BAER INFORMATION BRIEF: Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Limitations

While many wildfires cause minimal damage to the land and pose few threats to the land or people downstream, some fires result in damage that requires special efforts to reduce impacts afterwards. Loss of vegetation exposes soil to erosion; water run-off may increase and cause flooding, soil and rock may move downstream and damage property or fill reservoirs putting community water supplies and endangered species at-risk.

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program is designed to identify and manage potential risks to resources on National Forest System lands and reduce these threats through appropriate emergency measures to protect human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources. BAER is an emergency program for stabilization work that involves time-critical activities to be completed before the first damaging storm event to meet program objectives.

BAER Objectives:

• Determine whether imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands exist and take immediate actions, as appropriate, to manage the unacceptable risks.
• If emergency conditions are identified, mitigate significant threats to human life and safety, Forest Service property and other critical natural and cultural resource values.
• Prescribe emergency response actions to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, to minimize threats to life or property resulting from the effects of a fire, or to repair/replace/construct physical improvements necessary to prevent degradation of land or resources.
• Implement emergency response actions to help stabilize soil; control water, sediment and debris movement and potentially reduce threats to the BAER critical values identified above when an analysis shows that planned actions are likely to reduce risks substantially within the first year following containment of the fire.
• Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of emergency treatments that were applied on National Forest System lands.

BAER Interagency Coordination:

Post-fire emergency response is a shared responsibility. There are several Federal, State and local agencies that have emergency response responsibilities or authorities in the post-fire environment. The BAER team coordinates with these agencies to look at the full scope and scale of the situation to reduce the potential threats to human life and property. It is important that BAER efforts are communicated with all affected and interested cooperating agencies and organizations regarding other post-fire recovery and restoration efforts.

BAER treatments cannot prevent all of the potential flooding or soil erosion impacts, especially after a wildfire-changed landscape. It is important for the public to stay informed and prepared for potentially dramatic increased run-off events.

One of the most effective BAER strategies is interagency coordination to provide post-fire threat information to local cooperators who can assist affected businesses, homes, and landowners to prepare for rain events. For example, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program for post-emergency assistance on private and tribal land, the National Weather Service (NWS) has responsibility for flood warning alerts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has flood insurance and other responsibilities if the area is a Presidentially-declared emergency, Resource Conservation Districts (RCD) and counties, as well as State and local-highway and emergency services departments, Flood Control authorities, etc. It is important that landowners work directly with NRCS and other agencies to determine appropriate actions needed to protect private structures and other assets.

BAER Process:

BAER assessment teams are staffed by specially trained professionals that may include: hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, biologists, botanists, archeologists, and others who evaluate the burned area and prescribe temporary emergency stabilization actions on National Forest System lands to protect the land quickly and effectively. BAER assessments usually begin before a wildfire has been fully contained.

A BAER assessment team conducts field surveys and uses science-based models to rapidly evaluate and assess the burned area and prescribe emergency stabilization measures. The team generates a “Soil Burn Severity” map by using satellite imagery which is then validated and adjusted by BAER team field surveys to assess watershed conditions and model potential watershed response from the wildfire. The map identifies areas of soil burn severity by categories of very low/unburned, low, moderate, and high which may correspond to a projected increase in watershed response. The higher the burn severity, the less the soil will be able to absorb water when it rains. Without absorption, there will be increased run-off with the potential of flooding.

The BAER team presents these findings in an assessment report that identifies immediate and emergency actions needed to address post-fire risks to human life and safety, property, cultural and critical natural resources. This includes early detection and rapid response (EDRR) treatments to prevent the spread of noxious weeds into native plant communities. The BAER report describes watershed pre- and post-fire watershed response information, areas of concern for life and property, and recommended short-term emergency stabilization measures for Forest Service lands that burned.

In most cases, only a portion of the burned area is actually treated. Severely burned areas steep slopes, and places where water run-off will be excessive and may impact important resources, are focus areas and described in the BAER assessment report if they affect critical values. Response action timing is essential to ensure the emergency stabilization measures are effective.

There are a variety of emergency stabilization actions that the BAER team can recommend for Forest Service land such as mulching with agricultural straw or chipped wood to protect soil productivity, increasing road drainage to keep roads and bridges from washing-out during post-fire floods, and early detection rapid response invasive plant treatments to prevent spread of weeds into native plant communities. BAER treatments are preventative in nature but cannot prevent all damage, especially debris torrents in areas that are prone to sliding and have lost critical root structure from plants.

