Closure of Siouxon Block

The Big Hollow Fire is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Carson and 7 miles southeast of Cougar, Washington. Temperatures will be slightly warmer today with the high around 70. Light winds and smoke are expected.

Yesterday’s Operations:

Growth occurred in all areas of the fire. The region filled with thick smoke from west coast fires, which diminished fire behavior but also decreased visibility. Crews continued to construct control lines using heavy equipment in the DNR Siouxon block. The northeast was scouted for potential containment line locations. Crews began to prep the cabins at Government Mineral Springs for fire protection. Crews conducted firing operations along the 57 road to slow fire spread south. Structures near Yale Lake and Swift Reservoir were assessed for risk. A live public meeting was held via Facebook and is available for viewing at https://www.facebook.com/GiffordPinchot.

Today’s Operations:

Acreage remains the same due to smoke preventing completion of the mapping mission. Scouting for potential containment lines will continue to the northeast and east. Firing operations will be evaluated and implemented along the Wind River Hwy. A sprinkler system will be set up around the cabins at Government Mineral Springs. Indirect line construction will continue to the west. Structures will be assessed for risk in Chelatchie Prairie, Yale, and Northwood. More resources will be arriving in support of the fire.

Closures & Evacuations:

The 42 cabins at Government Mineral Springs are under a Level 3 evacuation order. The areas SE and NW of Yale Lake, including the communities of Yale and Cougar, are under a Level 2 evacuation order. The areas northeast and southwest of the Level 2 evacuation area, including the community of Northwoods and portions of the towns of Amboy and Yacolt, are under a Level 1 evacuation order. The Forest Service has issued area closures in the southwest portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that include most developed campgrounds, dispersed camping, trails, and most forest roads and trails within the closure area. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has issued closures for the Siouxon Block and recreation sites within the Merrill Lake Conservation Area. The Pacific Crest Trail remains open. 

Safety Message:

Please stay out of fire closure areas for your safety and that of the firefighters. There is an air quality alert in place for southwest Washington and northwest Oregon for unhealthy and hazardous conditions. Some areas are also under a dense smoke advisory for low visibility. Air quality information is available at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.

Resources: 
Hand Crews 6 
Engines 9 
Masticator 1 

Please see the below Big Hollow Fire closure order and map for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Northwest Incident Management Team 12 took command at 6:00 AM on the Big Hollow Fire 15 miles northwest of Carson and 7 miles southeast of Cougar, Washington. Weather is expected to be partly cloudy and very smokey, with temperatures in the low to mid-70s. Light westerly winds of 7 to 12 mph are forecasted, shifting to southwesterly in the evening. 

Operations Today:

Indirect control lines are being constructed with heavy equipment and roads to protect the communities of Cougar, Chelatchie and Yale to the west. Structure protection is being implemented to protect cabins at Government Mineral Springs and the Carson National Fish Hatchery. Firefighters are also assessing the risk to structures to the north and east in the fire area.

Closures:

The Forest Service has issued area closures in the southwest portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that include most developed campgrounds, dispersed camping, day-use and wilderness areas, and most forest roads and trails within the closure area. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has issued closures for the Siouxon Block and recreation sites within the Merill Lake Conservation Area.

Safety Message:

Evacuation levels 1 (ready), 2 (set), and 3 (go) are currently in use. Level 2 evacuation orders are in place for the areas around Yale Lake. Level 1 closures have been issued for the areas around Swift Reservoir and south of Lake Merwin. There is an air quality alert in place for southwest Washington and northwest Oregon for unhealthy and hazardous conditions. Air quality information is available at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/. Be aware of low visibility and possible traffic congestion from firefighting vehicles and equipment on forest roads. 


Resources:

Hand Crews 2

Engines 9

Springfield, Ore.  This is the last day for Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1.  Today will be spent with the incoming Type 3 IMT shadowing and learning about the fire’s status.  The incident command post for the fire will be moving from the Thurston Middle School location to the McKenzie Ranger Station.   

Springfield, Ore.  Steady rains fell over the fire area yesterday.  Many areas on the fire reported well over 1.5 inches of rain through this morning. The Remoted Automated Weather Station (RAWS) at Minney Creek, has recorded 2.51 inches of rain from this storm. The forecast for the week to come is mostly drizzly through Tuesday when another ridge of high pressure builds off the coast bringing a brief period of drying before additional precipitation is expected Friday and Saturday. 

Springfield, Ore.  The rain that has been in the forecast for this weekend has arrived.  The Incident Meteorologist has shared that many of the Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) were showing approximately 1.25” of rain as of 8:00 a.m.

Springfield, Ore.  In addition to working on the remaining suppression work, fire crews have been working for several days to complete suppression repair work ahead of this weekend’s forecasted rains.  The fire has not grown and remains at 173,393 acres.  It is now 84% contained.

Although resources are diminishing and fire camp is being broken down, firefighters and equipment will still be committed to the suppression and repair of the fire and fire lines.  While the Incident Management Team is preparing to demobilize on Tuesday, the local agencies are preparing for the remaining work.  Some resources will stay in the area to continue progress on these continuing tasks. 

Weather for today is expected to be much like yesterday, with temperatures in the 70s and relative humidity between 45 and 55 percent.  Winds are expected to be a little breezier today ahead of the cold front.  Tonight, rain is expected to begin around midnight and will continue through tomorrow. 

Tomorrow, fewer resources will be in the fire area.  Due to the steep terrain, conditions are too dangerous for firefighters to work on many areas of the fire.  The areas that are deemed safe for personnel will still see some firefighting and repair work activities occurring.

Remember, closures are still in place and will remain until areas are believed to be safe for public use.  This process may take time, as there is a large area to assess.  Please adhere to area and road closures.  These closures are in place to provide for the safety of all.

For information regarding Willamette National Forest closures, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/willamette/fire

Information on Bureau of Land Management closures can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/alert/fire-closures-and-fire-restrictions

For fire information inquiries, call (541) 357-9729 or visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7170/. The Holiday Farm Fire Facebook page will also continue with updates (@holidayfarmfire).

Springfield, Ore.  One of the many tasks that firefighters have been working on over the course of the Holiday Farm Fire is accurately mapping the perimeter.  This effort has been hampered by steep terrain and fire line hazards.  The fire is now being reported at 173,393 acres.  The increase in acreage is from these mapping efforts. Firefighters have been able to gather more precise information.  The fire remains in the same footprint and has not experienced any growth in the past two weeks.  The fire is 82% contained.   

Springfield, Ore.  With containment objectives nearly complete and a weather pattern change approaching, the incident management team in charge of the fire will be reorganizing the number and type of resources necessary to work into the future.  Staffing of the fire will continue, however, many of the crews, engines, aircraft, and other resources are preparing for their release over the next two or three days.  Some of these resources will be headed home for well-deserved days off, while others will be transferred to other fires around the nation.