MILILANI MAUKA FIRE UPDATE 

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2023

**This will be the last DAILY update for the Mililani Mauka Fire. Updates will continue to be posted to Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov as the fire status changes**

The Mililani Mauka Fire is located east of Mililani Mauka in a remote, mountainous area with steep terrain on private lands, Kamehameha Schools lands and the O‛ahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge. The fire remains 90% contained and current acreage is approximately 1,681 acres due to more accurate mapping. The fire footprint did not grow yesterday. 

Resources include an interagency hotshot crew, one wildland fire module, ten smokejumpers, two helicopter modules and one type 3 helicopter. There are a total of 60 personnel assigned to the fire. 

Yesterday, personnel flew over the fire area and further refined the mapping of the fire perimeter and the interior pockets that had previously been unburned. The Burned Area Response team visited the western portion of the fire area as they continue to develop a post-fire restoration plan. Crews hiked into accessible portions of the fire line to identify areas of residual heat; the fire perimeter along the west, northwest and southeast continue to be monitored and improved each day by ground crews. Aviation support used bucket drops on areas on the south and east fire perimeter that could not be accessed by foot. Scattered showers occurred over the fire yesterday. Today, personnel will continue to identify areas of heat and improve the fire perimeter using ground crews and the type 3 helicopter. 

The weather forecast is for trade winds to gradually strengthen over the weekend. There is a 40% chance of precipitation today. Very windy northeasterly trade winds are expected early next week with a weak front passing through the area Monday night. A cool and dry air mass will move over the islands Tuesday and Wednesday.

The fire is primarily located within the O‛ahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge protects some of the last remaining intact native forest on the island and supports at least 22 federally listed species, including native plants.

For additional information and future updates, search for the Mililani Mauka Fire on http://inciweb.nwcg.gov.

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Nov. 11, 2023—Fire crews are on scene to patrol and monitor the prescribed fire but will not move forward with ignitions today due to poor ventilation. They will continue to look for conducive weather and ventilation to continue ignitions on future days.

Statistics

• Acres: 3,832 (increase in acres due to improved mapping)
• Containment: 40%
• Location: 970 Quaker Run Road, Syria, VA 22727
• Date of Origin: October24, 2023 
• Cause: Undetermined
• Structures Destroyed: 0
• Crews: 8
• Helicopters: 2
• Engines: 9
• Dozers: 6
• Personnel: 196

Fire Activity

Yesterday, at least 0.25 inch of rain fell on the Quaker Run Fire. Firefighters successfully looked for and mopped up hot spots, strengthened containment lines, monitored and patrolled. They also briefly ran the sprinklers to check the water pumps around Camp Hoover, also known as the Historic Rapidan Camp—National Park Service. Fire behavior was minimal with only a few minor and isolated smokes. No open flame or active fire spread was observed. Last night was the final shift for night operations.

The infrared flight last night still detected areas of heat within the fire perimeter, but nothing is expected to jeopardize containment lines.

Today, firefighters will continue with the same work as yesterday—seek out and mop up hot spots, strengthen and widen containment lines, monitor and patrol. They will again run the sprinklers around Camp Hoover, as well as check and protect homes in and around Syria.

Weather 

Mostly clear skies with below normal temperatures are expected through the weekend before more active fire weather conditions move into the area early next week. Morning temperatures will be near freezing and highs will be in the lower 50s on the ridges and mid- to upper-50s in the valleys. Relative humidity will be 45 to 50%.

Fire Behavior

Fire danger and fire potential are very low today. Fine fuels are wet and will not support fire spread. Fuels may begin to dry somewhat, although cool temperatures will limit any drying. Isolated smoke or smoldering is possible. Open flame or active fire spread is unlikely.

Fire Bans

• Madison County has issued a county-wide burn ban. Outdoor burning is prohibited on all private and public land. Violations are punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor as well as potential responsibility for the full amount of all expenses incurred in suppressing such fire. For more information, visit https://www.madisonco.virginia.gov/AlertCenter.aspx.
• Shenandoah National Park has implemented a complete fire ban. Building, attending, maintaining or using an open fire anywhere within the boundaries of the park is prohibited. This ban includes all wood, charcoal, coal or other solid-fuel open air fires and fires in grates, grills, rings or pits in campgrounds, picnic areas, shelters and huts. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/quaker-run-fire-information.htm.

Evacuations

There are no evacuations in place for the Quaker Run Fire.

Smoke

Air quality is currently excellent. Additional information is available at https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/l/xxx_nz5bvpxt?.

Closures

Shenandoah National Park

The following closures are in effect in Shenandoah National Park:

• Rapidan Camp area near the eastern boundary in the center of the park. The closure includes the area around the historic camp and the trails leading to it including the following:
  • Mill Prong Trail
  • Mill Prong Horse Trail
  • Stony Mountain Trail
  • Fork Mountain Trail
  • Laurel Prong from Cat Knob intersection
  • Upper Dark Hollow Trail (does NOT impact access to falls)
  • The lower Rapidan Fire Road beyond the portion open to bicycles
• Graves Mill Trail from the intersection of the Staunton River Trail to Rapidan Fire Road
• Wilhite Wagon Trail

Rapidan Wildlife Management Area – Rapidan Tract

Due to wildfire activity in the area, the Rapidan Tract of Rapidan Wildlife Management Area is temporarily closed in the interest of public safety. In addition, per Code of Virginia § 29.1-521, it is illegal “to kill or capture any wild bird or wild animal adjacent to any area while a field or forest fire is in progress.”

