Actualización del Incendio del Complejo Cowlitz

18 de septiembre de 2023

Situación actual: El Complejo Cowlitz está contenido en un 34% con un total de 695 acres y 342 efectivos. Ayer, los bomberos trabajaron alrededor de la Misión de 22 acres de fuego cerca de la carretera forestal 21 para contener el fuego de un derrame que se produjo el sábado. Hubo un ligero crecimiento en el Grassy Mountain Fire, pero todavía no representa una amenaza para las comunidades de Randle o Packwood. Las cuadrillas seguirán vigilando y patrullando el incendio de Mission y otros más pequeños en los próximos días. Ayer había menos humo y es probable que esta semana haya menos, aunque los incendios de fuera de la zona pueden aumentar la bruma regional. Para conocer las condiciones actuales de la calidad del aire, véase Airnow.gov .

Antecedentes: Hay 30 incendios en el complejo. Los incendios se iniciaron el 25 de agosto tras un rayo en el Bosque Nacional Gifford Pinchot. Todos los incendios se están gestionando con una estrategia de supresión total.

Restricciones contra incendios: Siguen vigentes las restricciones sobre incendios. Las hogueras están prohibidas en todo el Bosque Nacional de Gifford Pinchot; sólo se permiten las hogueras de propano, las estufas y las linternas. Encontrará más información en el sitio web del bosque en Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Fire Management (usda.gov). La decisión de levantar o mantener las restricciones contra incendios depende de factores como las condiciones meteorológicas actuales y previstas, la humedad del combustible, el nivel de actividad del incendio y la disponibilidad de recursos de extinción para responder a nuevas igniciones.

Cierres: En previsión de la actividad del fuego en curso en las proximidades del Snagtooth Fire las siguientes carreteras y senderos están cerrados al público para reducir la exposición y ayudar a garantizar la seguridad pública y de los bomberos: Carreteras forestales 9300 y 9341, Boundary Trail #1 (desde Elk Pass hasta la intersección con Summit Prairie), Summit Prairie #2, Craggy Peak #3, Snagtooth #4, Quartz #5, Stabler Camp #17, Wright Meadows #80, Basin Camp #3A, Quartz #5B, Quartz #5C (French Creek), Snyder Pasture #80A. La carretera forestal 8410 está cerrada para los bomberos y la seguridad pública en las inmediaciones del incendio de Pothole, y la carretera forestal 78 está cerrada temporalmente entre el cruce de la 78 y la 22 debido a los escombros peligrosos que ruedan por la calzada.

Restricciones Temporales de Vuelo: Hay dos TFR en vigor durante las horas diurnas, uno situado al norte de la US-12 hacia el Parque Nacional del Monte Rainier, y un nuevo TFR al sur de la US-12 para incluir los incendios de Snagtooth y Spencer Quartz. La respuesta de la aviación contra incendios se detiene o retrasa si una aeronave no autorizada entra en el TFR. Las restricciones temporales de vuelo también se aplican a los sistemas de aeronaves no tripuladas o drones. Más información: Know Before You Fly.

Facebook: Facebook/CowlitzComplex Twitter: https://twitter.com/GPNF
Gifford Pinchot National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/giffordpinchot
Incident Photos and Videos for download for public and media use: https://www.dropbox.com

Cowlitz Complex Fire Update

September 18, 2023

Current Situation: The Cowlitz Complex is 34% contained with a total of 695 acres and 342 personnel. Yesterday, firefighters worked around the 22-acre Mission Fire near Forest Road 21 to contain the fire from a spillover that occurred on Saturday. There was slight growth in the Grassy Mountain Fire but it still poses no threat to the communities of Randle or Packwood. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol the Mission and other smaller fires in the forthcoming days. There was less smoke yesterday and it will likely be light this week, although fires from outside the area may add to regional haze. For current air quality conditions, see Airnow.gov.

Background: There are 30 fires in the complex. The fires started August 25 after a lightning event across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. All fires are being managed under full suppression strategy.

Fire Restrictions: Fire Restrictions remain in effect. Campfires are prohibited across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest – only propane-fueled fire pits, stoves and lanterns are allowed. Additional information is available on the forest’s website at Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Fire Management (usda.gov). The decision to lift or maintain fire restrictions depends on factors such as current and expected weather conditions, fuel moisture, the level of fire activity, and the availability of firefighting resources to respond to additional ignitions.

