Level 1 evacuations for West Anderson and West Hallett Fires will be dropped at 6:00pm on 8/7/2023 (Monday).  The Fish lake/Columbia Plateau trail will reopen today at 6:00pm 8/7/2023, with the removal of the evacuations.

August 7, 2023

Size: 1,400 acres

Containment: 25%

Date Started: August 6, 2023

Cause: Unknown 

Structures: There has been confirmation of two outbuildings lost.

Evacuations: Last night there were voluntary evacuation orders in place but those have been lifted at this time.

The Double Back Fire started on August 6, 2023, and was responded to by multiple fire departments from Johnson County initially. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested for assistance at 3:00 p.m. and responded with aviation resources, heavy equipment, and engines from Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS). Multiple departments from Johnson, Hood, and Parker counties are working in Unified command with Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM).

Closures: There are no road closures at this time. There is a TFR in place currently (NOTAM #3/9352; https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_9352.html). It is important to remember that if you fly we can’t, any aircraft in the area will cause aerial operations to stop.

Yesterday: Last night fire resources conducted a large backfire operation to secure the head of the fire. This involved intentionally setting fire along county and ranch roads to burn a large area of grass off in front of the head of the fire to remove any fuel from the fire. This stopped further progression of the fire last night, allowing crews to take more time constructing containment lines around the perimeter of the fire. Heavy equipment worked through the night and were able to construct containment lines linking several of the roads around the fire, with a result that containment lines are now present around the entire perimeter of the fire.

Today: Resources are back on this morning and will be working to improve the initial containment lines with heavy equipment today, making sure that there is good access around as much of the fire as there can be for engine crews. Engines will be patrolling around the fire and mopping up, or looking for any areas of heat within the first 100 feet of the fire’s edge. As the day progresses and dries out resources will be ready in case this fire becomes active again and tries to move outside of its containment lines.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Temperatures are expected to high again today with minimum humidity values dropping to 25% this afternoon. There is a chance of some erratic winds this afternoon as a weak cold front is expected to pass over the area. These conditions are expected to continue the rest of this week

Fire Information

Adam Turner

Public Information Officer, Texas A&M Forest Service

Email: adam.turner@tfs.tamu.edu

Phone: 940-328-9158

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-storage-fire

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllHazardsTFS

Big Knife, Niarada, & Mill Pocket Fires

Daily Update August 7, 2023

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Fire Information: 406-426-9595 | 2023.BigKnife@firenet.gov

https://tinyurl.com/BigKnifeFire | https://tinyurl.com/NiaradaMillPocketFires

Location: Big Knife - 5 miles east of Arlee, MT | Niarada - 12 miles west of Elmo, MT | Mill Pocket: 3 miles West of Hwy. 28
Start Date: Big Knife - 7/24/2023 | Niarada - 7/30/2023 | Mill Pocket – 7/30/2023 Cause: Lightning | Structures Lost: 4
Big Knife- 4,864 acres, 5% contained | Niarada – 18,366 acres, 7% contained | Mill Pocket – 2,135 acres, 35% contained
Total Personnel: 548 | Engines: 33 | Aircraft: 1 + others available as needed | Hand Crews: 9

Big Knife Fire
Continued moisture over the Big Knife Fire continues to moderate fire behavior and growth, primarily smoldering, creeping, and backing in the heavy fuels. Heavy equipment operators completed a mastication line along the fire's southwestern edge to reduce fuels and have started work mulching vegetation along Jocko Canyon Road. Firefighters continued holding and improving a strategic firing operation they conducted Friday and Saturday to keep the fire north of Agency Creek, and structure protection crews are assessing structures in the Jocko Canyon area. Aircraft are aiding firefighters as conditions allow, although limited visibility has hindered some air operations. Resource Advisors are working with fire managers to ensure cultural and natural resource values are evaluated and protected during suppression activities.