Temporary Flight Restrictions

A temporary flight restriction is in place over the Quaker Run Fire area from the surface up to and including 6,500 feet to provide a safe environment for firefighting. For more information, visit: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_7678.html.

Donations

If you are considering donating to the Quaker Run Fire firefighting efforts, please take them to the Madison County Department of Emergency Medical Services at 1494 N. Main Street, Madison, VA 22727. Thank you.

Nov. 11, 2023—After treating 4,000 acres with prescribed fire in October, crews are planning to return to the 6,333-acre McCrystal Rock Unit in Valle Vidal on Saturday, Nov. 11. Ignitions will ultimately depend on weather and on-site conditions.

The remaining 2,333 acres are located north of Forest Road 1950 between a half mile east of McCrystal Campground and Windy Gap.

Nov. 10, 2023—Fire crews will return Saturday, Nov. 11, to look for opportunities with weather and on-site conditions to continue treating the 4,500-acre prescribed fire unit.

Crews on Friday did not move forward with ignitions due to poor ventilation. Instead, they monitored and patrolled the fire as it slowly moved across on the forest floor consuming surface fuels.

Approximately 2,100 acres have been treated to date.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   

MILILANI MAUKA WILDFIRE UPDATE 

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2023

The Mililani Mauka Fire is located east of Mililani Mauka in a remote, mountainous area with steep terrain on private lands, Kamehameha Schools lands and the O‛ahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge. The fire remains 90% contained and current acreage is approximately 1,615 acres due to more accurate mapping. The fire footprint did not grow yesterday. 

A Burned Area Response (BAR) team has arrived to begin evaluating impacts and develop a restoration plan to the fire damaged lands within the O‛ahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge.

Resources include an interagency hotshot crew, one wildland fire module, ten smokejumpers, two helicopter modules and one type 3 helicopter. There are a total of 63 personnel assigned to the fire. 

Yesterday, crews hiked into accessible portions of the fire line to identify areas of residual heat during these drier conditions; the fire perimeter along the west, northwest and southeast continue to be monitored and improved each day. Aviation support used bucket drops on areas that could not be accessed by foot on the southeast and western edges of the fire perimeter. Today, personnel will continue to identify areas of heat and improve the fire perimeter using ground crews and the type 3 helicopter. 

The weather forecast for today is for an east southeast wind and a 40% chance of precipitation. This flow provides a steady supply of cloud cover along with scattered to numerous showers. Rainfall will most likely occur Friday night with a 90% chance of rain on Friday night.   

The fire is primarily located within the O‛ahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge protects some of the last remaining intact native forest on the island and supports at least 22 federally listed species, including native plants.

For additional information, please contact 2023.mililani@firenet.gov or search for the Mililani Mauka fire on http://inciweb.nwcg.gov.

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See attached notice for more information

Statistics

• Acres: 3,700
• Containment: 40%
• Location: 970 Quaker Run Road, Syria, VA 22727
• Date of Origin: October24, 2023 
• Cause: Undetermined
• Structures Destroyed: 0
• Crews: 9
• Helicopters: 4
• Engines: 9
• Dozers: 4
• Personnel: 164

Fire Activity

Yesterday, a strategic firing operation south of Upper Dark Hollow Trail was conducted to prevent fire spread to the northeast. Firefighters were challenged by weather conditions during the day but completed the operation successfully last night. They also held and strengthened containment lines, mopped up and patrolled yesterday and will continue that today. Crews are making every effort to protect Camp Hoover, also known as the Historic Rapidan Camp – National Park Service, by putting fire hoses, water tanks and sprinkler heads in and around the camp.

If weather allows, crews will finish putting in sprinkler heads around Camp Hoover and continue to work north of the privately owned Rapidan Family Camp, adjacent to the Rapidan Wildlife Management Area. They will monitor and improve containment lines, mop up and patrol. Bulldozers, engines and hand crews will continue to improve containment lines, protect structures, mop up and patrol off Finks Hollow Road. 

Weather and Fire Behavior

Yesterday afternoon’s cold front brought gusty winds and isolated showers. Only spotty trace amounts of rain fell on the north side of the fire. Today will be rainy with over a 50% chance of a wetting rain (more than 0.10 inch). Light winds and cool moist conditions should reduce fire behavior substantially. 

