Kachess Complex Fire Update

August 13th, 2024

Reported date: August 9th &10th, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Total complex size: 40 acres

Personnel: Approximately 100

Fuels: Timber, timber litter, timber understory

Strategy: Full Suppression

Fire behavior: Smoldering, creeping, flanking

CLE ELUM, Washington: The Kachess Complex consists of three lightning caused fires that ignited the area between August 9th and August 10th, 2024, on the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Firefighters were quick to respond to the remote areas and with the help of aerial resources, were able to begin suppression efforts on August 10th, 2024. On August 13th, the Albuquerque Zone Incident Management Team assumed command of the complex to support firefighter safety, suppression, and logistics. 

The Kachess Complex Includes:

• Stave Creek Fire: Currently 20-25 acres and 0% contained located on steep and rugged terrain. Firefighters are working to build fire line on the eastern flank and assessing options for direct or indirect tactics on the northwestern flank. Aircraft are assisting firefighters with aerial water bucket drops on the western flank to limit growth.
• Thomas Fire: Currently 10 acres and 20% contained. Firefighters made excellent progress the last 48 hours and have constructed fire line around the entire perimeter. They are working on securing the fires edge to limit additional forward progression.
• Waptus: Currently ½ acre and 100% contained. Firefighters have completed line construction and are continuing mop up operations today. The fire is also located in the vicinity of the Cherry Garcia fire which is also 100% contained and out. 

Message from the Incident Commander, Lino Baca: “We are dedicated to fostering, upholding, and continuously improving our relationships with incident partners. Our success is measured by reaching our goals safely, reducing firefighter exposure, and gaining robust support from stakeholders. Our path to success is guided by our core values of duty, respect, and integrity.”

Location: On the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest northwest of Cle Elum. The Stave Creek and Thomas fires are between Kachess and Cle Elum Lake. The Waptus and Cherry Garcia fires are further north in the wilderness near Waptus Lake. 

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the top priority. Members of the public should avoid the Kachess Complex area. A TFR (temporary flight restriction) is in effect around the fire until August 25th unless otherwise noted. Unmanned aircraft such as drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!”. Temporary flight restriction: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6471.html 

Closures: There are no closures in place for the Kachess Complex, however, the public is reminded that fire restrictions are in effect on the Cle Elum Ranger District. For additional information visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_053600. 

Smoke: Minimal smoke may be visible from the towns of Cle Elum, Roslyn, Easton, and Snoqualmie Pass area. Information on air quality can be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/ . 

FOREST SERVICE: LAKE & APACHE POST-FIRE BAER ASSESSMENT REPORT SUMMARIES RELEASED

The Forest Service—Los Padres National Forest completed BAER post-fire assessments of the Lake and Apache burned areas and affected watersheds to determine their response, soil conditions, potential threats, and recommended BAER emergency stabilization measures and actions on National Forest System (NFS) lands. BAER emergency treatments and activities are designed to decreased possible impacts to critical values from the burned areas during rainstorm events such as: life and safety, property, critical natural resources, and cultural resources.

NOTE: Attached below as “Related Information” are 2 PDF documents called “Lake Post-Fire BAER Assessment Report Summary_PUBLIC” and “Apache Post-Fire BAER Assessment Report Summary_PUBLIC”.

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 the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/lox/.

This is the final closure update for this fire on inciweb.  For current information, visit the websites listed below.

Air: The Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) in the Bucktail fire area is lifted. 

Land: While the area closure remains in effect, Highway 90 and the 25 Mesa Road is open to through traffic. Road and area closures within the proximity of the fire area remain closed. This includes Houser Road and Cottonwood Trail. For a complete list of closed roads and a map of the closure area, please visit: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/coupd-bucktail-fire. 

Authorities will continue to evaluate road conditions in the affected area to determine the best approach for reopening other roads in the future.

The BLM temporary Emergency Closure Order and map are posted to the BLM Southwest District Fire page under Current Fire Restrictions & Notices / Uncompahgre Field Office at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/southwest-district.

The Forest Service temporary Emergency Closure Order and map are posted on the Forest Service Website at: fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1198456.pdf. For information about Bucktail fire Forest Service road closures, please contact the Norwood Ranger District at (970) 327-4261.

A map of the closures in the area around the Ruby Fire.

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:

Public Information Officer, Amy Ricotta, 970-823-4060

Bucktail Fire Update – August 13, 2024, 12:30 p.m.

