Cody, Wyo. August 29, 2024—The Clearwater Fire on the Wapiti Ranger District of the Shoshone National Forest remains at 1966-acres with 91% containment. The fire was downgraded to a type-4 incident earlier this week and transitioned back to local leadership. 

Resources remaining on the fire have been busy repairing some of the disturbance caused by suppression efforts along with removing hazards along the Elk Fork Road, Trail, and in the Campground. With these obvious hazards removed and danger from active fire passing, the decision has been made to lift all closures associated with the Clearwater Fire. Numerous hazards remain in the fire area so please be aware of dead trees where roots could have been weakened by fire along with steep slopes that no longer have small vegetation holding soil in place. 

This will serve as the final update for the Clearwater Fire unless significant changes occur.    

As of early afternoon on Thursday, August 29, the Banks-Lowman Highway (Highway 17) has reopened to regular traffic. Please use caution as there are still plenty of fire operations happening in the area.

Greens Draw Road Reopens as Work Concludes on Contingency Line 

All routes previously closed due to the Speirs Fire have reopened for public use. This includes the Greens Draw Road (Forest Service Road 049).  Work on the contingency line has finished and construction crews have now left the area. 

Greens Draw Road Reopens as Work Concludes on Contingency Line 

All routes previously closed due to the Speirs Fire have reopened for public use. This includes the Greens Draw Road (Forest Service Road 049).  Work on the contingency line has finished and construction crews have now left the area. 

Speirs Fire Update 

Greens Draw Road Reopens as Work Concludes on Contingency Line 

All routes previously closed due to the Speirs Fire have reopened for public use. This includes the Greens Draw Road (Forest Service Road 049).  Work on the contingency line has finished and construction crews have now left the area. 

The Speirs Fire is now 100 percent contained and remains at 715 acres. Firefighters will continue to monitor and patrol the fire area over the next several weeks.

This will be the final update for the Speirs Fire unless conditions change. 

Size: 762 acres   Location: 5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, OR   County: Klamath  Start Date: July 17, 2024   Cause: Lightning   Containment: 0%   Total Personnel: 155

Activities – Crews, engines and equipment have completed work on the shaded fuel break between Odell Lake and Crescent Lake. The section between Crescent Lake and Summit Lake is progressing well and is anticipated to be completed by September 7th. Shaded fuel breaks reduce fire behavior due to the reduced fuel condition which allows firefighters to more safely engage the fire where there is ready access to escape routes and safety zones. Structure protection equipment remains in place along Cresent Lake. A 1.5-mile hose lay remains in place along the Whitefish Creek Trail on the southern edge of the fire to check fire spread along the trail. 

Incident Strategy – A full suppression strategy is being implemented utilizing indirect tactics, shaded fuel breaks, structure protection equipment, trail and hose lay. Firefighter and public safety remain the incident management team’s highest priority in managing this fire. Expect to see more activity on the fire with warming and drying conditions.

Closures – To provide for the safety of firefighters, equipment operators, and public the Deschutes National Forest emergency closure around Crescent Lake and in Diamond Peak Wilderness is still in effect, include these areas: Forest Service Road 60 is closed, and road guards have been posted for public safety. More closure information is available at: https://www.fsa.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices/?aid=89091   

Weather, Fire Behavior and Smoke – Warmer and drier conditions persist across the fire area Thursday under mostly clear skies. Continued warming and drying is expected though Sunday. Fire behavior has increased due to warmer temperatures and low relative humidity. Smoke production increased yesterday and is expected to increase today through Sunday. 

Evacuations – The WILDFIRE! Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate notice issued by Klamath County Emergency Management for Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, and Crescent Junction areas remains in effect (INCENDIO FORESTAL! Nivel 1 - ESTÉ PREPARADO para evacuar de las siguientes zonas: Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Crescent Junction). Visit www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergency-management for more information or to sign up for alerts.

Fire Restrictions – Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions – which prohibit open fires, including in developed campgrounds – remain in effect for the Deschutes National Forest. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level is currently Level III “Partial Shutdown.” Visit fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/home/?cid=stelprdb5297376 for more information.  

Drone Restrictions – Aerial firefighting is suspended when unauthorized drones (UAS) are in the area. Unauthorized drone use over a fire area poses serious risks to fire personnel and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. If you fly, we can’t. 