Fire Bans

• Madison County has issued a county-wide burn ban. Outdoor burning is prohibited on all private and public land. Violations are punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor as well as potential responsibility for the full amount of all expenses incurred in suppressing such fire. For more information, visit https://www.madisonco.virginia.gov/AlertCenter.aspx.
• Shenandoah National Park has implemented a complete fire ban. Building, attending, maintaining or using an open fire anywhere within the boundaries of the park is prohibited. This ban includes all wood, charcoal, coal or other solid-fuel open air fires and fires in grates, grills, rings or pits in campgrounds, picnic areas, shelters and huts. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/quaker-run-fire-information.htm.

Evacuations

A voluntary evacuation is in place for homes north of 681 Finks Hollow.

Smoke

Air quality is currently excellent, but conditions can change quickly. In Shenandoah National Park, Whiteoak Canyon and Old Rag Trails are open but at times are impacted by dense smoke which may reach unhealthy to very unhealthy levels. These trails are strenuous and require prolonged heavy exertion. Smoke sensitive groups are advised to avoid these trails. All visitors are encouraged to take precautions. Additional information is available at https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/l/xxx_nz5bvpxt?.

Closures

Shenandoah National Park

The following closures are in effect in Shenandoah National Park:

• Rapidan Camp area near the eastern boundary in the center of the park. The closure includes the area around the historic camp and the trails leading to it including the following:
  • Mill Prong Trail
  • Mill Prong Horse Trail
  • Stony Mountain Trail
  • Fork Mountain Trail
  • Laurel Prong from Cat Knob intersection
  • Upper Dark Hollow Trail (does NOT impact access to falls)
  • The lower Rapidan Fire Road beyond the portion open to bicycles
• Graves Mill Trail from the intersection of the Staunton River Trail to the Rapidan Fire Road
• Wilhite Wagon Trail
• After November 12, Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center across from Big Meadows in the center of the park will be temporarily closed. Power in the area has been turned off for firefighter safety. Interpreters who usually work at this center have moved to Dickey Ridge Visitor Center near Front Royal in the northern part of the park. That center will be open seven days a week while the Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center is closed.

Rapidan Wildlife Management Area – Rapidan Tract

Due to wildfire activity in the area, the Rapidan Tract of Rapidan Wildlife Management Area is temporarily closed in the interest of public safety. In addition, per Code of Virginia § 29.1-521, it is illegal “to kill or capture any wild bird or wild animal adjacent to any area while a field or forest fire is in progress.”

Temporary Flight Restrictions

A temporary flight restriction is in place over the Quaker Run Fire area from the surface up to and including 6,500 feet to provide a safe environment for firefighting. For more information, visit: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_7678.html.

Donations

If you are considering donating to the Quaker Run Fire firefighting efforts, please take them to the Madison County Department of Emergency Medical Services at 1494 N. Main Street, Madison, VA 22727. Thank you.

Update: November 10, 2023

Type 4, Incident Commander Shane McCracken, 34 Personnel
 

The fire danger level is currently high, so it is important that forest users completely drown campfires to prevent unintended escape. Use the “drown, stir, feel” method to be sure it's dead out.

Trail Springs Fire | Size: 1303 Acres | Containment: 43% | Cause: Lightning

Flurries fell over the fire yesterday but there was no wetting precipitation. Fire behavior remained minimal with backing, creeping, and smoldering observed. Firefighters completed suppression repair work in select areas where there is no threat of fire growth. Yesterday, crews rehabbed a dozer line near the Chris Mountain Fire scar. Today, they will continue patrolling and using aerial reconnaissance to ensure the fire does not breach any control features. Firefighters remain ready to respond to both the Trail Springs Fire and any new fires that start, if needed. The Pagosa Ranger District reduced the size of the closure around the Trail Springs Fire. However, forest users should remain aware that firefighters and equipment will have a continued presence in the area. Please exercise extreme caution on the roads and in the woods near the fire for, both, your own safety and that of fire personnel.

Mill Creek 2 Fire |Size: 146 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Human

This fire is located in rugged, remote terrain near the border of the South San Juan Wilderness Area northeast of Pagosa Springs. With the reduced intensity of wind after the passing of the cold front, fire activity settled down and less smoke was produced by the Mill Creek 2 Fire yesterday. Fire managers expect that smoke will continue to be visible until the area gets a significant precipitation event, and may get heavy again if windy conditions return.

Weather: Scattered to broken clouds will be the rule Friday with cooler than usual temperatures expected. High pressure will start to build in over the weekend keeping generally clear skies in the forecast and this trend will continue for much of the next week. Light winds are expected as high temps slowly increase day by day. The next chance for any precipitation appears to be the end of next week.

San Juan NF Temporary Closures: An area closure is in place involving roads and trails in or near the Trail Springs Fire area (Middle Mountain area). Details of the closure are on the Trail Springs Fire InciWeb page (QR code below) and on the “Alerts and Notices” page of the forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices 

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_8962.html#areas

Fire Information: 970-426-5370 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanjuannationalforest

Nov. 10, 2023—Fire crews will not move forward with ignitions today to avoid heavy local smoke impacts during poor ventilation. A similar ventilation rate may also postpone ignitions on Saturday.

Nonetheless, crews will be on scene to patrol, monitor and hold the fire’s perimeter.