Rail Ridge Fire Update

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Central Oregon Wildfire Information: centraloregonfire.org

Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov  ~  Phone: 541-208-7111

Social Media, Evacuation and Closure Information: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
Acres: 176,619  ~  Containment: 92%  ~  Start Date: 09/02/24  ~  Cause: Lightning  ~  Personnel:383

Hunting and Fire Closure Areas: With the approach of elk season and shifting seasonal weather patterns, Rail Ridge Fire managers encourage forest users to make sure intended camping and hunting areas are not closed due to wildfire activity. Areas of the Rail Ridge Fire have impacted hunting grounds on the Ochoco and Malheur National Forests, BLM lands, and areas managed by ODFW. Hazardous conditions often follow active wildfire. This includes ground instability, difficult to recognize dangerous hotspots that may be under soil, and hazard trees existing within the area. 

Forest access roads are still being utilized by fire crews and equipment completing repair work. Fire Area Closures remain in place for both firefighter and public safety, and public cooperation is appreciated as teams continue project efforts. For more information on closures as well as Wheeler County and Grant County evacuation information, visit https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire. 
 
Private Landowners: Are you a private landowner or contractor with projects within the fire perimeter or Malheur National Forest Rail Ridge #2 Fire Closure (06-04-01-24-30)? Contact our fire information line at 541-208-7111, or email us at: 2024.railridge.liaison@firenet.gov with questions about land access, fire suppression activities, or suppression repair efforts in your area.  
 
Operations: The priority for firefighters continues to be identifying and repairing areas impacted by fire line and dozer operations throughout the course of the Rail Ridge Fire. Road crews are working to clear roads of logs and debris as a result of shaded fuel break work. Fire resources are additionally evaluating impacts to historic and cultural sites within the fire zone. Much of the operational work in the western, southern and eastern zones of the fire has been completed. 

Weather and Fire Behavior:  
A brief front will pass through Oregon today with chances of light precipitation over the fire area. A warming trend Friday and Saturday will lead to increasing southwest winds with chances of showers returning Saturday. This will be followed by continued cooling and rain-snow chances into Monday. Recent cold temperatures and wet conditions have dampened potential for increased fire behavior. Elevated relative humidity has resulted in limited drying of fine fuels, while heavy fuels will continue to smolder and consume. 
 
The next Rail Ridge Fire update will be posted Friday, October 25. 


USFS & BLM Closures / Evacuation Information / Fire Restrictions / Social Media for the Rail Ridge Fire area can be found at: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire.

Email: 2024.shoe@firenet.gov

Incident Website: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cashf-shoe-fire

Forest Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/stnf

Fire Weather Forecast: https://www.weather.gov/wrh/CAFW?area=ECC005

Fire Information: 530-338-0317

Media Line: 909-855-4233

Hours: 08:00am to 8:00pm

Location: Shasta County, CA                                             Start Date:  Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 6:57 p.m.    

Cause: Human caused                                                       Size: 5,099                                                            

Percent Contained:  23%                                                 Vegetation: Timber, Chapparal 

Number of Personnel Assigned: 1,569

Ground crews have reported favorable results following tactical firing operations that commenced on Sunday. Minor challenges were encountered associated with the rolling of materials across steep terrain, overall firing operations have effectively maintained the fire within the established containment lines. Today, crews will focus on enhancing their efforts by reinforcing handlines and utilizing aircraft to cool areas of concern. Additionally, structural assessment teams have completed risk evaluations in residential areas and will be deployed throughout the fire zone to offer further support.

WEATHER:

Humidity levels are expected to rise today and are projected to continue increasing until Tuesday. A minor decrease is anticipated from Wednesday to Thursday, followed by another increase on Friday. Winds are expected to be influenced by the terrain, with a possibility of upcanyon winds from the south to southwest later this afternoon and throughout the evening. Additionally, downcanyon winds are forecasted to originate from the north to northeast with gusts reaching 10-12mph.

EVACUATIONS:  Mandatory evacuations remain in place for zone LKH-1448-B. Residents who have not evacuated are encouraged to do so. Evacuation information and alerts can be found by visiting protect.genasys.com

Information staff for the Shoe Fire are working diligently to provide timely and accurate information to the public. Fire updates can be found on the Shoe Fire 2024 Facebook page: www.facebook.com/2024ShoeFire/

FIRE AND SMOKE MAP:

Updates on smoke conditions can be found under the following link

https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/59ecb6c0?

