message: Whether we are out in nature or home in our backyards, remember that it is our role to protect the lands we love by preventing wildfires and recreating responsibly.

The Fire Emergency Area Closure was expanded on July 9, 2021. 

See the PDF linked below for the area closure description and a map. 

The Dry Gulch fire grew more than 13,000 acres yesterday. All significant growth has been to the west and south as the fire moves into increasingly rugged terrain and heavy fuels.
 
Status: The fire has not moved significantly to the north and east in the past 24 hours. With its continued spread to the south and west, firefighters are establishing protection measures for threatened structures. These measures can include installing sprinkler systems and removing adjacent fuels.
 
Weather: Current and forecasted weather remains unfavorable and fire spread is expected, with historically dry and hot conditions, and an unstable atmosphere favoring fire growth and spotting. Overnight, humidity levels remained extremely low allowing the fire to spread actively. These conditions have created an unprecedented potential for extreme fire spread and intensity. Winds today will be from the west and southwest which may result in increased fire behavior on the active western and southern edges of the fire.
 
Closures and Evacuations: Area closure and fire perimeter maps are posted on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615.
 
Prevention Message: There are numerous opportunities to prevent human-caused fires in this extremely flammable environment. Please be aware of the many actions you can take to avoid starting a dangerous and expensive fire. We cannot prevent lightning, but together we can prevent most human-caused ignitions. Firefighters need your help getting us all through this fire season safely.

See links to the full update and today's Fire information map below 

A level 3 evacuation has been issued for the Harlow Ridge area - Cloverland Rd south of Brisley Rd.

The phone number for the shelter is (509)508-1299. 

Quick Facts

Incident Summary

Approximate

Size:

46,352 acres

Fire
Containment:

20%

Incident Commander:

Jason Loomis

Resources
on the fires:

Crews: 15

Helicopters: 1

Engines: 46

Dozers: 4

Water tenders: 14

Total

Personnel:

434

Jurisdiction:

Umatilla National Forest, Spokane District Bureau of Land Management, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Asotin County Fire District

Inciweb:

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Dry-Gulch-Fire-112503867766079

Washington Smoke Blog:

https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Dry Gulch Fire

July 11, 2021

Fire Information 509-780-6238

E-mail: 2021.drygulch@firenet.gov

For Immediate Release

Incident Commander: Jason Loomis, Northwest Team 7

Clarkston, Wa. –The Dry Gulch fire gained 8,132 acres yesterday and overnight. All significant growth has been to the west and south as the fire moves into increasingly rugged terrain and heavy fuels. An expansion to the south in the Harlow Ridge area required additional residential evacuations on the evening of July 10.

Start Date: July 7, 2021     Cause: Lightning    

Status: The fire has not moved significantly to the north and east in the past 48 hours. With its continued spread to the south and west, firefighters are establishing protection measures for threatened structures. These measures can include installing sprinkler systems and removing adjacent fuels. Today firefighters may conduct strategic firing operations along the western and southern flanks of the fire if weather and burning conditions are appropriate.

Weather: Current and forecasted weather remains unfavorable and fire spread is expected, with historically dry and hot conditions, and an unstable atmosphere favoring fire growth and spotting. Overnight, humidity levels are remaining extremely low allowing the fire to spread actively. These conditions have created an unprecedented potential for extreme fire spread and intensity and a 24-hour burning period. Winds today will be westerly and light. In forested areas, fire may move rapidly through the crowns of trees in runs of up to one-quarter mile. Poor visibility may impede air operations today.

Closures and Evacuations: Area closure and fire perimeter maps are posted on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615. The Red Cross shelter in Clarkston has moved to Echo Hills Church

3215 Echo Hills Dr. in Lewiston, ID.  The shelter telephone number will remain 509-508-1299.

Prevention Message: This fire and many others burning in the region are extremely persistent on the land, requiring a marathon effort from firefighters. The same persistent effort is required from the public to assure their personal safety and to prevent any new ignitions. Firefighters need your help getting us all through this marathon fire season safely.###

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE

UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST

ORDER  NO. 06-14-04-21-15 FIRE EMERGENCY AREA CLOSURE

This order supersedes Order No. 06-14-04-21-14, signed 7/10/21 by Forest Supervisor Eric Watrud and this order supersedes Order No. 06-14-04-21-13, signed 7/09/21 by Forest Supervisor Eric Watrud.