The Cans and Cannots of BAER:

What BAER Can Do:

• Install water or erosion control devices
• Seed or mulch for erosion control or stability reasons
• Install erosion control measures at critical cultural sites
• Install temporary barriers to protect treated or recovering areas
• Install warning signs
• Replace minor safety related facilities, like burned guard rails
• Install appropriate-sized drainage features on roads, trails
• Remove critical safety hazards
• Prevent permanent loss of T&E habitat
• Monitor BAER treatments
• Implement EDRR treatments to minimize the spread of noxious weeds into native plant communities

What BAER Cannot Do:

• Prevent all flooding and debris flows
• Replant commercial forests or grass for forage
• Excavate and interpret cultural sites
• Replace burned pasture fences
• Install interpretive signs
• Replace burned buildings, bridges, corrals, etc.
• Repair roads damaged by floods after fire
• Remove all hazard trees
• Replace burned habitat
• Monitor fire effects
• Treat pre-existing noxious weeds

BAER Funding:

Special Emergency Wildfire Suppression funds are authorized for BAER activities and the amount of these expenses varies with the severity of the fire season. Some years see little BAER activity while other years are extremely busy.

Because of the emergency nature of BAER, initial requests for funding of proposed BAER treatments are supposed to be submitted by the Forest Supervisor to the Regional Office within7 days of total containment of the fire. The Regional Forester’s approval authority for individual BAER projects is limited. Approval for BAER projects exceeding this limit is forwarded onto the Washington Office.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/.

BAER INFORMATION BRIEF: Key Elements of A BAER Assessment

Forest Service BAER assessment teams are established by Forest Supervisors before wildfires are fully contained. The teams coordinate and work with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), National Weather Service (NWS), local counties, State Department of Transportation, and other federal, state, and local agencies to strategically assess potential post-fire impacts to the watersheds burned from wildland fires.

The BAER assessment teams are evaluating watershed conditions to determine the level of potential risks to human life, safety, property, critical natural and cultural-heritage resources, and determine if there are appropriate and effective emergency stabilization measures that can be implemented on federal lands in a timely manner to reduce unacceptable risks from potential flooding and debris flow threats.

The BAER assessment team conducts field surveys and uses science-based models to rapidly evaluate and assess the burned area.

BAER assessment teams are staffed by specially trained professionals that may include: hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, geologists, biologists, botanists, archeologists, geographic information system mapping specialists, recreation and trails specialists, and others who evaluate the burned area and prescribe emergency response actions to protect the land quickly and effectively.

BAER assessments usually begin before a wildfire has been fully contained.

The BAER assessment team generates a “Soil Burn Severity” map by using satellite imagery which is then validated and adjusted by BAER team field surveys to assess watershed conditions and watershed response to the wildfire. The map identifies areas of soil burn severity by categories of low/unburned, moderate, and high which corresponds to a projected increase in watershed response.

The BAER team presents these findings and treatment recommendations to the Forest Supervisor in an assessment report that identifies immediate and emergency stabilization actions needed to address potential post-fire risks to human life and safety, property, cultural-heritage and critical natural resources on National Forest System lands.

The BAER report describes watershed pre- and post-fire response information, areas of concern for human life, safety and property, and recommended short-term emergency stabilization actions for federal lands that burned.

In most cases, only a portion of the burned area is actually treated.

If the BAER assessment team determines there may be potential emergency situations, the short-term goal is to have flood and erosion control protection measures completed before the first large, damaging rain events occur.

Timely implementation is critical if BAER emergency response actions are to be effective.

The BAER assessment team coordinates with other federal and local agencies, and counties that assist private landowners in preparing for increased run-off and potential flooding.

Federal assistance to private landowners regarding post-fire potential impacts is the primary responsibility of the NRCS through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program (www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/ewpp/)

NRCS in coordination with additional state, local and federal agencies conduct damage survey reports for the private land adjacent to and downstream from the burned areas. NRCS uses these reports, along with the BAER team’s assessment report, to develop recommended emergency measures for businesses and private home and landowners to reduce the impacts to their property from potential increased water and debris flows.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/.