ROAD CLOSURES:

• Fenders Ferry Road at Pit River 7 Bridge: West-Bound Fenders Ferry Road (Also known as 34N17 - Forest Service Road 27) at the Pit River Bridge/Pit 7
• Ferry Road is closed at McCloud Bridge: East-Bound Fenders Ferry Road at the McCloud River Bridge

FOREST CLOSURES:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/stnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5392380

Current Situation:  With increased containment and reduction of resources, the Tiger Creek Fire Closure has been rescinded as of Friday, October 18, 2024.

With portions of the fire footprint reopening, forest visitors should be cautious when entering any recently burned area and be aware of increased hazards, particularly snags (which are recently burned or dead trees). Dead or dying tree that remain standing after a fire are unstable, especially in high winds. Loose rocks and logs can be present in a burned area and are unpredictable, creating a falling hazard.

Forest visitors may also encounter increased firefighter traffic, post fire recovery maintenance, downed trees in roadways, dusty roads and areas of smoke. Please be alert when traveling on the forest.

Fire danger on the Umatilla National Forest is Moderate. Phase A Public Use Restrictions are still in effect. The public is encouraged to practice safe campfire principles when recreating in dispersed and developed campsites.

Elk Fire Update

Monday, October 21, 2024 - 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Special Notes: Evacuations and closures will continue to evolve on the Elk Fire as additional progress is made. Please continue checking the evacuation and closure links below for current information. 

As the weather warms back up, pockets of smoke will become visible inside the fire area. Fire managers are aware of these hotspots and will take action as needed. Most of the heat will likely come from the heavy down and dead fuels on the ground, which should not be a cause for alarm.  

Driving is one of the biggest safety hazards during wildfires. The public is reminded that there is a lot of firefighter traffic on local roads and highways. Please drive with caution.  

Current Situation: Remnants of snow remain in some of the shaded areas and northern facing slopes; however, a gradual drying pattern continues. Fire personnel were busy yesterday doing prep work to make potential firelines more defensible and repairing previous suppression lines. 

Division A:  Firefighters will continue to mop up and rehab firelines on the northern part of the fire.  

Division Z: Crews are looking for opportunities to close any fireline gaps in the Red Canyon area. A road grader worked yesterday on suppression repair of dozer lines.  

Divisions Z, P, M, K: Yesterday was a scouting day to identify a suppression repair opportunities. Heavy equipment that arrived on site will begin repair work today. A drone, or UAS, was used in Division K for an infrared flight to identify hotspots. 

Divisions I: The ground dried out sufficiently to begin suppression repair work yesterday. While doing this work in the interior of the fire, a couple of logs flared up as they were turned over by the dozer. Crews promptly suppressed the hotspot. Suppression repair continued along the eastern edge of the fire. 

Division H: Crews are focusing on the 26, or Red Grade Road, prepping it to use as an indirect fireline, to its junction with the 16 Road. They will prep that road to its junction with Highway 14. This work includes removing brush and other fuels by limbing trees and removing understory vegetation to eliminate small ladder fuels. This will assist with defending firelines in the event fire activity increases. 

Divisions D, F: Fire supervisors are assessing the road system for a potential indirect fireline north of Burgess Junction to protect the WY DOT compound and the Forest Service Visitor Center and Work Center. A structure protection plan is in place. Work continues to prep the 15 Road north to Division A, limbing trees and removing small ladder fuels. Backhauling pumps will continue as needed. 

Weather, Fuels, and Fire Behavior:  Today will be very similar to yesterday, with subtle changes. Winds will be no more than 15 m.p.h. Minimum relative humidity will be 30-40%, with high temperatures in the lower 60s at upper elevations. This evening, pre-frontal winds will increase out of the southwest, picking up after 7 p.m. Localized gusts can be expected up to 35 m.p.h. The front is expected to come through overnight with potential gusts at lower elevations from 25-30 mph. Precipitation is not expected, but temperatures and humidity should moderate. 

An infrared flight last night showed that most of the snow is gone. Fuel moisture in light fuels (grasses and branches) is starting to decrease. More smoke may be noticeable as fuels dry out.   

Evacuations: For information on Johnson County evacuations, go to Johnson County Emergency Management’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JohnsonCoWYEMC . For info on Sheridan County evacuations and road closures, go to the Sheridan County Emergency Management website: www.tinyurl.com/2s38bcc5 . You can also call the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office (307-672-3455) or Sheridan County Emergency Management (307-752-2174). 

