Cody, Wyo. September 9, 2021—The Sand Creek Fire is located west of Lander on the Washakie Ranger District of the Shoshone National Forest; the fire was first reported this afternoon east of the Dickinson Park Guard Station in the Sand Creek drainage. The fire is estimated to be 100 acres in size.

Due to the location of the fire, aerial resources were the first to respond with a Type 1 (large) helicopter, Type 3 (small) helicopter, and air attack platform being first on scene. Additional resources, to include ground resources, have been ordered to assist in the response to the Sand Creek Fire.

For more information on the Shoshone National Forest, please visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/shoshone, follow us on Twitter (@ShoshoneNF), or like us on Facebook (US Forest Service – Shoshone National Forest).

As America’s first national forest, the Shoshone National Forest has 2.4 million acres of diverse terrain and a mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the forest to meet the needs of present and future generations.

COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12

Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar

October 4, 2021

The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Today is NW IMT 12’s last day on the Cougar Peak Fire. The fire will transition back to the local unit tomorrow morning. Thank you to the Lakeview community for your support and hospitality!

Weather

Temperatures will cool by a few degrees today and tomorrow but will remain above normal. It will be windy and very dry today, with winds gusting 25-30 mph. A major pattern change will move into the region on Wednesday, bringing much cooler temperatures. 

Operations

High temperatures and low humidity led to more visible smoke from the interiors of the Cougar Peak and Patton Meadow Fires yesterday, but containment lines on both fires continue to remain secure. On the southern end of the Cougar Peak Fire, crews continued to repair dozer line near Cottonwood Meadow Lake. In the northwest portion of the fire, dozer line repair continued with the help of two excavators, and suppression repair in the area of Moss Pass was completed. Heavy equipment continued to process logs on the eastern side of the fire.

Firefighters will continue to focus on suppression repair today and will work to wrap up repair efforts in several locations, including Cottonwood Meadow Lake and the northwest area of the fire. Patrol and monitoring is ongoing around the fire perimeter. Firefighters are also prepared to assist with new fire starts in the area.

Closures and Fire Restrictions

The Cougar Peak Fire Closure Order on the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains in place. The closure order can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/fremont-winema/home. Please respect closure orders and use extra caution while driving and hunting for your safety as well as the safety of our firefighters.

Effective October 1, fire danger level was reduced to “High,” IFPL is a Level II, and Public Use Restrictions were lifted on the Fremont-Winema National Forest and most of the BLM Lakeview District. For the latest restrictions and regulations, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml.

Fire Safety

While days are getting shorter and temperatures are decreasing, fuels remain dry and current conditions can still carry wildfire quickly. Caution should be used to prevent wildfires.

SIZE:  91,795 acres

CONTAINMENT: 90%

PERSONNEL: 176

CAUSE: Undetermined

RESOURCES:

Hand Crews: 1

Engines: 5

Dozers: 2

Water Tenders: 1

Helicopters: 1

FIRELINE REPAIRED: 113.8 mi

ROAD REPAIRED: 36.7 mi

FIRE INFORMATION:

541-900-5788

2021.cougarpeak@firenet.gov

Facebook: @CougarPeakFire2021

INCIWEB:

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7835/

COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12

Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar

October 3, 2021

The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Tomorrow is NW Team 12’s last day on the Cougar Peak Fire. On October 5, the fire will transition back to the local unit. 

Weather

Temperatures today will be in the 70s and 80s. Monday will slightly cooler, but temperatures will remain above normal. Relative humidity will continue to be very dry. A major pattern change will move into the region next week, with high temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

Operations

Warm temperatures and low humidity led to visible smoke from the interiors of the Cougar Peak and Patton Meadow Fires yesterday, but containment lines on both fires continue to remain secure. On the southern end of the Cougar Peak Fire, crews cleaned up slash piles and completed log processing operations. Crews also worked on dozer line repair south of Cougar Peak. On the northern end of the fire, suppression repair continued, as heavy equipment installed water bars and repaired dozer lines. Crews completed falling hazard trees on the eastern side of the fire, and heavy equipment continued to process logs.

Firefighters will continue to focus on suppression repair today. Patrolling and monitoring is ongoing around the fire perimeter. Crews are also prepared to assist with new fire starts in the area.

Closures and Fire Restrictions

The Cougar Peak Fire Closure Order on the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains in place. The closure order can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/fremont-winema/home.

Please respect closure orders and use extra caution while driving and hunting for your safety as well as the safety of our firefighters. There are still many firefighters doing repair work, patrolling, falling hazard trees, and moving heavy equipment on roads in and around the fire area.

Beginning October 1, fire danger level is “High,” IFPL is a Level II, and Public Use Restrictions are lifted on the Fremont-Winema National Forest and most of the BLM Lakeview District. For the latest restrictions and regulations, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml.  