Attached is today's map (find more detailed maps on Inciweb), update (also see full text below), and smoke report for the Middle Fork Complex, Wapiti, and Bull Trout Fires. Closure orders and maps for the fire areas can be found on the Boise National Forest’s Alerts and Notices webpage as well as on Inciweb. 

Incident Commander:  Rick Connell, Northern Rockies Team 5
Location: 

• Middle Fork Complex Location: 9 miles east of Garden Valley, ID
• Bull Trout Location: 15 miles WNW of Stanley, ID
• Wapiti Location: 2 miles southwest of Grandjean, ID

Start Dates:  07/24/24 – 08/06/2024
Cause: Lightning
Size:  Infrared mapping services were unable to fly over the fire area last night so acres will be updated when possible.

• Middle Fork Complex: 31,087
• Bull Trout: 271 acres                        
• Wapiti: 17,520           
• Bulldog: 5,801            
• Nellie: 25,286

Containment:  

• Middle Fork Complex: 5%    
• Bull Trout:  92%
• Wapiti: 10%     

Resources on site:      

• Middle Fork Complex: 1 hot shot crew; 9 type 2 hand crews; 14 engines; 2 water tenders; 1 bulldozer, 1 feller-buncher
• Bull Trout: none
• Wapiti: 5 hot shot crews; 2 type 2 hand crews; 19 engines; 2 water tenders; 1 skidgen, 1 bulldozer

Total Personnel:         

• Middle Fork Complex: 468              
• Bull Trout: 0
• Wapiti: 258  

KEY MESSAGE: 

On the Nellie Fire, the Boise County Sheriff’s Office has issued a stage 1 (“Ready”) evacuation notice for the area from Danskin station west to Grimes Pass along highway 17, for both sides of the highway and both sides of the South Fork of the Payette River.

Wapiti Fire has been moving North toward the Stanley Lake area. For residents in the Stanley Lake and HWY 75 area, please utilize your local Custer County notification system and follow instructions of emergency responders. Currently zone 1 is in “set” and zone 2 is in “ready” please visit Custer County Sheriff’s Facebook page for a map of the zones. Custer county ready set go, Red Alert system – Custer County Text CUSTER to 99411 to enroll in CodeRED (click here) or enroll online at https: /public.coderedweb.com/CNE/BF28E45537FF to Receive updates through Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) set your phones to receive Alerts by going into settings and then Notifications and turning on your Emergency Alerts. Custer County Sheriff's Facebook Page Link (click on for updates and Important Information)

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning today for hot and very dry condition along with gusty south winds. Conditions will be similar to last Saturday and the inversions will lift around 1-2pm creating active fire behavior and potential for large fire growth.

The Middle Fork Complex and Wapiti Fire will be transitioning separate incident management teams in the next couple days. Great Basin Team 3 will assume command of the Middlefork Complex (Bulldog and Nellie Fires) Friday morning at 6 am and Rocky Mountain Team 1 will assume command of the Wapiti Fire on Sunday at 6 am.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:

Middle Fork Complex: The Middle Fork Complex is comprised of the Bulldog and Nellie fires.  

The Bulldog Fire has seen minimal growth and crews continue to work along FS road 698 holding the fire along the east edge of the fire. The Silver creek area has been assessed and strategies are in place for firefighters to protect infrastructure to the north of the fire. On the south end of the fire, containment lines are holding, and firefighters continue to search for and extinguish hot spots. Fire is expected to spread more rapidly through the Rattlesnake fire area along ridgelines today. The public is reminded that the Middlefork Road (FS Road 698) is closed at the Forest Service boundary just north of Lightning Creek and the Scriver Creek Road (FS Road 693) is also closed at the Forest Service Boundary for firefighter and public safety as crews continue to work to protect private property and structures in the vicinity of Crouch.

On the Nellie Fire, aircraft, crews and heavy equipment were utilized yesterday to limit the spread to the south along the fuel change from timber to grass and shrubs. Overnight, embers ignited a spot to the south of the fire, along Highway 17, however the highway is open at this time. Firefighters worked late into the night in the Danskin area and will be working 24 hours a day to protect values and infrastructure. Crews, heavy equipment and aircraft will be working along the highway today and congestion is expected, please drive safely. On the north side of Nellie firefighters installed pumps, hoses, and sprinklers near infrastructure. Additionally, fuels reduction was completed to improve defensible space around structures in and around the wildland urban interface. The fire continues to grow to the north between the historic Pioneer Fire area and the Rattlesnake fire area. The public is reminded that Forest Service Road #555 is closed at the intersection of Highway 17 all the way to the Forest Service Road #579 intersection.