Closures: In anticipation of ongoing fire activity in the vicinity of the Snagtooth Fire the following roads and trails are closed to the public to reduce exposure and help ensure public and firefighter safety: Forest Roads 9300 and 9341, Boundary Trail #1 (from Elk Pass to intersection with Summit Prairie), Summit Prairie #2, Craggy Peak #3, Snagtooth #4, Quartz #5, Stabler Camp #17, Wright Meadows #80, Basin Camp #3A, Quartz #5B, Quartz #5C (French Creek), Snyder Pasture #80A. Forest Road 8410 is closed for firefighter and public safety in the vicinity of the Pothole Fire, and Forest Road 78 is temporarily closed between the 78 and the 22 junction due to hazardous debris rolling out onto the roadway.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: Two TFRs are in effect during daylight hours, one located north of US-12 to Mount Rainier National Park, and a new TFR south of US-12 to include Snagtooth and Spencer Quartz fires. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems or drones. Learn more: Know Before You Fly.

Louisiana Statewide Burn Ban:  The State Fire Marshal’s Office’s order prohibiting ALL private burning and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry ban on all agricultural burning, remain in effect. These are reevaluated weekly. Open burning with exposed flames is prohibited with no exceptions. The use of prescribed fires is also banned. More information is available at http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/press/pr_2023-36.pdf

Highlights: Yesterday’s events included a sizable spot on the Tiger Island Fire on the south end of the incident.  Large Air Tankers, Scooper Planes and helicopters aided ground crews with dozers and plow units to get a fireline around the spot which crossed Hwy 110.  The highway was temporarily closed for public safety.   Ground crews worked late into the night to stop the fire’s progression.   The drying trend continues and reburn of needle cast was occurring on the Hwy 113 Fire but stayed within the original footprint as currently mapped.  Crews continue to monitor, suppress reburn, patrol containment lines and remove any needle cast along all control lines on all of the fires. Archery deer season has commenced, so hunter and firefighter safety will be paramount. With more people in the fire area this weekend, extra caution is required if you are hunting in or near the fire areas.

Tiger Island Fire: 31,087 acres, no change (The spot fire is not yet mapped but will be reflected in tomorrow’s acreage) | 84% containment| 228 personnel assigned

              Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-tiger-island-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Hwy 113 Fire: 7,124 acres, no change | 95% containment | 71 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-hwy-113-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Lions Camp Road Fire: 785 acres, no change | 91% containment | 22 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-lions-camp-road-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Elizabeth Fire: 940 acres, no change | 95% containment | 13 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-elizabeth-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Equipment resources assigned to the fires include Type 6 Engines; Dozers; Tractor Plow Units; and Water Tenders. Aerial resources include helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Additional support is being provided by Parish authorities and departments; Sheriff’s Offices; and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Weather & Fire Behavior:   Today’s weather has predicted even lower humidities and temperatures in the 90s, but winds will moderate and be less than yesterday’s gusts.  This still means any new fire starts have the potential to move quickly and spread.  The incident’s Fire Behavior Analyst gave an example of how fast a fire could spread comparing it to a potential of 5 acres of spread in just 15 minutes. Over a third of the State of Louisiana is experiencing extreme drought conditions and that is not expected to change over the coming weeks.

Air Quality: Smoke may occur in areas of reburn. Air quality information is available at the EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map at: https://fire.airnow.gov/ .

Temporary Flight Restriction: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Tiger Island Fire and Hwy 113 and Elizabeth Fire areas. If you fly, we can’t. Aircraft or drone intrusions into the restricted airspace endangers aircrews conducting fire operations and aerial resources are grounded for safety. This unnecessarily places aircrews and ground fire crews at risk in a dynamic and dangerous fire environment.

A community meeting will be held tomorrow night at 7 PM at the Sixes Grange Hall and broadcast live on Facebook (link below). Fire managers and local agency representatives will share information and answer questions about the fires.

Anvil Fire

Size: 8,957 acres

Start Date:  August 25, 2023

Location:  8 miles east of Port Orford, OR

Containment:  0%

Total personnel:  688

Resources:  17 crews, 4 helicopters, 25 engines

Fire crews made substantial progress in several areas on the fire yesterday.  Hand crews continued burning vegetation from along the previously constructed handline running south from Grassy Knob towards the Fish Hatchery and Elk River Road during favorable weather conditions.  Concurrently, engine crews patrolling west along the Elk River road located and contained two spot fires.  Helicopters dropped 162,000 gallons of water on the fire in support of ground operations across the fire area.  Near residences, firefighters used utilizing water pumps and sprinklers to increase humidity levels.