Fire Safety

While days are getting shorter and temperatures are decreasing, fuels remain dry and current conditions can still carry wildfire quickly. Caution should be used to prevent wildfires.

SIZE:  91,795 acres

CONTAINMENT: 85%

PERSONNEL: 201

CAUSE: Undetermined

RESOURCES:

Hand Crews: 2

Engines: 5

Dozers: 3

Water Tenders: 3

Helicopters: 1

FIRELINE REPAIRED: 100.8 mi

ROAD REPAIRED: 36.3 mi

FIRE INFORMATION:

541-900-5788

2021.cougarpeak@firenet.gov

Facebook: @CougarPeakFire2021

INCIWEB:

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7835/

COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12

Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar

October 2, 2021

The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Weather

Temperatures will reach into the upper 70s through Monday, and relative humidity will remain very low. A major pattern shift into autumn weather is expected next week, which will result in much cooler temperatures and a chance for precipitation mid-week.

Operations

Yesterday, a large amount of hose was backhauled from the southern area of the fire, and repair of dozer line on Cox Flat was completed. The southwestern area of the fire transitioned to patrol status as suppression repair was completed and equipment moved out of the area. In the northwest, heavy equipment continued to work on installing water bars and repairing dozer lines. Repairs to suppression lines were completed in the peat bog and no more smoke was observed in the area. In the eastern portion of the fire, crews were hand-falling hazard trees as heavy equipment processed logs.

Firefighters will continue to focus on suppression repair today. Patrolling and monitoring will continue around the fire perimeter. In addition to suppression repair work on the Cougar Peak Fire, crews are prepared to assist with new fire starts in the area.

Closures and Fire Restrictions

The Cougar Peak Fire Closure Order on the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains in place. The closure order can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/fremont-winema/home.

As rifle hunting season opens today, please respect closure orders and use extra caution while driving and hunting for your safety as well as the safety of our firefighters. There are still hundreds of firefighters doing repair work, patrolling, falling hazard trees, and moving heavy equipment on roads in and around the fire area.

Beginning October 1, fire danger level is “High,” IFPL is a Level II, and Public Use Restrictions are lifted on the Fremont-Winema National Forest and most of the BLM Lakeview District. For the latest restrictions and regulations, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml.

Fire Safety

While days are getting shorter and temperatures are decreasing, fuels remain dry and current conditions can still carry wildfire quickly. Caution should be used to prevent wildfires.

SIZE:  91,795 acres

CONTAINMENT: 85%

PERSONNEL: 284

CAUSE: Undetermined

RESOURCES:

Hand Crews: 4

Engines: 14

Dozers: 3

Water Tenders: 5

Helicopters: 1

FIRELINE REPAIRED: 88.7 mi

ROAD REPAIRED: 36.3 mi

FIRE INFORMATION:

541-900-5788

2021.cougarpeak@firenet.gov

Facebook: @CougarPeakFire2021

INCIWEB:

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7835/

COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12

Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar

October 1, 2021

The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Weather

Temperatures will drop 1-2 degrees today as a weak cold front passes through the area. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday temperatures will reach into the 70s. Relative humidity will remain very low. 

Operations

Yesterday, firefighters continued to patrol the fire perimeter and make progress on suppression repair in all areas of the fire. Around the southern end of the fire, heavy equipment processed logs and began repairing dozer line on the west side of Cougar Peak. Major suppression repair was completed in the southwest so that only small areas of repair remain. In the northwest, two excavators were brought in to assist with suppression repair. Mop-up continued on the northern end of the fire, as firefighters still find occasional hot spots in the peat bog. In the eastern portion of the fire, heavy equipment continued to install water bars and process logs from hazard tree removal.

Firefighters will continue to work on suppression repair today while patrolling the fire perimeter. The fire continues to downsize as missions are completed and firefighters “time out” after 14-day assignments.

Closures and Fire Restrictions

Effective today, the agencies of the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) will be lowering Fire Danger to “High” and reducing the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to Level II. Public Use Restrictions will be lifted on the Fremont-Winema National Forest and most of the BLM Lakeview District. For the latest restrictions and regulations, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml.

The Cougar Peak Fire Closure Order on the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains in place. The closure order can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/fremont-winema/home.

Numerous firefighter vehicles and heavy equipment are operating on roads around the fire area. Logging is underway on private lands, and active fire repair and hazard tree removal operations are ongoing. Please use extra caution driving on area roads.

Fire Safety

While days are getting shorter and temperatures are decreasing, fuels remain dry and current conditions can still carry wildfire quickly. Caution should be used to prevent wildfires.