Wapiti Fire: 

The Wapiti fire has been actively growing due to weather conditions. It continues to move to the north along Elk Creek drainage, west across Highway 21 at the Emile Grandjean Overlook (mile marker 95), and to the east.  North of the fire, terrain driven winds and heavy fuels consisting of timber and dead standing timber will create active fire behavior. Crews and heavy equipment are working on fuels reduction and defensible space around the structures in and around the wildland urban interface. West of the fire, in the Hanging Valley area, firefighters have completed fuels reduction and strategically placed pumps, hoses and sprinkler systems. Due to fire activity overnight, the Grandjean road and Highway 21 have been impacted by rolling debris that obstruct access to some areas. Fire managers are working with Idaho Department of Transportation to remove the debris and provide access for firefighters. Highway 21 remains closed from MP92 to MP107.

Bull Trout Fire: The Bull Trout fire is still 92% contained, with very little change in the past few days. Today an infrared flight is planned to check for pockets of heat.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Red Flag warning in effect for critical fire weather today and tomorrow, ahead of a cold front moving into the area. Elements of extreme fire behavior are expected today, and south winds with hot dry conditions will cause large fire growth over the fire areas. Southerly winds will increase by early afternoon along upper ridge lines and along wind aligned drainages. Winds will remain elevated well into the evening with marginal relative humidity recovery tonight.  Sheltered areas can expect variable and erratic winds at times as these southerly winds battle the terrain driven flow. Temperatures will be 8-10 degrees warmer than yesterday. Under previously similar conditions, fire spread rapidly to the north with spotting along wind aligned drainages. Spotting potential is up to 2 miles.  Group torching is expected with terrain influenced fire spread. Thermal belts of warm air will be present overnight tonight which allows fires to actively burn until late into the evening.

CLOSURES, RESTRICTIONS, AND EVACUATIONS:

Middle Fork Complex: The Boise County Sheriff's Office continues to maintain the Level 2 evacuation notice for residents on and near the Middlefork Road between Stump Ranch Road up to Tie Creek Campground. The Boise National Forest issued an area closure for the fire (Closure #0402-06-59) effective August 12, 2024. The purpose of this order is to protect public safety during the fires.

Wapiti Fire: The evacuation order for Summer Homes and the Sawtooth Lodge remain in effect for the Wapiti Fire, as does the area closure issued by the Sawtooth and Boise National Forests (Closure #0402-05-94) effective August 12, 2024. This Order is for public and firefighter safety during fire suppression efforts of the Wapiti Fire.

Bull Trout Fire: The Bull Trout Fire Area Closure (Closure #0402-05-93) remains in effect for the roads and trails within the perimeter of the fire. The Boise National Forest issued this order on August,12, 2024. It will be rescinded as soon as it is safe to do so.

The Boise County Sheriff’s Office has issued a stage 1 (“Ready”) evacuation notice for the area from Danskin station west to Grimes Pass along highway 17, for both sides of the highway and both sides of the south fork of the Payette River. The Boise County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Danskin area north of Highway 17 and the community of Hanging Valley due to the Highway 21 closure.

Evacuation information will be posted on the Boise County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. For closure information, please visit Boise National Forest’s website – Alerts & Closures. Smoke will be visible and could impact roadways today, please follow the instructions of emergency responders and drive safely.

Closure information and maps are posted on the Forest’s website and the fire’s Inciweb page as they are in place. https://tinyurl.com/2u8v3pf7

The Boise National Forest, Idaho Department of Lands, and Bureau of Land Management are in Stage 1 fire restrictions on state, endowment, private and federal lands within the West Central Mountains Fire Restrictions Zone. For more information on the restrictions and a map visit:

https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder/      
 

BAER INFORMATION BRIEF: Forest Service BAER Program Overview

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program is designed to identify and manage potential risks to resources on National Forest System lands and reduce these threats through appropriate emergency measures to protect human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources. BAER is an emergency program for stabilization work that involves time-critical activities to be completed before the first damaging event to meet program objectives:

BAER Objectives:

-   Determine whether imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands exist and take immediate actions, as appropriate, to manage the unacceptable risks.