Closures:  I-90 from the Montana border to Sheridan will be closed today for a weed spraying via helicopter. Detour routes will be available. US Highway 14 is closed between Burgess Junction and Dayton. View the Wyoming Department of Transportation road-closure map here: https://www.wyoroad.info/ . Bighorn National Forest closure Order No. 02-02-06-24-08 is in effect. The order and map can be viewed here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bighorn/alerts-notices . 

Elk Fire Statistics: 

Size: 96,244 acres   |   Containment: 48%   |   Total Personnel: 549  |   Location: West of Sheridan, WY 

Reported: September 27, 2024   |   Cause: lightning 

PACK TRAIL FIRE DAILY UPDATE  Monday, October 21, 2024

Total Acres: 89,566 Confined: 62%     Total Personnel: 575 

Operations – On the southwestern flank of the Pack Trail Fire, crews are conducting a tactical firing operation to further protect private property near Buffalo Meadows to the Gros Ventre Valley. Smoke will be visible from Jackson. This tactic is being used to strengthen, straighten and secure the fires edge, diminishing the potential for hotspots to gain heat and momentum, which could make uncontrolled runs toward the containment lines.  This tactical firing operation will result in an increase in fire acreage and confinement reported. On the east side, crews will work to mop up 100 feet into the fire’s perimeter to cool down hotspots and connect containment lines from the 540 to 645 road.  Crews will complete chipping along the 540 Road and connect containment features above the 635 road. On the north side, crews continue to mop up hotspots and cold trail the fire’s edge.  

Safety – Despite the recent precipitation, Teton Interagency Fire Managers are maintaining the Very High Fire Danger Rating for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the Shoshone National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge. This precipitation was not a fire season ending event. Due to wind, fuels will begin to rapidly dry out when the snow melts. Any spark can ignite fire which can grow rapidly into a major incident. Residents and visitors are reminded to exercise extreme caution with fires or other possible ignition sources. Keep a shovel, bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby to quickly control any flare-ups. Preparedness can stop a small spark from becoming a wildfire.  

Please use caution while driving these areas, especially on narrow secondary roads. Always expect to encounter fire vehicles and heavy equipment in and around the fire area. Check with WY-DOT for possible closures due to fire activity, especially if you are planning to travel on US-26 across the Continental Divide. Closures are not expected, but with active fire in the area checking status before travel is recommended. 

“If you fly, we can’t.” Remember that flying a personal drone over a fire area during a temporary flight restriction is illegal and can be an extremely dangerous threat to both our aviators and firefighters on the ground.  

Weather – Today will be partly to mostly cloudy with temperatures of 44-54 degrees with a minimum relative humidity’s between 30% - 40%.  Winds from the south-southwest will be 12-17 MPH with gusts up to 30. Warmer and drier weather will return over the week. To learn more about air quality, visit Fire.AirNow.Gov. 

Evacuations – Lava Mountain Lodge, Roaring River Subdivision, Buckboard Subdivision, Double Bar J Ranch, Lava Creek Ranch, Triangle C Ranch, Pelham Lake, Sheridan Creek Camp Areas, Old Mackenzie Ranch, Upper Gros Ventre, Darwin Ranch have been reduced to Level 2 “Set” status. Brooks Lake Lodge, Pinnacle, Breccia, and Long Creek, and Dunior areas have been reduced to a Level 1 “Ready” status. Union Pass subdivision remains in a Level 2 “Set” status. See the Fremont County Emergency Management Facebook Page for alerts and updates. See the Teton County Emergency Management website updates and to sign up for emergency alerts through Everbridge. 

Road Closures – The Union Pass Road is closed on the Pinedale Ranger District (BTNF) from Mosquito Lake to the Moon Lake Road on the Wind River District (SHO). Moon Lake Road is also closed.  

Forest Closures - Closure Order #04-03-24-317 is in effect from October 14, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. through November 15, 2024 at 12:00 a.m. unless rescinded. This order supersedes previous orders, including #04-03-24-316, prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same described area.  

For more information, visit: Facebook: USDA Forest Service - Bridger-Teton National Forest, USDA Forest Service - Shoshone National Forest  Pack 

Evergreen Forest Fire Update

Monday, October 21, 2024

MNICS Team C - Incident Commander-Mike Hill 

& Trainee-Ryan Williams 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnmns-evergreen- forest

Fire Information: 218-432-0953, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Email: 2024.evergreenforest@firenet.gov

Fire Quick Facts

Size: 167 acres         Containment: 10%                                                                     

Location: Pine City, MN  

Cause: Under investigation

Resources: 2 crews, 3 engines, 4 dozers, & 3 tracked vehicles 

Start Date: 10/17/2024    Total Personnel: 56

QR code for Inciweb Information

Current Status: Firefighting resources are beginning to mop up the fire, working on the fire’s perimeter to remove and extinguish burning vegetative material within 5-10 feet off the fire’s edge. Resources continue to secure containment lines to decrease the potential for fire spread. Leaf drop continues to occur, adding more fine vegetative fuel to the fire. Firefighters continue to monitor leaf drop, watching for burning vegetation that could blow across dozer and other containment lines. Fire behavior is smoldering and creeping. Firefighter and public safety remain the main priorities for the incident. Available aerial resources may be utilized if fire activity increases.