Location: 10 miles west of Helmville, Montana

Start Date: 8/23/2024   

Cause: Lightning

Size: 176 acres

Containment: 25%

CURRENT STATUS

The McElwain Fire, located 10 miles west of Helmville in Powell County, is 176 acres in size and burning in grass and timber on private and Bureau of Land Management land under Montana DNRC wildland fire protection. Elevated winds hit the fire throughout the day yesterday, causing firefighters to pull off the line due to falling interior trees, but control lines held and fire activity remained moderate. Firefighters were able to secure a large portion of line, extinguishing all heat and flame 100-150 feet deep so the fire is now 25% contained. Work will continue today to secure the rest of the control line 100-150 feet deep. 

The fire is comprised of two adjacent fires, a north fire, and a south fire. Fire behavior includes creeping and smoldering with isolated torching. Resources are being downsized to match the current fire demands and now include four engines, two Type 2 hand crews, one eight-person hand crew (Module), one water tender, and two skidgines. A Type 2 DNRC helicopter will support as needed. 

WEATHER & FIRE BEHAVIOR

Developing high pressure will bring dry conditions, light winds, and higher temperatures to the area. Above normal temperatures and minimum relative humidities in the teens and lower 20s are predicted through the weekend. Winds will be variable to westerly today, switching to southwesterly this evening and tomorrow. Deep fire control line security is critical in preparation for potential increased fire activity due to the expected dry, breezy, and hot conditions.

Firefighters did pull off the line during recent high winds due to falling trees, which is one of the top causes of firefighter fatality. This provides a reminder to the public as well, as they head out to post-fire areas to enjoy our outdoors. Use extra caution when in burned areas with standing trees, especially during windy conditions. Trees that look healthy may not be and standing dead trees are hazardous and can fall at any time.

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES

The Powell County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all evacuation warnings in the area, including residents in the Ledger Road area. Please visit the Powell County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for specific information and further updates. Please use caution if travel is necessary in the area due to increased firefighting traffic.

Powell County is currently in Stage 1 fire restrictions, which does limit campfires. Residents and visitors are asked to be extra careful when outdoors to limit human caused sparks. We cannot control the lightning, but we can prevent unintended human caused wildfires. Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for specific fire restriction information and fire prevention tips.

Upper Ruby Fire Daily Update

August 29, 2024

Quick Facts

Containment: 53%
Fire Perimeter: 280 acres
Initial Start: 08/20/24
Location: Ruby Creek Drainage - approximately 16 miles northwest of Cusick, WA
Hazards: hot ash pits, timber snags, bees, and narrow roads
Values at Risk: Private residences, ongoing timber sales
Cause: Undetermined
Personnel: 257
Structures destroyed: 0 Evacuations: None
Road Closures: Ruby Creek Road (5.5 miles in from Hwy 20), Tacoma Creek Rd (about 11 miles west of Hwy 20), and Tacoma Divide Road (about 4 miles south of Hwy 20)

Ione, WA 

PUBLIC AND FIREFIGHTER SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

The Upper Ruby Fire is in central Pend Oreille County approximately 16 miles northwest of Cusick, WA. It is burning in fuels remaining on the ground following logging activities and in heavily forested areas.

OPERATIONS: Yesterday, 10 crews, 9 engines, 7 water tenders, and 2 pieces of heavy equipment continued mopping up along the fire perimeter to strengthen control lines. This included digging by hand, using hoses to apply water to the ground, and using heavy equipment. Portable handheld infrared technology was used to identify heat near the fire perimeter. Crews continued to mop up around the fire perimeter with containment reaching 53%. Excess resources were released from the incident.

At least 8 medical personnel were staged throughout the fire to support fire personnel.

TODAY: Crews will continue to mop up along the fire perimeter and remove firefighting equipment no longer needed. Portable handheld infrared technology will continue to be used to identify heat near the fire perimeter so that crews can work to extinguish those areas. Excess resources will continue to be released.

HAZARDS: Hazards to firefighters include hot ash pits, unstable footing, fire-weakened and standing dead trees (snags) and a very high population of ground nesting bees.

WEATHER: Sunny with a warming, drying trend into the weekend. High temperature around 70 degrees. Southeast winds 2 to 5 mph.