SIZE:  91,795 acres

CONTAINMENT: 85%

PERSONNEL: 417

CAUSE: Undetermined

RESOURCES:

Hand Crews: 10

Engines: 16

Dozers: 2

Water Tenders: 6

Helicopters: 1

FIRELINE REPAIRED: 79.3 mi

ROAD REPAIRED: 35.6 mi

FIRE INFORMATION:

541-900-5788

2021.cougarpeak@firenet.gov

Facebook: @CougarPeakFire2021

INCIWEB:

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7835/

 COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE
NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12
Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar
September 30, 2021  

The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.  

 Weather
 A warming and drying trend continues today, with temperatures increasing 5-6 degrees over yesterday. A cold front will pass through the area tomorrow, then warming will resume for the weekend.
 
 Operations
 Warmer temperatures and lower humidities led to visible smoke from the interiors of the Cougar Peak and Patton Meadow Fires yesterday, but containment lines on both fires remained secure. Yesterday, firefighters continued to patrol the fire perimeter and conduct occasional mop-up as needed. Backhaul of equipment was completed in the southwest. Along the northern boundary, firefighters continued to find and mop-up hotspots around the peat bog and Willow Springs Ranch. In the eastern portion of the fire, heavy equipment continued to improve access routes and process logs from the extensive hazard tree removal.   Today, firefighters will continue to work on suppression repair while patrolling the fire perimeter. Suppression repair work in the southern and western portions of the fire is primarily focused on erosion control. The fire acreage has been updated to reflect more accurate mapping. Refinements of the fire acreage may continue over the next several days as crews more precisely map the fire perimeter.

RESOURCES:
 Hand Crews: 12
 Engines: 20
 Dozers: 3
 Water Tenders: 5
 Helicopters: 1    

 Closures and Fire Restrictions
 
 The area closure surrounding the Cougar Peak Fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains in place.  
 
 Numerous firefighter vehicles and heavy equipment are operating on roads around the fire area. Logging is underway on private lands, and active fire repair and hazard tree removal operations are ongoing. Please use extra caution driving on area roads.  

For the latest restrictions and regulations, including Oregon Department of Forestry and federal agencies, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml.
Fremont-Winema National Forest closure orders can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/fremont-winema/home.

COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE
 NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12
 Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar 
 September 29, 2021
 
The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Weather
  A warming and drying trend starts today, with temperatures increasing 10-15 degrees over yesterday. Warming will continue through the rest of the week, with temperatures nearing 80 degrees this weekend. Relative humidity will drop throughout the week.   
 
Operations 
 Firefighters continued suppression repair activities around the southern and western portions of the fire yesterday, utilizing heavy equipment to process logs and repair roads. Repair operations in the northwest focused on removing the berms created as dozers cut containment lines. Patrol and occasional mop-up continued around the fire. Crews sized up additional repair work on the north end of the fire and developed a suppression repair plan for the peat bog and Willow Springs Ranch. In the eastern portion of the fire, firefighters supported hazard tree removal operations along transportation corridors. Heavy equipment processed logs from the extensive hazard tree removal and continued to improve access routes. 
 
Today, firefighters will continue to work on suppression repair across the fire. Suppression repair work includes installing water bars on roads, restoring berms, removing hazard trees, and processing logs. Resource Advisors are working with fireline personnel during implementation of suppression repair to minimize erosion and to protect natural and cultural resources. Specialized equipment will arrive today to support suppression repair around the peat bog. 
 
RESOURCES:
 Hand Crews: 17
 Engines: 21
 Dozers: 5
 Water Tenders: 9
 Helicopters: 1

Evacuations and Restrictions
 The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has dropped all evacuation levels as of today, September 29. No evacuations remain for the Cougar Peak Fire. For further information please see the Lake County website at https://www.lakecountyor.org/index.php.  
 
Please note that the area closure on the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains in place. For the latest restrictions and regulations, including Oregon Department of Forestry and federal agencies, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml.

 COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE
NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12
Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar
September 28, 2021  

 The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.  

 Weather
Temperatures dropped significantly overnight, and snow levels will be around 6000-6500 feet today. Afternoon highs will only reach into the mid-40s to low-50s. The heaviest precipitation will be over by this morning, but there will continue to be scattered rain and snow showers this afternoon. Tonight, temperatures will be in the mid-20s. Tomorrow will start a warming and drying trend.    

Operations Smoke and wind-blown ash continued to be visible from the Cougar Peak and Patton Meadow fires yesterday, but containment lines on both fires remained secure. Around the southern boundaries of the Cougar Peak Fire, crews worked on backhauling equipment and repairing dozer lines. Little mop-up was needed, and the area mostly transitioned to patrol status. In the southwest, crews completed backhaul operations. Additional heavy equipment was brought into the area to support suppression repair. Patrols and mop-up continued in the northwest, and crews began ramping up suppression repair work. In the northern area of the fire, firefighters continued to construct and reinforce containment lines along the three small unsecured sections of the fire boundary, including the peat bog. The eastern area of the fire transitioned fully to patrol status with ongoing suppression repair in the southeast. Heavy equipment processed logs from the extensive hazard tree removal along access routes in the southeast.   Firefighters will continue to work on mop-up and line construction in the remaining unsecured areas of the fire. In most areas of the fire, today’s operations will shift more heavily into suppression repair. This week, many firefighters will “time out” as they reach the end of their 14-day dispatch, and the fire will downsize as missions are completed.  
 