The Curry County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with federal law enforcement officers assigned to the Anvil Fire to patrol the evacuated areas and ensure the safety of homes and property.  Additionally, Curry County is closing China Mountain Road from the south end of Humbug Mountain State Park to the junction with BPA powerlines on the north end, limiting traffic on the roadway to only fire vehicles.  Other area closures and evacuation levels are unchanged. This road closure allows large firefighting vehicles and equipment to travel the China Mountain Road with fewer interactions.

Evacuations:  Curry County Sheriff’s Office has identified four evacuation zones around the Anvil Fire.  An interactive evacuation map is available at https://bit.ly/45UIh2E. Zones 1 and 4 are in Level 3 “Go“ evacuation status.  Zones 2 and 3 are in Level 2 “Get Set“ status.  Sign up for Curry Co. emergency alerts at https://bit.ly/CurryCoEM.

Flat Fire

Size:  34,242 acres

Start Date:  July 15, 2023

Location:  2 miles southeast of Agness, OR

Containment:  75%

Total personnel:  104

Resources:  2 crews, 3 helicopters, 2 engines

Two areas with burning stumps were identified by visible smoke inside the existing containment lines yesterday.  Helicopters rapidly delivered 2,500 gallons of water on the hot spots to ensure they would not continue to grow and possibly cross the fireline.  Fire engines will continue to patrol and monitor the fire and respond rapidly as needed to any increased fire behavior.

General Information

Weather:  A Red Flag Warning, an indication of weather conditions that could contribute to large fire growth, is in effect in the fire area from Sunday at midnight through Monday at noon. Ridgetop winds are expected to reach 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 27 mph. Relative humidity will also be low during this time. Another chance for increased north/northeast winds is forecast for later in the week. Fire managers are coordinating with local agencies to prepare for these weather events and their impact to the fires. Conditions may change quickly. Continue to monitor information sites for the fire status updates.

Smoke:  Visit https://bit.ly/SWORsmoke for current smoke and air quality updates.

Area and Road Closures:  For the safety of firefighters and the public, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has issued closure orders for the Anvil and Flat Fire areas. Visit https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts for closure maps and information. The Bureau of Land Management’s Edson and Sixes Campgrounds are closed until further notice.

Smoke and the marine cloud layer are mingling and settling in the lower elevations overnight potentially causing limited visibility along highways.  Please drive slowly and with headlights on through any fire area.  Heavy equipment and firefighter transportation vehicles are also using the area highways and roads. Caltrans issued a schedule of road closures and lane restrictions on US-199. Local law enforcement cautions against any non-essential traffic along this route. For specific information on road access, please see the Caltrans QuickMap site at: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ and Oregon Department of Transportation site at: https://www.tripcheck.com/.  Do not use forest roads for alternate routes.

Notice:  Inciweb will be down for maintenance for several hours this evening. Continue to monitor Facebook or Twitter for timely information during this period.

Louisiana Statewide Burn Ban:  The State Fire Marshal’s Office’s order prohibiting ALL private burning and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry ban on all agricultural burning, remain in effect. These are reevaluated weekly. Open burning with exposed flames is prohibited with no exceptions. The use of prescribed fires is also banned. More information is available at http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/press/pr_2023-36.pdf

Highlights: Yesterday’s events included a sizable spot on the Tiger Island Fire on the south end of the incident.  Large Air Tankers, Scooper Planes and helicopters aided ground crews with dozers and plow units to get a fireline around the spot which crossed Hwy 110.  The highway was temporarily closed for public safety.   Ground crews worked late into the night to stop the fire’s progression.   The drying trend continues and reburn of needle cast was occurring on the Hwy 113 Fire but stayed within the original footprint as currently mapped.  Crews continue to monitor, suppress reburn, patrol containment lines and remove any needle cast along all control lines on all of the fires. Archery deer season has commenced, so hunter and firefighter safety will be paramount. With more people in the fire area this weekend, extra caution is required if you are hunting in or near the fire areas.