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wacof-upper-ruby 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newfireinfo

Phone: 509-990-6218 (hours 8 am – 8 pm)

Upper Ruby Fire Public Information Map 8-29-24.jpg

Thu, 08/29/2024 - 13:02

---

Upper Ruby Fire Public Information Map 8-29-24.jpg

Willamette Complex South Update

Chalk, Coffeepot, McKinley, Moss Mountain, Tire Mountain, 208, and 217 Fires 

Thursday, August 29, 2024 

Online: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/orwif-willamette-complex-fires-south  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillametteComplexFires/  

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov  

Fire Information Line: 541-208-1742 

Total Willamette Complex South Personnel: 732 

Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 13,082 

Resources (Includes Pyramid Fire Resources): 1 Type 1 Hotshot Crews, 9 Type 2 Crews, 3 Type 2 Initial Attack Crew, 4 Helicopters, 21 Engines, 6 Dozers, 119 Heavy Equipment (Masticators, Skid Steers, and Feller Bunchers)  

Fire Cause: Lightning   

Summary  

Cooler, moist weather over the past few days has not only limited fire activity but supported fire crews as they’ve worked to strengthen control lines and prepare indirect lines. Crews are identifying and falling fire-weakened trees and snags. This work requires vigilance, and firefighters continually watch for these hazards and prioritize safety. Crews continue to strengthen control lines on the west side of the Chalk Fire, and helicopters delivered several buckets of water on the interior of the Moss Fire. Firefighter and public safety remain the highest priority throughout all phases of the incident. 

Chalk Fire (5,696 acres, 66% containment)  

Crews continue to monitor and improve containment lines on the south, east, and north portions of the fire. On the west portion, crews are deepening control lines from the fire’s main body while continuing to prepare indirect lines and manage fire-weakened trees and snags. 

Moss Mountain Fire (868 acres, 0% containment)  

Crews continue to secure areas south of Forest Service Road (FSR) 2120 into the main body of the fire while constructing indirect line along FSR 2120 and 23 to reduce the risk of fire spread. Helicopters are available again today to drop water on hot spots and keep the fire in check. Crews continue to haul and chip woody debris and remove snags. 

208 Fire (253 acres, 0% containment)  

The 208 Fire is monitored by aircraft, and if necessary, helicopters use bucket drops to keep the fire in check.  

217 Fire (38 acres, 100% contained), Tire Mountain Fire (23 acres, 100% contained), McKinley Fire (24 acres, 100% contained), Coffeepot Fire (6,180 acres, 100% contained) 

These fires are patrolled regularly. Fire crews are improving contingency lines around the Coffeepot Fire. Helicopters will drop water on hot spots as necessary to keep the Coffeepot and 208 Fires in check. 

Weather and Fire Behavior  

Warm temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s will dominate through the end of the week. Very dry air will spread across the area, leading to low humidity and poor recoveries at night. Warm and dry conditions continue through Saturday. A storm system arrives early next week, bringing a low chance of showers and thunderstorms. 

Closures and Fire Restrictions  

• For specific closure information, visit tinyurl.com/WillFireClosures2024   
• For current fire restrictions, visit tinyurl.com/WillFireRestrictions2024   
• Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR): tfr.faa.gov for up-to-date areas. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. For more information, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.      

11:00 AM, August 29, 2024

Estimated size: 189 acres
Start Date/Time: July 17, 2024
Area of Origin: Johannesburg Mountain. 1 Mile East of Mineral Park C.G.
Cause: Lightning
Fuels/Topography: Timber, rugged terrain
Structures Damaged: None, there are no homes threatened at this time.
Evacuations: None

Closures: Cascade River Road at and including Marble Creek Campground, Mineral Park Campground, and all tributary roads, trailheads, and trails are all closed. The public is not to enter the area for public and firefighter safety.
Full closure orders available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs

Update: Wednesday saw some smoke emanating from the fire as weather conditions began to warm. Reconnaissance flights will fly over the fire today to assess the size and activity of the Pincer Two fire. Recon flights will also check surrounding region for new fires resulting from last week’s lightning storms. Firefighter engine crews continue their patrol and rehab work along the Cascade River Road and Forest Road 1590.

Weather: Upper-level ridging is overhead and will continue into the weekend. With that, temperatures are still expected to warm up along with conditions drying out. RH readings could fall to critical values by Friday and the weekend as temps steadily warm and light offshore flow persists. Instability is likely throughout the upcoming period. High temperature of 79°F with east winds around 5 mph early in the morning becoming light.

Smoke: For more information on smoke and air quality please visit: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Air Space Restrictions: There are no air space restrictions at this time.

Forest Restrictions: The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie has lifted the full campfire ban and forest-wide shooting restrictions, effective 8/28/2024. Additional details at: www.fs.usda.gov/mbs
###