-   If emergency conditions are identified, mitigate significant threats to health, safety, human life, property, and critical cultural and natural resources.

-   Prescribe emergency response actions to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, to minimize threats to critical values resulting from the effects of a fire, or to repair/replace/construct physical improvements necessary to prevent degradation of land or resources.

-   Implement emergency response actions to help stabilize soil; control water, sediment and debris movement and potentially reduce threats to the BAER critical values identified above when an analysis shows that planned actions are likely to reduce risks substantially within the first year following containment of the fire.

-   Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of emergency treatments that were applied on National Forest System lands.

While many wildfires cause minimal damage to the land and pose few threats to the land or people downstream, some fires result in damage that requires special efforts to reduce impacts afterwards. Loss of vegetation exposes soil to erosion; water run-off may increase, and cause flooding, soil and rock may move downstream and damage property or fill reservoirs putting community water supplies and endangered species at-risk.

The BAER team presents these findings in an assessment report that identifies immediate and emergency actions needed to address post-fire risks to human life and safety, property, cultural and critical natural resources. This includes early detection and rapid response (EDRR) treatments to prevent the spread of noxious weeds into native plant communities. The BAER report describes watershed pre- and post-fire watershed response information, areas of concern for life and property, and recommended short-term emergency stabilization measures for Forest Service lands that burned.

In most cases, only a portion of the burned area is actually treated. Severely burned areas steep slopes, and places where water run-off will be excessive and may impact important resources, are focus areas and described in the BAER assessment report if they affect critical values. Time is critical if the emergency stabilization measures are to be effective.

A BAER assessment team conducts field surveys and uses science-based models to rapidly evaluate and assess the burned area and prescribe emergency stabilization measures. The team generates a “Soil Burn Severity” map by using satellite imagery which is then validated and adjusted by BAER team field surveys to assess watershed conditions and model potential watershed response from the wildfire. The map identifies areas of soil burn severity by categories of very low/unburned, low, moderate, and high which may correspond to a projected increase in watershed response. The higher the burn severity, the less the soil will be able to absorb water when it rains. Without absorption, there will be increased run-off with the potential of flooding.

BAER Funding:

Special Emergency Wildfire Suppression funds are authorized for BAER activities and the amount of these expenses varies with the severity of the fire season. Some years see little BAER activity while other years are extremely busy.

Because of the emergency nature of BAER, initial requests for funding of proposed BAER treatments are supposed to be submitted by the Forest Supervisor to the Regional Office within 7 days of total containment of the fire. The Regional Forester’s approval authority for individual BAER projects is limited. Approval for BAER projects exceeding this limit is to the Washington Office.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events-be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/.

Post-Fire BAER Assessment 

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) 

THREE PHASES OF WILDFIRE RECOVERY

There are three phases of recovery following wildfires on federal lands:

- Fire Suppression Repair

- Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)

- Long-Term Recovery and Restoration

• Fire Suppression Repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities and usually begins before the fire is contained, and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. This work repairs the hand and dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts.

• Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a BAER team to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands and take immediate actions to implement emergency stabilization measures before the first post-fire damaging events. Fires result in loss of vegetation, exposure of soil to erosion, and increased water runoff that may lead to flooding, increased sediment, debris flows, and damage to critical natural and cultural resources. BAER actions such as: mulching, seeding, installation of erosion and water run-off control structures, temporary barriers to protect recovering areas, and installation of warning signs may be implemented. BAER work may also replace safety related facilities; remove safety hazards; prevent permanent loss of habitat for threatened and endangered species; prevent the spread of noxious weeds and protect critical cultural resources.

• Long-Term Recovery and Restoration utilizes non-emergency actions to improve fire-damaged lands that are unlikely to recover naturally and to repair or replace facilities damaged by the fire that are not critical to life and safety. This phase may include restoring burned habitat, reforestation, other planting or seeding, monitoring fire effects, replacing burned fences, interpreting cultural sites, treating noxious weed infestations, and installing interpretive signs.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/sto/.