Tiger Island Fire: 31,087 acres, no change (The spot fire is not yet mapped but will be reflected in tomorrow’s acreage) | 84% containment| 228 personnel assigned

              Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-tiger-island-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Hwy 113 Fire: 7,124 acres, no change | 95% containment | 71 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-hwy-113-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Lions Camp Road Fire: 785 acres, no change | 91% containment | 22 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-lions-camp-road-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Elizabeth Fire: 940 acres, no change | 95% containment | 13 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-elizabeth-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Equipment resources assigned to the fires include Type 6 Engines; Dozers; Tractor Plow Units; and Water Tenders. Aerial resources include helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Additional support is being provided by Parish authorities and departments; Sheriff’s Offices; and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Weather & Fire Behavior:   Today’s weather has predicted even lower humidities and temperatures in the 90s, but winds will moderate and be less than yesterday’s gusts.  This still means any new fire starts have the potential to move quickly and spread.  The incident’s Fire Behavior Analyst gave an example of how fast a fire could spread comparing it to a potential of 5 acres of spread in just 15 minutes. Over a third of the State of Louisiana is experiencing extreme drought conditions and that is not expected to change over the coming weeks.

Air Quality: Smoke may occur in areas of reburn. Air quality information is available at the EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map at: https://fire.airnow.gov/ .

Temporary Flight Restriction: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Tiger Island Fire and Hwy 113 and Elizabeth Fire areas. If you fly, we can’t. Aircraft or drone intrusions into the restricted airspace endangers aircrews conducting fire operations and aerial resources are grounded for safety. This unnecessarily places aircrews and ground fire crews at risk in a dynamic and dangerous fire environment.

Louisiana Statewide Burn Ban:  The State Fire Marshal’s Office’s order prohibiting ALL private burning and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry ban on all agricultural burning, remain in effect. These are reevaluated weekly. Open burning with exposed flames is prohibited with no exceptions. The use of prescribed fires is also banned. More information is available at http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/press/pr_2023-36.pdf

Highlights: Yesterday’s events included a sizable spot on the Tiger Island Fire on the south end of the incident.  Large Air Tankers, Scooper Planes and helicopters aided ground crews with dozers and plow units to get a fireline around the spot which crossed Hwy 110.  The highway was temporarily closed for public safety.   Ground crews worked late into the night to stop the fire’s progression.   The drying trend continues and reburn of needle cast was occurring on the Hwy 113 Fire but stayed within the original footprint as currently mapped.  Crews continue to monitor, suppress reburn, patrol containment lines and remove any needle cast along all control lines on all of the fires. Archery deer season has commenced, so hunter and firefighter safety will be paramount. With more people in the fire area this weekend, extra caution is required if you are hunting in or near the fire areas.

Tiger Island Fire: 31,087 acres, no change (The spot fire is not yet mapped but will be reflected in tomorrow’s acreage) | 84% containment| 228 personnel assigned

              Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-tiger-island-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Hwy 113 Fire: 7,124 acres, no change | 95% containment | 71 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-hwy-113-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Lions Camp Road Fire: 785 acres, no change | 91% containment | 22 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-lions-camp-road-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Elizabeth Fire: 940 acres, no change | 95% containment | 13 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-elizabeth-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Equipment resources assigned to the fires include Type 6 Engines; Dozers; Tractor Plow Units; and Water Tenders. Aerial resources include helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Additional support is being provided by Parish authorities and departments; Sheriff’s Offices; and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Weather & Fire Behavior:   Today’s weather has predicted even lower humidities and temperatures in the 90s, but winds will moderate and be less than yesterday’s gusts.  This still means any new fire starts have the potential to move quickly and spread.  The incident’s Fire Behavior Analyst gave an example of how fast a fire could spread comparing it to a potential of 5 acres of spread in just 15 minutes. Over a third of the State of Louisiana is experiencing extreme drought conditions and that is not expected to change over the coming weeks.

Air Quality: Smoke may occur in areas of reburn. Air quality information is available at the EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map at: https://fire.airnow.gov/ .

Temporary Flight Restriction: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Tiger Island Fire and Hwy 113 and Elizabeth Fire areas. If you fly, we can’t. Aircraft or drone intrusions into the restricted airspace endangers aircrews conducting fire operations and aerial resources are grounded for safety. This unnecessarily places aircrews and ground fire crews at risk in a dynamic and dangerous fire environment.