Nucla, Colorado 

Start Date: August 1, 2024

Cause: Unknown

Size: 7,202 acres 

Percent Contained: 83% 

Resources Assigned: 112 personnel

Crews (2); Engines (4); Water tenders (1); Air Resources (1); Heavy Equipment (6)

Yesterday: Firefighters transitioned from active fire suppression to repair and patrolling activities. Suppression repair work was carried out to address and restore areas impacted by firefighting operations. Crews continued to clean up and improve control lines along the fire perimeter. While the fire area closure remains in effect, the 25 Mesa Road opened to through traffic.

Today: Rainfall supported firefighter activities in bringing the fire to 83% containment. As a result, firefighters are in the process of demobilization and suppression repair operations are underway. Firefighters will improve the completed fire line and conduct rehabilitation activities such as repairing areas disturbed during fire suppression efforts. 

Resources involved in the firefighting and support operations will be demobilized over the course of this week. The demobilization process involves systematically withdrawing equipment and personal that are no longer needed, while ensuring that all necessary tasks are complete and safety measures are in place. Some firefighters will remain in the area to monitor the fire perimeter. This will be the last fire update unless something significant happens. 

Weather: There could be several rounds of storms throughout the day. Each could bring heavy rainfall and strong winds. Today’s temperatures will range from 76-81 degrees Fahrenheit while relative humidity will be 42-47%.

Evacuations: None.

Closures:  While the area closure remains in effect, Highway 90 and the 25 Mesa Road is open to through traffic. Road and area closures within the proximity of the fire area remain closed. This includes Houser Road and Cottonwood Trail. For a complete list of closed roads and a map of the closure area, please visit: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/coupd-bucktail-fire. 

Authorities will continue to evaluate road conditions in the affected area to determine the best approach for reopening other roads in the future.

The BLM temporary Emergency Closure Order and map are posted to the BLM Southwest District Fire page under Current Fire Restrictions & Notices / Uncompahgre Field Office at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/southwest-district. 

The Forest Service temporary Emergency Closure Order and map are posted on the Forest Service Website at: fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1198456.pdf. For information about Bucktail fire Forest Service road closures, please contact the Norwood Ranger District at (970) 327-4261.

Smoke Information: Visit CDPHE - Colorado.gov/AirQuality to learn about protecting yourself from wildfire smoke. For more information on current air quality go to Fire and Smoke Map (airnow.gov) and zoom in on Southwest Colorado. 

Fire Prevention: Fire managers would like to remind everyone to be attentive to their actions and surroundings, especially in areas with dry vegetation or dead/down trees. Preventing new fires is the most important thing anyone can do to help firefighters. Practice smart wildfire prevention behavior including never leaving a campfire unattended, and ensuring fires are completely out and cold. Make sure trailer chains don’t drag and dispose of smoking materials properly.  Every spark can start a fire!  

For additional information:

Montrose County Sheriff’s Office: https://montrosecountysheriffsoffice.com/bucktail-fire

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control: https://dfpc.colorado.gov

Bureau of Land Management Southwest Colorado District, Uncompahgre Field Office: https://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit

West Slope Fire Information website: www.WestSlopeFireInfo.com

GMUG Fire Information https://www.facebook.com/GMUGFireInfo

Road Closures Montrose County: https://www.facebook.com/MontroseCountySO

Colorado Department of Transportation: www.cotrip.org  

Bucktail Fire Information Hotline: (970) 823-4060

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests Hotline (970) 874-6602

Actualización diaria del incendio Pioneer 13 de agosto de 2024

Datos clave

Tamaño: 38,420 | Fecha de inicio: 11 de
junio de 2024 | Ubicación: 31 millas al NO de Chelan, WA
Contención: 13 por ciento | Personal: 649 | Causa: De orígen humano, a ser determinada

SITUACIÓN ACTUAL: Debido a las buenas condiciones climáticas por la noche, disminuyó la intensidad del fuego y el fuego se limitó a arder y desplazarse por el suelo. Se ha hecho más lenta la propagación del fuego en el desague de Boulder Creek. Las fuentes de calor residual aisladas a las áreas de Prince Creek y Fish Creek están quedándose en pendientes de cabecera demasiado empinadas. Será de beneficio para la zona del incendio la lluvia durante un corto período antes de que las condiciones secas y calurosas vuelvan al área y los fuertes vientos diurnos del lago Chelan y la topografía empinada dificulten el trabajo de extinción. Las cuadrillas y los recursos de aviación responderán a cualquier fuego nuevo con una agresiva estrategia inicial de ataque. En las últimas 48 horas se identificaron siete fuegos nuevos y se mantuvieron en el área local.