Whisky Creek  Tamaño: 2,067 acres | Fecha de inicio: 20 de julio   |  Causa: De orígen humano, a ser determinada   |  Contención 24%
Sandstone  Tamaño: 702 acres | Fecha de inicio: 5 de agosto  |   Causa: Rayo   |   Contención: 29%
Total de recursos: 779 | Equipos de obreros | Camiones de bomberos: 11 | Topadoras: 5 | Otras maquinarias pesadas: 31 | Helicópteros: 4

(Odell, Oregón.) – El trabajo de extinción sigue en el incendio Whisky Creek, a 6 millas al sureste de Cascade Locks, Oregón, y en los incendios Sandstone y Blister Creek, a 9 millas al suroeste de Ripplebrook, Oregón. Estos arden en un terreno escarpado y accidentado en el Bosque Nacional Mt. Hood, donde los escombros rodantes y los árboles debilitados por el fuego dificultan el trabajo de extinción. La seguridad de los bomberos y la del público siguen siendo la principal prioridad. Los encargados de los incendios están aprovechando las condiciones climáticas buenas para evaluar y desarrollar planes para realizar esfuerzos más directos de extinción. Aunque la lluvia de esta semana ayudará a controlar la intensidad del fuego, no será suficiente para llegar a áreas protegidas o para extinguir combustibles pesados, como troncos grandes que continúan ardiendo. Estos incendios pudieran exigir una gestión activa y recursos hasta que haya precipitaciones sostenidas que terminen la temporada.

Whisky Creek: Ayer, las cuadrillas confirmaron que no eran adecuadas las opciones de las línea al sur para usarlas como características de control y se consideraron inseguras debido a los peligros del terreno. Sin embargo, se vieron sitios cerca de Tomlike Mountain como mejores y se comenzó a construír la línea. La contención aumentó del 9% al 24%. Hoy, las cuadrillas se centrarán en reforzar las líneas de contención, especialmente alrededor del área de Black Lake y la línea recién establecida cerca de Tomlike Mountain. El trabajo de las maquinarias pesadas, que incluye la trituración, continuarán según se ha planeado.

Sandstone y Blister Creek: Ayer, helicópteros vertieron más de 11,000 galones de agua desde Surprise Lake hasta el incendio Blister Creek, específicamente a áreas inaccesibles de otro modo. Avanzó el trabajo de trituración a lo largo del camino forestal 7010, con mejoras adicionales en la línea a lo largo de varias carreteras.

Hoy, los recursos aéreos permanecerán enfocados en las partes no contenidas del incendio Blister Creek, al verter agua continua y el monitoreo. Los operadores de maquinaria pesada se concentrarán en la trituración, la reducción de combustible y las mejoras de las carreteras alrededor del área del incendio.

Clima y la intensidad del fuego: Las temperaturas más frescas, la mayor humedad y las lluvias dispersas moderarán la intensidad del fuego. Un frente frío se desplazará hacia el área, trayendo lluvias generalizadas a partir de esta noche y hasta el fin de semana.

Seguridad: El público juega un papel importante en la prevención del próximo incendio forestal. Tenga cuidado con cualquier fuente de ignición. Para obtener consejos de prevención, visite, https://keeporegongreen.org. Hay restricciones contra incendios dentro del Bosque Nacional Mt. Hood. Se puede ver más información enhttps://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mthood/fire. Se ha establecido una restricción temporal de vuelo (TFR) en ambas áreas de incendio.

Humo: Se espera que la calidad del aire sea buena para ambas áreas de incendio. Para ver más información sobre las condiciones del humo en su área, visite: www.AirNow.gov.

Cierres: Información sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional Mt. Hood y el Área Escénica Nacional del Río Columbia se puede encontrar en escaneando el código QR o siguiendo el enlace en la esquina inferior derecha de la página. Los cierres se implementarn para la seguridad del público y de los equipos de bomberos.

Para más información sobre los incendios de Whisky Creek y Sandstone, consulte los siguientes recursos: 

Correo electrónico: 2024.whiskycreek@firenet.gov or 2024.sandstone.or@firenet.gov       
Teléfono: 541-208-1743, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sitio web: Escanea el código QR a la derecha o vaya a https://linktr.ee/whisky_creek.2024

Williams Mine Fire Update for Thursday, August 22, 2024

 KEY MESSAGES:

All direct lines are now established and in place around the southern fire perimeter. Mop up operations will continue until these lines no longer pose a threat to perimeter security. Significant operational effort has been put in on the south end of the fire protecting values at risk and fire managers feel great progress has been made meeting these community objectives.

As of August 21st, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Klickitat County evacuation levels have been changed from a Level 2 to a Level 1. Evacuations are coordinated through the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.