Closures: The DNR issued an Emergency Closure Order for public safety due to the fire. The closure area consists of the Chengwatana State Forest Road on the north, the St. Croix River National Scenic Riverway boundary to the east, the Snake River on the south and the full extent of the state forest west boundary. The area is closed to the public until further notice, including dispersed camping, hunting, recreational trail riding, hiking and other activities. The Snake River Campground, south of the Snake River, is unaffected by the fire and is open. Additional closure information is available on the Inciweb page and the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) website: https://mnics.org/wpress/dnr-temporarily-closing-a- portion-of-chengwatana-state-forest-due-to-wildfire/

Planned Actions: Firefighting resources will continue to mop up along the fire’s perimeter, working inward to extinguish any hot spots. Resources will monitor and suppress new smoke or hot spots from fallen leaf litter. Crews will continue to hold and improve the fire’s containment line as warm, dry, and windy weather continues. Though terrain and access to the fire has been challenging, tracked equipment is being used to traverse the difficult terrain. 

Background: The Evergreen Forest Fire was reported on October 17, 2024, on the Chengwatana State Forest, 10 miles east of Pine City, MN. The fire is burning actively in hardwood timber with leaf litter, on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) managed land. 

Fire Weather Forecast & Air Quality Info: Today-Mostly sunny. High of 78. Minimum relative humidity 40%. Light winds becoming south 5-9 mph. Tonight-Partly cloudy turning to mostly cloudy. Low of 54. Maximum humidity 72%. South winds 6-9 mph. Tuesday- Mostly sunny then a chance of showers and thunderstorms as a cold front advances through the area. No severe storms are expected. 40% chance of precipitation around 0.1” or greater from thunderstorms. South winds 5-10 mph, with gusts up to 18. Air quality is forecasted for “good” for Monday and Tuesday. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air- water-land-climate/air-quality-forecast

Cooperating Agencies: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and mutual aid from Pine County Emergency Management.

Rail Ridge Fire Update

Monday, October 21, 2024

Central Oregon Wildfire Information: centraloregonfire.org

Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov  ~  Phone: 541-208-7111

Social Media, Evacuation and Closure Information: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
Acres: 176,619  ~  Containment: 92%  ~  Start Date: 09/02/24  ~  Cause: Lightning  ~  Personnel: 437

Special Notes: As fire behavior continues to moderate and seasonal weather patterns shift, Rail Ridge Fire resources are making good progress to complete suppression repair. As a result of this progress, fire information daily updates will transition to distribution every other day, unless fire behavior warrants otherwise. Additionally, as of today, the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area has been lifted, though aircraft remain available in the area to respond to shifts in fire behavior as needed.

Fire closures remain in place for both firefighter and public safety, and public cooperation is appreciated as teams complete their work. For more information on closures as well as Wheeler County and Grant County evacuation information, visit https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire.

Are you a private land owner or contractor with projects within the fire perimeter or Malheur National Forest Rail Ridge #2 Fire Closure (06-04-01-24-30)? Contact our fire information line at 541-208-7111, or email us at: 2024.railridge.liaison@firenet.gov with questions about land access, fire suppression activities, or suppression repair efforts in your area. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: A cold front will bring cloudy skies and light rain today along with breezy southwest winds. Showers will end in the morning with a chance for hit or miss showers in the afternoon. Clearing skies and a drier air mass tonight will lead to chilly morning lows for Tuesday with temperatures near freezing. Valley temperatures will likely be around the mid 50s both in valleys and on ridgetops. Primary fire behavior characteristics continue to follow recent patterns of smoldering ground fuels and limited surface fire creeping. Heavy fuels such as stump holes and log ends will continue to burn and consume due to long-term seasonal drying.

Operations: Firefighters continue to focus efforts on building an indirect containment line in the northwest corner of the fire, in addition to mop up and repair work. Resources are continuously working to locate and repair areas impacted by dozer operations over the course of the fire. These efforts include using excavators to pull side berms back to natural contours, constructing water bars on sloped terrain, and naturally arrange duff, branches, and logs over fire lines in forested stands. Crews are hauling logs and materials from roads and shaded fuel break areas. Much of the operational work in the west, south and east has been completed as of yesterday evening.