Louisiana Statewide Burn Ban:  The State Fire Marshal’s Office’s order prohibiting ALL private burning and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry ban on all agricultural burning, remain in effect. These are reevaluated weekly. Open burning with exposed flames is prohibited with no exceptions. The use of prescribed fires is also banned. More information is available at http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/press/pr_2023-36.pdf

Highlights: Yesterday’s events included a sizable spot on the Tiger Island Fire on the south end of the incident.  Large Air Tankers, Scooper Planes and helicopters aided ground crews with dozers and plow units to get a fireline around the spot which crossed Hwy 110.  The highway was temporarily closed for public safety.   Ground crews worked late into the night to stop the fire’s progression.   The drying trend continues and reburn of needle cast was occurring on the Hwy 113 Fire but stayed within the original footprint as currently mapped.  Crews continue to monitor, suppress reburn, patrol containment lines and remove any needle cast along all control lines on all of the fires. Archery deer season has commenced, so hunter and firefighter safety will be paramount. With more people in the fire area this weekend, extra caution is required if you are hunting in or near the fire areas.

Tiger Island Fire: 31,087 acres, no change (The spot fire is not yet mapped but will be reflected in tomorrow’s acreage) | 84% containment| 228 personnel assigned

              Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-tiger-island-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Hwy 113 Fire: 7,124 acres, no change | 95% containment | 71 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-hwy-113-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Lions Camp Road Fire: 785 acres, no change | 91% containment | 22 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-lions-camp-road-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Elizabeth Fire: 940 acres, no change | 95% containment | 13 personnel assigned

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-elizabeth-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Equipment resources assigned to the fires include Type 6 Engines; Dozers; Tractor Plow Units; and Water Tenders. Aerial resources include helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Additional support is being provided by Parish authorities and departments; Sheriff’s Offices; and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Weather & Fire Behavior:   Today’s weather has predicted even lower humidities and temperatures in the 90s, but winds will moderate and be less than yesterday’s gusts.  This still means any new fire starts have the potential to move quickly and spread.  The incident’s Fire Behavior Analyst gave an example of how fast a fire could spread comparing it to a potential of 5 acres of spread in just 15 minutes. Over a third of the State of Louisiana is experiencing extreme drought conditions and that is not expected to change over the coming weeks.

Air Quality: Smoke may occur in areas of reburn. Air quality information is available at the EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map at: https://fire.airnow.gov/ .

Temporary Flight Restriction: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Tiger Island Fire and Hwy 113 and Elizabeth Fire areas. If you fly, we can’t. Aircraft or drone intrusions into the restricted airspace endangers aircrews conducting fire operations and aerial resources are grounded for safety. This unnecessarily places aircrews and ground fire crews at risk in a dynamic and dangerous fire environment.

Size: 3,996 acres
Start Date: August 16, 2023
Cause: Lightning
Completion: 57%
Total personnel: 173
Location: 11 miles northeast of Young, Arizona and 27 miles
east of Payson, Arizona
Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Hardwood litter and timber
Highlights: Yesterday, as of 6 a.m., Chamberlain Trail Road (FSRD 200) will be closed until 6 p.m. on September 30, 2023 for firefighter and public safety. The communities of Gordon Canyon, 13 Ranch, and The Cove are in SET status. For more information on Ready, Set, Go, please visit: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.
Operations: Yesterday, crews on the northwest end of the fire conducted some hand ignitions, moving west towards the Chamberlain Trail (FSRD 200) building depth; however, conditions were limiting. Tactical firing operations were performed down the drainages from the north to the south towards FSRD 411 building depth and evening out the fire line. Today, crews will continue moving the fire’s edge towards Chamberlain Trail (FSRD 200) along that west fire perimeter line to the south, adding more depth.
Fire Ecology: A crown fire is when a fire burns along the top of trees, also known as the canopy. Crown fires produce high-severity fire effects. The term “torching” refers to when a fire burns the crown of one tree or a small group of trees but does not move around. Surface fire is when the fire stays on the surface, consuming grass and forest litter and reducing the ladder fuels.
Weather: Yesterday, there were scattered storms along the west fire perimeter up to ½”. Today, there is a 10-15% chance of showers with the relative humidity in the teens. Later this week, wind is expected to increase from the southwest, with temperatures expected to continue on a downtrend.
Closures: An emergency closure order for the Valentine Fire has gone into effect as of 6 a.m. Sept. 5, 2023. The public is asked to avoid the fire area. The purpose of the closure order is to protect public health and safety during the Valentine Fire and to protect assigned firefighting personnel engaging in wildland firefighting operations. Signs and gates will be in place to remind the public not to enter the fire area. Please visit the Alerts and Notices page for more information. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices.
Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the highest priority. Members of the public are asked to avoid the fire area.
Smoke: The fire may produce additional smoke due to excessive fuel accumulation. Smoke from the Valentine Fire may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/ lets you zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
Information Links and Contacts
Tonto National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/aztnf-valentine-fire
Fire Email: 2023.valentine@firenet.gov
Fire Information Line: (928)-421-4579 • Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Conditions permitting, Seeley Ranger District plans to burn southeast of Seeley Lake today to help reduce hazardous fuels, restore wildlife habitat, and create better protection around communities from future wildfires.