CURRENT STATUS: 

There are five masticators on the FS-070 road working to clear vegetation from the area improving control features. Fire personnel are also utilizing chippers for removing slash to discard material. The fuels stabilization work will be completed in the next three operational shifts. Firefighters have cold trailed up to 150 feet of depth into the interior of the fire perimeter in many locations to ensure no probability of reignition in these areas is possible. 

North of Trout Lake, backhauling of hose has commenced as firefighters complete mop up operations. Portions of the southern flank of the perimeter have been placed in patrol status. Forest standards are being implemented as heavy equipment works to return roads to public use standards. Control and containment operations will continue through the weekend. 

In the northeastern area of the fire, crews are cold trailing along Snipes Mountain. Through the next two days, crews will be working at the South Climb Trail Head to mitigate further fire spread potentially to the east. 

WEATHER / FIRE BEHAVIOR:

A low-pressure system from the northwest will likely start bringing moisture to the fire area today. The highest probability of rain is tonight after 5:00 pm through the early hours on Friday morning. Over a ¼ of rain is forecasted throughout the weekend with the possibility of some thunder. Clouds that rolled in yesterday will remain and keep the cooler temperature trend.

SAFETY AND CLOSURES: 

Washington DNR managed lands near Trout Lake and Glenwood are closed to entry due to the Williams Mine Fire. For more information, please see http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ahtanum. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Tract D Recreation Area is closed, please see Yakama Tract D Road Closure for more information. Level 1 evacuations are in effect for the community of Trout Lake, and parts of Klickitat County. Evacuations are coordinated through the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office. The FS-23 and FS-25 roads are closed, see the Williams Mine Area and Road Closure for more details. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from the PCT's intersection with FS 23 to Potato Hill. The current area closure spans the entire Mt. Adams Wilderness.

Whisky Creek  Size: 2,067 acres | Reported Date: July 20 | Cause: Human, Under Investigation | Containment: 24%
Sandstone  Size: 702 acres | Reported Date: August 5 | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 29%
Total Resources: 779 | Hand Crews: 18 | Engines: 11 | Dozers: 5 | Other Heavy Equipment: 31 | Helicopters: 4

(Odell, Ore.) -- Fire suppression efforts continue on the Whisky Creek Fire, 6 miles southeast of Cascade Locks, Ore. and the Sandstone and Blister Creek Fires, 9 miles southwest of Ripplebrook, Ore. The fires are burning in steep and rugged terrain on the Mt. Hood National Forest where rolling debris and fire-weakened trees challenge firefighting efforts. Firefighters and public safety remain the incident’s top priority. Fire managers are taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to implement plans for more direct fire suppression efforts where possible. While this week’s rain will help moderate fire behavior, it won’t fall in sufficient amounts to reach sheltered areas or extinguish heavy fuels such as large logs that continue to burn. These fires may require active management and resources until sustained, season-ending precipitation occurs. 

Whisky Creek: Yesterday, crews confirmed that the southern line options were not suitable as control features and were found unsafe due to terrain hazards. However, options near Tomlike Mountain were identified as more feasible and line construction began. The percentage of containment increased from 9% to 24%. Today, crews will focus on reinforcing containment lines, particularly around the Black Lake area and the newly established line near Tomlike Mountain. Heavy equipment operations, including mastication, will continue as planned.

Sandstone & Blister Creek: Yesterday, helicopters delivered over 11,000 gallons of water from Surprise Lake to the Blister Creek Fire, targeting otherwise inaccessible areas. Mastication efforts progressed along Forest Road 7010, with additional line improvement along several roadways.

Today, aerial resources will remain focused on the uncontained portions of the Blister Creek Fire, with continued bucket drops and monitoring. Heavy equipment operators will concentrate on mastication, fuel reduction and road improvements around the fire area.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Cooler temperatures, higher humidity and scattered showers will moderate fire behavior. A cold front will move into the area, bringing widespread showers beginning this evening and continuing into the weekend.

Safety: The public plays an important role in preventing the next wildfire; use caution with all ignition sources. For prevention tips visit, https://keeporegongreen.org. Fire restrictions are in place within the Mt. Hood National Forest. More information can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mthood/fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over both fire areas. 

Smoke: Air quality conditions are forecast to be good for both fire areas.  For more information on smoke conditions in your area, go to: www.AirNow.gov. 