Niarada Fire & Mill Pocket Fire
The Niarada Fire continued to receive light precipitation over the weekend, further moderating fire behavior and allowing crews more opportunities to construct direct fire lines immediately adjacent to the fire in some areas. Additionally, a large complement of engines and hand crews arrived Sunday to help bolster suppression efforts. Firefighters continued working to secure lines along Cromwell Creek Road on the fire's northeastern perimeter, cooling hotspots and mopping up inward from control lines approximately 15-20 feet. Crews also continued assessing and preparing structure protection measures outside Elmo towards Big Arm. However, heavy fuels and steep terrain still hamper direct containment in certain areas along the fire's southeastern perimeter. Fire managers are shifting some crews from other areas of the Niarada and Mill Pocket fires to the southern and eastern sides of the fire to prepare for potential firing operations over the next few days. These operations reduce fuels between firelines and the active fire edge, helping to build a fuel break along the constructed line. Firefighters working the Mill Pocket Fire continue to improve constructed firelines, and much of the line is secure enough to consider the fire approximately 35% contained. However, work continues on the northwestern edge.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Precipitation totals from the weekend vary significantly across the Mission and Jocko valleys, but moisture over the Big Knife and Niarada fires has significantly moistened the smaller and medium size fuels. Meteorologists forecast chances for showers and thunderstorms through at least Monday, with a slight drying trend through the week. Although incoming moisture may help temporarily moderate potential fire behavior (lessening the chance of long runs and torching in the short term), trends show potential for drying and active fire behavior in the coming week.

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES
The Lake County Sheriff has placed several areas near the base of the mountains west of the Big Knife Fire in PRE-EVACUATION status. See the map for those locations in yellow (Jocko, Canal, Francis). In the Tribal Primitive Area, Belmore Slough and Burnt Cabin Roads are closed.

Near the Niarada Fire, the Lake County Sheriff placed several residences in the following areas in-EVACUATION status Friday afternoon: Alexander Road, Early Dawn Road, Spring Lane Road, Walking Horse Lane, Windward Heights Road, Wildhorse View, Buffalo Bridge Road, Saddle Drive, Island Butte Lane, Bridle Path, Ten Deuce Way, Cliffview Drive, and Ricketts Road. The remainder of the town of Elmo is in READY status. The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has issued a PRE-EVACUATION WARNING for Hubbart Dam Rd/NF-544 from the intersection of Crossover Rd South to Hwy 28.

A MANDATORY EVACUATION remains in place from the top of the Pass on Brown’s Meadow Road South to Hwy 28, Nirada. This mandatory evacuation also includes Kofford Ridge Rd.

Fire managers are working with the Lake and Flathead County sheriff’s offices to address the current evacuation orders. The decision to lift or expand any evacuation areas or status is made based upon the current and predicted fire conditions, done in concert with all decision-making parties, and will be announced through official channels.

Use extreme caution when driving on Highway 28. Authorities reduced speed limits to 45 mph due to poor visibility, and firefighters and equipment are still working in the area.

Big Knife, Niarada, & Mill Pocket Fires

Daily Update August 7, 2023

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Fire Information: 406-426-9595 | 2023.BigKnife@firenet.gov

https://tinyurl.com/BigKnifeFire | https://tinyurl.com/NiaradaMillPocketFires

Location: Big Knife - 5 miles east of Arlee, MT | Niarada - 12 miles west of Elmo, MT | Mill Pocket: 3 miles West of Hwy. 28
Start Date: Big Knife - 7/24/2023 | Niarada - 7/30/2023 | Mill Pocket – 7/30/2023 Cause: Lightning | Structures Lost: 4
Big Knife- 4,864 acres, 5% contained | Niarada – 18,366 acres, 7% contained | Mill Pocket – 2,135 acres, 35% contained
Total Personnel: 548 | Engines: 33 | Aircraft: 1 + others available as needed | Hand Crews: 9