ACTIVIDADES DE HOY: Las cuadrillas siguen preparando cortafuegos de contingencia para usarlos en la rara posibilidad de que la parte sur del incendio se active y así evitar que se desplace hacia el sureste a la comunidad de Manson. Los recursos implementarán planes de proteger estructuras en la comunidad de Stehekin. Los recursos terrestres y de aviación continúan aprovechando las condiciones climáticas buenas para construir un cortafuegos directo y así contener la ladera norte enseguida del desague de Boulder Creek. Los encargados del incendio continúan evaluando el efecto de la precipitación y los relámpagos que hubo sobre el área del incendio y responden cuandoo sea necesario.

CLIMA Y HUMO: Anoche continuó la brisa del lago, y hoy se espera que será un día tranquilo. Es posible que por la tarde se produzcan tormentas eléctricas, pero la probabilidad es baja. Las temperaturas continuarán enfriándose con temperaturas altas que regresarán a los 76-84 grados junto con condiciones más secas. Los vientos permanecerán ventosos hoy del noroeste con posibles ráfagas de 20 a 25 mph en las últimas horas de la tarde y la noche.

Para ver información sobre el humo, consulte el informe: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/f79a6d6d .

EVACUACIONES: Los niveles 1, 2 y 3 de evacuación siguen vigentes alrededor del incendio Pioneer. Comuníquese con el Departamento de gestión de emergencias del condado de Chelan o visite https://t.ly/QoH9w  para obtener más información.

CIERRE DEL BOSQUE: Cierres vigentes del Parque nacional North Cascades: https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm 
El Bosque Nacional Okanogan-Wenatchee ha emitido una orden de cierre sobre gran parte del área afectada por el incendio: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - Alerts & Closures (usda.gov). Las fogatas están prohibidas. Hay una restricción temporal de vuelo (TFR, en inglés) sobre el área del incendio: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html . La actividad de drones no autorizados está prohibida por la TFR.

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wases-pioneer  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560760893080  

Línea de información sobre el incendio: 541-861-5808, de 8 AM a 8 PM 

Correo electrónico: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov 

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/hnx/.

Town Gulch Fire Daily Update

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Fire Information: 541-208-7092, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.           

Town Gulch Fire Facebook: tinyurl.com/ycypw2bt 

Email: 2024.TownGulch@firenet.gov                           

Linktree: linktr.ee/TownGulchFire

Size: 18,183 acres (22 acre increase)                           Cause: Lightning

Containment: 42 percent                                             Start Date: August 5, 2024

Total Personnel: 363                                                    Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 4

CURRENT SITUATION: Last night’s infrared flight showed that the remaining pockets of heat in the fire area are located on the northern edge. That map is located on the ftp.wildfire.gov site and can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/Infrared-Map. Additional resources are being assigned to that area on a “seek and destroy” mission to identify and extinguish any hot spots within 100 feet of containment lines. On the east side of the fire south of Eagle Forks, crews will build on their work from previous days to continue mopping up and keeping the fire out of the timber stringers. 

Firefighters will patrol and monitor the fire perimeter to ensure any unburned pockets of fuel do not reignite and threaten containment lines. Over the next few days, crews will begin implementing suppression repair plans. These activities will utilize crews and heavy equipment to mitigate the impacts of suppression activities on the land and minimize erosion. 

The increase in fire acreage is due to more accurate mapping, not the result of additional fire growth. 

WEATHER, FIRE BEHAVIOR & SMOKE: The fire received minimal precipitation overnight, ranging from 0.05 – 0.1 inches of rain. Additional precipitation is expected through midday. High temperatures will drop to the high 70s/low 80s on Tuesday due to the storm system moving through the area. The rain and higher humidity will moderate fire behavior, allowing crews to continue making progress extinguishing hot spots. Smoke impacts will be minimal today. Current air quality information is available on the Oregon smoke blog (https://www.oregonsmoke.org/).

CLOSURES: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites around the Town Gulch Fire are temporarily closed and fire restrictions are in effect. Forest closure orders and maps can be found on the Forest’s “Forest Orders” web page: tinyurl.com/36t4f2t2. 

EVACUATIONS: Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations for areas near the fire. Follow the sheriff’s office Facebook page (tinyurl.com/3auvka4j) for the latest evacuation news. Residents may sign up to receive emergency notifications through Baker County ALERT (tinyurl.com/884czdrf).