Closures: The Mt. Hood National Forest, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Hood River County closure information can be found by scanning the QR code or following the link below. Closures are in place for the safety of the public and fire crews. 

For further information about the Whisky Creek and Sandstone Fires, see the following resources: 
Email: 2024.whiskycreek@firenet.gov or 2024.sandstone.or@firenet.gov 
Phone: 541-208-1743, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. 
Web: Scan the QR code or go to https://linktr.ee/whisky_creek.2024

Operations - Fire growth remains minimal on the Clearwater Fire. Over the week firefighters on the ground increased containment to 75%. Over the last couple days resources have been scouting opportunities to go direct and secure areas that are retaining heat on the western edges of the fire. Today crews will be inserted to engage those areas and enact that plan. They are hoping to have those areas secured in the next couple days. Fire managers will continue work on the Clearwater Fire and take appropriate action based on complexity, safety, fire behavior, and weather.

Closures - Elk Fork Campground is closed indefinitely until rehab is completed; Clearwater Campground is closed until fire conditions allow otherwise. A road and trail closure are in effect at NFS Road #424, Elk Fork Road and NFS Trail # 760, Elk Fork Trail (021404-24-03). An area closure is also in place around the Clearwater Fire (021404-24-05) Copies of those orders can be found under “Alerts and Forest Orders” on the forest webpage or here. For safety reasons, the public is asked to respect closed campgrounds and trails. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect around the fire.

Weather | Anticipated Fire Behavior – Hot and dry conditions are expected through the week which will continue to dry out unburned areas making them receptive to fire once again.

Safety Information - The Shoshone National Forest implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions due to very dry conditions of fuels and continued hot, dry weather. Click here to view a copy of Stage 1 Fire Restrictions order (#02-14-04-24-04).

Incident Information Phone Line: 208-923-1265 - daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Flat Fire Facts

Location: Approximately one mile northeast of Pioneerville in Boise County, Idaho

Reported: August 5, 2024 

Cause: Lightning/Natural

Acres: 3,719

Containment: 43%

Fuels: Timber with grass and understory

Personnel: 443 (10 hand crews, 12 engines, 6 water tenders, 3 dozers, 3 masticators and 5 helicopters)

Highlights: Yesterday was another productive and effective day on the Flat Fire as firefighters continue adding containment or black line along the northern and southern edge of the fire area. On the northeastern flank, the 2016 Pioneer Fire burn scar has limited the rate-of-spread and lowered burn intensity. However, steep terrain, snags and hazard trees continue to present unsafe working conditions for firefighters in this area. Crews continued to monitor, patrol and mop-up the western and northern flanks of the fire, looking for hot spots and reinforcing the fireline to protect private lands and the town of Pioneerville. On the eastern flank, dozers continued constructing an indirect fireline to lessen hazardous working conditions and limit exposure and risk to firefighters. Firefighters have also been working the spot fire on the southeastern side of the fire near Wilson Peak. Crews now have the spot fire completely lined and it is currently in mop-up status. Overall, the Flat Fire continues to experience moderate activity and minimal growth, with unburned pockets of fuels burning primarily within the fire perimeter. Today, firefighters will continue to patrol the west side of the fire looking for hot spots and reinforcing firelines. They will continue to secure and mop-up the north and south side of the fire to stop fire spread and prevent negative impacts of fire to the Idaho City watershed and state, private, and federal lands. Crews will continue indirect line construction on the east side of the fire and monitor fire spread in the Pioneer Fire burn scar.

Fire Behavior and Weather: Warm and dry conditions experienced yesterday will continue through the rest of the week. A low pressure approaching central Idaho will bring an increase in southwesterly wind with gusts over 20 mph. This combined with low relative humidity in the mid-teens has brought elevated fire weather concerns and a Red Flag Warning is in effect Thursday afternoon and evening for gusty winds, increasing instability and low RHs. Much cooler temperatures with areas of rain are expected Friday night through Saturday.

Road and Trail Closures and Restrictions: The Boise National Forest has implemented an Area Closure for the Flat Fire. See link for additional information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices. The Summit Flat Road (#380) between Pioneerville and Coulter Summit and FS Road 379 (Elk Creek Road) is closed for public and firefighter safety.

Fires Burning in the Vicinity: There are other fires burning north of the Flat Fire. See link for additional information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-middle-fork-complex-fire-bulldog-nellie-anderson.

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