Big Knife Fire
Continued moisture over the Big Knife Fire continues to moderate fire behavior and growth, primarily smoldering, creeping, and backing in the heavy fuels. Heavy equipment operators completed a mastication line along the fire's southwestern edge to reduce fuels and have started work mulching vegetation along Jocko Canyon Road. Firefighters continued holding and improving a strategic firing operation they conducted Friday and Saturday to keep the fire north of Agency Creek, and structure protection crews are assessing structures in the Jocko Canyon area. Aircraft are aiding firefighters as conditions allow, although limited visibility has hindered some air operations. Resource Advisors are working with fire managers to ensure cultural and natural resource values are evaluated and protected during suppression activities.

Niarada Fire & Mill Pocket Fire
The Niarada Fire continued to receive light precipitation over the weekend, further moderating fire behavior and allowing crews more opportunities to construct direct fire lines immediately adjacent to the fire in some areas. Additionally, a large complement of engines and hand crews arrived Sunday to help bolster suppression efforts. Firefighters continued working to secure lines along Cromwell Creek Road on the fire's northeastern perimeter, cooling hotspots and mopping up inward from control lines approximately 15-20 feet. Crews also continued assessing and preparing structure protection measures outside Elmo towards Big Arm. However, heavy fuels and steep terrain still hamper direct containment in certain areas along the fire's southeastern perimeter. Fire managers are shifting some crews from other areas of the Niarada and Mill Pocket fires to the southern and eastern sides of the fire to prepare for potential firing operations over the next few days. These operations reduce fuels between firelines and the active fire edge, helping to build a fuel break along the constructed line. Firefighters working the Mill Pocket Fire continue to improve constructed firelines, and much of the line is secure enough to consider the fire approximately 35% contained. However, work continues on the northwestern edge.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Precipitation totals from the weekend vary significantly across the Mission and Jocko valleys, but moisture over the Big Knife and Niarada fires has significantly moistened the smaller and medium size fuels. Meteorologists forecast chances for showers and thunderstorms through at least Monday, with a slight drying trend through the week. Although incoming moisture may help temporarily moderate potential fire behavior (lessening the chance of long runs and torching in the short term), trends show potential for drying and active fire behavior in the coming week.

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES
The Lake County Sheriff has placed several areas near the base of the mountains west of the Big Knife Fire in PRE-EVACUATION status. See the map for those locations in yellow (Jocko, Canal, Francis). In the Tribal Primitive Area, Belmore Slough and Burnt Cabin Roads are closed.

Near the Niarada Fire, the Lake County Sheriff placed several residences in the following areas in-EVACUATION status Friday afternoon: Alexander Road, Early Dawn Road, Spring Lane Road, Walking Horse Lane, Windward Heights Road, Wildhorse View, Buffalo Bridge Road, Saddle Drive, Island Butte Lane, Bridle Path, Ten Deuce Way, Cliffview Drive, and Ricketts Road. The remainder of the town of Elmo is in READY status. The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has issued a PRE-EVACUATION WARNING for Hubbart Dam Rd/NF-544 from the intersection of Crossover Rd South to Hwy 28.

A MANDATORY EVACUATION remains in place from the top of the Pass on Brown’s Meadow Road South to Hwy 28, Nirada. This mandatory evacuation also includes Kofford Ridge Rd.

Fire managers are working with the Lake and Flathead County sheriff’s offices to address the current evacuation orders. The decision to lift or expand any evacuation areas or status is made based upon the current and predicted fire conditions, done in concert with all decision-making parties, and will be announced through official channels.

Use extreme caution when driving on Highway 28. Authorities reduced speed limits to 45 mph due to poor visibility, and firefighters and equipment are still working in the area.

Location: Forest Service Road (FSR) #284 (Elk City Wagon Road) 1 mile east of China Point, 3 miles Northwest of Pilot Knob near Mountain House Site

Start Date: 7/10/23       Cause: Lightning        Size: 179 acres                Completion/Containment: 50%

Total Personnel: 106    Engines: 2        Dozers: 2          Masticators: 2      Helicopters: 0 

Water Tender: 2          Crews: 1

*Some forest resources are not counted in total personnel.