Pursuant to 16 USC 551, 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), the following prohibition is established within the Pomeroy Ranger District of the Umatilla National Forest. This order becomes effective on July 11, 2021 and will remain in force through October 31, 2021 or the order is rescinded, whichever is sooner.

PROHIBITION:

1. It is prohibited to go into or be upon any area, road, or trail which is closed for the protection of public health and safety. 36 CFR § 261.53(e)

FIRE EMERGENCY AREA CLOSURE:

The Fire Emergency Area Closure is defined as follows:

All Forest Service lands, roads, and trails within the Pomeroy Ranger District of the Umatilla National Forest. See Exhibit A for area closure map.

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

2. Any Federal, State, or local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.

Violations of this prohibition are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both (16 USC § 551; 18 USC §§ 3551, 3559, 3571, and 3581).

Done at Pendleton, Oregon, this 11th day of July 2021.

Digitally signed by ERIC

U

..,-·, , WATRUD

Date:2021.07.1112:58:20

-07'00'

ERICWATRUD

Forest Supervisor Umatilla National Forest

 The name of the incident has changed to Lick Creek Fire.  The information phone number remains the same.   

Public Fire Briefing planned for 7:00 pm Tuesday July 13, 2021 at the Pomeroy High School. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Continued critically low humidity throughout the day and night, coupled with unseasonably high temperatures, dry fuels and lead to rapid fire growth. Minimum relative humidity today is forecasted at 12-16%, with ridgetop winds at 5-9 mph and gusts to 15 mph from the northwest. 

A public fire briefing for the Lick Creek (Dry Gulch) fire is planned for 7:00pm Tuesday July 13, 2021 at the Pomeroy High School. The incident management team will provide an update on the fire and planned activities. The meeting will also be live-streamed on the incident facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Dry-Gulch-Fire-112503867766079.

The name of the incident has changed to Lick Creek Fire.

Public Fire Briefing Tonight 7:00 pm at the Pomeroy High School.

Current Situation: Yesterday firefighters continued suppression efforts on the Lick Creek Fire. The East and West flanks are holding within the containment lines constructed over the last few days and fire crews were able to burn out vegetation extending and reinforcing those containment lines to the south. The smoke cleared enough during the day to allow aviation resources to drop water and retardant in preparation for burnout operations. Yesterday dozers were used to create fuel breaks around the Clearwater cabins, and line preparation continued along FS Road 43 to the Wickiup Campground. On the north end of the fire, where there has been no recent growth, crews continued to patrol and mop up.

Today’s Activities: Fire behavior moderated yesterday although activity did pick up overnight in the southern portion of the fire. Today, and into this evening, the fire is expected to continue moving along the surface in timber primarily towards the South and West.  Firefighters will continue preparing and reinforcing containment line on the east and west flanks, focusing on limiting the southern spread of the fire. Air operations will continue to support these efforts, as visibility allows. Crews will continue patrolling the north edge of the fire.

Weather and Smoke Info: Hot and very dry weather continues, with relative humidity below 20%. Northwest winds that started around midnight will change to north-northwest in the morning and weaken in the afternoon. Smoke Information is available on the Washington Smoke Blog at: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Evacuations: Evacuation zones, and fire perimeter maps are posted on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615. The Red Cross shelter in Clarkston has moved to Echo Hills Church 3215 Echo Hills Dr. in Lewiston, ID.  The shelter telephone number is 509-508-1299.

Closures: All Forest Service lands, roads, and trails within the Pomeroy Ranger of the Umatilla National Forest are closed. For more information visit the Umatilla National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd931174.pdf.

Lick Creek (Dry Gulch) Fire Quick Facts

Start Date: July 7, 2021

Approx. Size: 58,011 ac.

Resources:

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 20%              

15 Crews

Incident Commander:

Total Personnel: 674

54 Engines

Randy Johnson

Pacific Northwest Team 3

Location: Approximately 2 miles SW of Asotin, WA

12  Dozers

21 Water Tenders

ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION:

Fire Information: 509-780-6238

Inciweb:  inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/

Facebook: Dry-Gulch-Fire

Click on PDF file linked below for enlarged map showing evacuation levels for Asotin and Garfield Counties.