Seeley Ranger District:

The 80-acre prescribed fire unit is located approximately 2 miles southeast of the community of Seeley Lake; east of Highway 83 between mile markers 10 and 13. Smoke may be visible from Seeley for the duration of the burn.

Firefighters and engines will implement the prescribed burn, patrol, and monitor the burning over the next few days.

Prescribed burning is an important and multipurpose forest management tool that can mimic natural fire by improving healthy forest habitat conditions to benefit wildlife and fire-dependent plant species.

Map of Current Burns 

Port Angeles, Wash. – Fire activity was lower today due to overcast skies and higher humidities.  An aerial reconnaissance flight was conducted allowing for updated acreage of all park fires; the Delabarre Fire is approximately 1,500 acres, however, low visibility and low-lying smoke made it difficult for fire personnel to identify the exact perimeter of the fire. A flight tomorrow with infrared mapping technology will provide a more accurate estimate of the fire’s size.

Fire personnel continued to work in the Low Divide area; firefighters have created a defensible space around the Glacier Creek Bridge and installed sprinklers to help protect the bridge and the Low Divide Ranger Station. The Low Divide Fire continues to burn but it has not yet crossed the North Fork Quinault River.

The Eagle Point Fire is in a confine and contain strategy and was mostly inactive today.

Smoke conditions improved across the north Olympic Peninsula as quieter fire conditions generated less smoke.

Acreage for other fires remained the same:

Fire Name

Initial Report

Estimated Size as of 9/5

Location

 

Hurricane

8/28/23

4 acres

2,000 ft below Hurricane Ridge parking area

 

Eagle Point

8/28/23

122 acres

~5 miles out Obstruction Point Road

 

Diamond Mountain

9/1/23

30 acres

3.3 miles NE of

Anderson Pass

 

Low Divide

9/1/23

274 acres

N. Fork Quinault drainage

 

Delabarre

9/1/23

Estimated 1,500 acres

3 miles SE of Mount Christie

 

Martins Lake

9/2/23

93 acres

2 miles NE of Mount Christie

 

Mount Queets

9/14/23

1 acre

Summit of Mount Queets

 

Fire is an integral part of the forested ecosystems on the Olympic Peninsula; plants and animals here have evolved with fire for thousands of years. By allowing fires to burn when appropriate, it allows the natural process to continue to occur and it lowers the fire danger in the future. Naturally occurring fires allow forests to be thinned, opening the canopy and allowing sunlight through. Fire also allows for the recycling of nutrients to the soil while reducing the amount of dead, woody debris. This allows for the sprouting and regrowth of plants, shrubs and trees.

 

Background Information

All seven active fires in Olympic National Park ignited when a series of lightning strikes occurred on the Olympic Peninsula in the afternoon on August 28.

 

Closures  

Due to wildfire activity the following closures are in effect until further notice:

• Elwha River Trail from Whiskey Bend Trailhead to Low Divide
• Bailey Range Traverse beyond Cat Basin
• Long Ridge Trail to Dodger Point
• Hayden Pass Trail
• Dosewallips River Trail from Dose Meadows to Hayden Pass
• Dodger Point Way Trail
• North Fork Quinault Trail from Elip Creek trail junction to Low Divide
• Skyline Trail from Elip Creek Trail junction to Low Divide
• Martin Park Trail
• Obstruction Point Road and Trailhead

Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (WIC) will be notifying backcountry permit holders who may be impacted by these closures. Any permit holders who plan to backpack in the above impacted areas should contact the WIC at 360-565-2992 or by emailing OLYM_WIC@nps.gov.

 

Weather and Fire Behavior

A front will weaken over the area Sunday night for a chance of rain showers. Relative humidity values will increase with the front due to onshore flow into Monday. Winds will shift more north-northwesterly Monday morning and continue through the day.

 

Information for the Olympic National Park Lightning Fires can be found at: 2023 Olympic National Park Lightning Fires Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov)

 

Olympic National Park information: www.nps.gov/olym 
Olympic National Forest information: www.fs.usda.gov/olympic
State and county area burn bans: https://ecology.wa.gov/Air-Climate/Air-quality/Smoke-fire/Burn-bans

 

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