 RESOURCES:
 Hand Crews: 21
 Engines: 29
 Dozers: 5
 Water Tenders: 16
 Helicopters: 1    

Evacuations All evacuation levels across the Cougar Peak Fire have been reduced to a level 1.
For further information please see:
Lake County website at https://www.lakecountyor.org/index.php
 Lake County Facebook at @Lake-County-Oregon-104435824529906 
 Interactive map at https://tinyurl.com/InteractiveEvacMap

 COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE
NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12
 Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar
September 27, 2021  

 The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Weather
A storm system brings a major cooling trend to the area today with a chance of precipitation tonight. By tomorrow, temperatures will be into the 40s-50s and snow showers are expected above 6000-6500 feet.  

Operations
 Yesterday’s wind event caused smoke to be visible from the interior of the Cougar Peak and Patton Meadow fires, but containment lines on both fires remained secure thanks to the great work of our firefighters. Some interior pockets of “dirty burn,” mixed burned and unburned vegetation, were consumed by smoldering fire within containment lines. 

Yesterday, firefighters finished constructing fireline around Cougar Peak Mountain and transitioned to mopping-up in that area. Work began to mitigate hazard trees along roads in the southern portion of the fire. Along the western and northern fire boundaries, crews continued patrol, mop-up, and backhaul operations. Mop-up continued in the peat bog, and several additional water tenders were brought in to support the mop-up operation. Backhaul and suppression repair were completed in the northeast. In the southeast, firefighters continued to remove and backhaul hose. Heavy equipment processed logs in the southeast and southwest areas of the fire. Road repair operations, including grading and installing water bars, were completed yesterday.  Firefighters will continue to work today on mop-up and line construction in the remaining unsecured areas of the fire, such as the peat bog. All boundaries of the fire will be patrolled, and mop-up will be conducted as needed to reinforce containment lines. Backhaul, suppression repair, and log processing will continue today.    

RESOURCES:
Hand Crews: 21
 Engines: 31
 Dozers: 4
 Water Tenders: 22
 Helicopters: 4

 Evacuations All evacuation levels across the Cougar Peak Fire have been reduced to a level 1. For further information please see:
Lake County website at https://www.lakecountyor.org/index.php
 Lake County Facebook at @Lake-County-Oregon-104435824529906
 Interactive map at https://tinyurl.com/InteractiveEvacMap

COUGAR PEAK FIRE UPDATE

NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12

Incident Commanders: Jeff Dimke and Bobby Shindelar 

September 26, 2021

The Cougar Peak Fire is currently burning approximately 15 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon. The Incident Command Post at the Lakeview Fairgrounds is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of community members and firefighters.

Weather 

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for this afternoon. Strong, gusty winds with low relative humidity and dry vegetation will increase the spread potential of new and existing fires. Please take extra precaution to avoid actions that could ignite new fires. A storm system will move into the area tomorrow, bringing much cooler temperatures and a chance of precipitation tomorrow night.  

Operations 

Yesterday, firefighters continued work to secure the line near Cougar Peak. Crews began backhauling equipment and ordering resources for suppression repair in secured areas on the southern end of the fire. Throughout the western portion of the fire, crews conducted patrol and mop-up. Backhaul of equipment and repair work by excavators began in secured areas along the western fire perimeter. Firefighters continued to patrol and mop-up around the north end of the fire, also making progress securing line in the peat bog. Backhaul and suppression repair neared completion in the northeast. In southeast, crews continued to grid, patrol, and backhaul equipment. Heavy equipment continued to clear interior access routes by removing hazard trees in the east and west areas of the fire. 

Firefighters have been preparing for today’s forecasted wind event for several days. Emphasis will be placed on patrolling existing line combined with a readiness to respond to any increase in fire activity or new fire starts. Firefighters will continue to work today on mop-up and line construction in the remaining unsecured areas of the fire, including around Cougar Peak and in the peat bog. Backhaul and repair work will continue, with a strong focus on patrolling and holding containment lines during the Red Flag conditions this afternoon. 

RESOURCES:

Hand Crews: 21

Engines: 32

Dozers: 6

Water Tenders: 22

Helicopters: 4

Fixed Wing: 0

Evacuations

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office decreased evacuation levels on September 24. For further information please see: 

Lake County website at https://www.lakecountyor.org/index.php

Lake County Facebook at @Lake-County-Oregon-104435824529906

Interactive map at https://tinyurl.com/InteractiveEvacMap