USFS & BLM Closures / Evacuation Information / Fire Restrictions / Social Media for the Rail Ridge Fire area can be found at: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire.

Yellow Lake Fire 
Incident Update October 21, 2024

Size at time of update: 33,041 Acres
Containment: 37%
Personnel: 395
Start: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Cause: Human Caused (Under Investigation)
Location: 10 miles southeast of Francis, Utah

Management of the Yellow Lake Fire transitions from California Interagency Incident Management Team 2 to the Ashley and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The local team is primarily comprised of professional fire managers and support personnel with expert knowledge of the area. The team will maintain the same focus on ensuring public and firefighter safety while continuing work on the Yellow Lake Fire.

Intermittent rain continued to subdue the Yellow Lake Fire on Sunday but also challenged suppression repair efforts and containment line reinforcement. Despite the weather delay, 4 miles of suppression repair have been completed. 

Hotspots remain south of Iron Mine Mountain. Firefighters reported seeing isolated single-tree torching along Wolf Creek Pass, SR35. Smoke remains visible above the North Fork of the Duchesne Road. However, the fire is no expected to move. 

With the predicted warmer weather, more of the perimeter will be evaluated, and containment is expected to increase. Road assessment and hazard tree removal will continue in conjunction with suppression repair.

Forest Closures: 

• Updated October 18, 2024, the Yellow Lake Fire closure area has been reduced on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This Order shall remain in effect until November 25, 2024, unless rescinded.
  https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1208350.pdf
• Updated October 19, 2024, the Yellow Lake Fire closure area has been reduced on the Ashley National Forest. This closure will remain in place through December 31, 2024, or until rescinded.

For Updated Evacuation Zones: 

https://emergency-management-operations-wasatch.hub.arcgis.com/

https://tricountyemergencyalert.genasys.com/portal/en

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1208878.pdf 

Transition begins with incoming Great Basin CIM Team 7

Red Rock Fire

Operations: Resources are working to mop up remaining heat along the 115 Road. Mop up is part of overall suppression efforts to ensure no heat remains in any debris that may pose a threat to containment lines. Over along the 113 road, crews continue with snag mitigation to clear any debris that could also pose a hazard. Engine crews checked and tested hose lays within the Panther Creek area. On the east and southeast sides of the fire, crews are monitoring along Ridge Road to detect potential hotspots. On the south side of the fire, crews continue checking the fire’s edge and the Moyer Creek-area for any potential remaining heat. The heat found in those areas has been isolated and is not a threat to the containment line. Over near Yellow Jacket, engines are patrolling the road and monitoring for any lingering heat.

On the Napias spot fire, resources have mopped up 100 feet in with no heat to report. An excavator was ordered for Monday to start repair work.

Garden Fire

Operations: Resources continue to patrol and monitor along the north and northeast sides of the fire, including along the Panther Creek/Morgan Creek Roads, checking for any remaining heat or smokes.

Additional Information

Weather: A very dry cold front is forecast to bring moderate to strong wind, very little precipitation, and colder temperatures. Wind gusting to neat 40 mph from the southwest on the ridges by tonight, with gusts to near 30 mph in the mid-slopes and valleys by Monday. Temperatures will warm slightly as the front approaches. The front will cross through during the overnight hours, with a 35% chance of precipitation, with any snow staying above 6500 feet. 

Smoke: For smoke information, please go to: https://www.airnow.gov/education/what-you-can-do/, or  https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/ded7837a 

Closures: The Salmon‐Challis National Forest has implemented a separate and reduced Red Rock and Garden Fire Closure, Order Number: 04‐13‐24‐027 and Order Number 04-13-24-028, effective as of 8:00 pm, Wednesday, October 16, 2024. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices 

Safety: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Red Rock and Garden fire areas, which includes uncrewed aircraft systems or drones. Reminder that if you fly we can’t, unauthorized drone flights pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. 

Please stay out of the fire area. There is still active fire behavior in the fire area. There are multiple roads and bridges that have been destroyed or are impassable. The updated forest closure notice that encompasses both the Red Rock Fire and Garden Fire areas includes multiple road and area closures. Barricade closures will be posted at road intersections and forest boundaries. 

Evacuations: For evacuation information in Lemhi County regarding both the Red Rock and Garden fires please go to: https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/emergency-management-department.