CURRENT SITUATION

Precipitation has provided relief over the Midnight Fire, its crews and landscape.  Containment is now at 50%.  Fire managers and personnel continue to assess as periodic lightning occurs over the area.

PLANNED ACTIONS

Crews will continue to monitor and mop up to ensure minimal growth. Heavy equipment continues to construct the contingency line on 1853 Road.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR

Showers and thunderstorms will develop between 10 am and noon today.   Currently there is 15% of precipitation amounts exceeding flash flood guidance Monday afternoon.  New burn scars and small streams will be susceptible to flash flooding in the heaviest, slow-moving showers.  Morning patchy fog has been observed in low lying areas in river and stream bottoms.  The influx of moisture continues to decrease fire behavior on the Midnight Fire.

AIR QUALITY INFORMATION

For more information on air quality, visit www.airnow.gov

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES

Please travel with caution as dense patches of fog have been observed. Debris may be on roads due to heavy rain and expect slick conditions with mud.  There are currently no road closures in place. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area around Peasley Creek Drainage Road if possible due to equipment traffic and poor visibility.  Heavy equipment traffic is expected to be heavy along 1853 Road and 648.

Yesterday, showers and thunderstorms began to develop over the Lost River Range and the Pioneer Mountains to the west of the fire. Several portions of the fire received 1/10th to 1/5th inches of rain. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible again today along with more cloud cover. As a result, temperatures will be 2 to 4 degrees cooler than Sunday. Winds are expected to become more westerly with gusts of up to 20 mph along the ridges and around any showers. Initial attack firefighters responded to a smoke report near Tendoy and were prepared to respond to any other reports of lightning-started fires within the area. Aircraft assigned to the incident took part in a forest-wide flight to detect new starts.

The implementation of the suppression repair plan started yesterday on the north and east portions of the fire. On these portions of the fire, firefighters are transitioning from active suppression and clean-up. This effort will repair the areas where there have been disturbances of the ground created by either heavy use of vehicles, hand tools, or heavy equipment. Suppression repair consists of returning disturbed locations such as firelines, staging areas, and helipads to their natural state where possible.

Community Meeting: Members of the Great Basin Incident Management Team 4, community leaders, and agency representatives will be on hand to provide an overview of fire suppression activities and answer questions. The event will also be streamed via Facebook Live on the Salmon-Challis National Forest page.

            When: Wednesday, August 9, 7:00 p.m. following the City Council Meeting

            Where: Leadore Community Center, 206 S Railroad Street

Evacuations:  The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the local agencies and incident management team have pre-identified evacuation zones. The evacuation status is continuously evaluated and will be lifted when officials determine it is safe to do so. Please visit the Lemhi County website at www.lemhicountyidaho.org for a map and explanation of the zones.

Smoke:  Air quality has been impacted by regional fires to the West. A smoke outlook specific to the Hayden Fire vicinity can be found at www.bit.ly/haydensmoke.

Closures:  For the safety of firefighters and the public, the Salmon-Challis National Forest has enacted an area closure around the Hayden Fire. A map and description of the closure area can be found at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/idscf-hayden-fire. 

Fire Restrictions:  Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect in areas managed by the Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho Department of Lands, and the Bureau of Land Management. For more information, please consult Salmon-Challis National Forest’s Alerts and Notices at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices.

Fire Update – Elkhorn Fire, August 7, 2023 

McCall, Idaho - Firefighters continue to have a presence in the Salmon River corridor and are ready to implement protection measures valued at risk if the fire activity increases from China Bar to Allison Ranch. The fire grew to an estimated 24,039 acres. Crews continued building line to hold the fire East of the 421 road and north of the Salmon River. Operations had to be temporarily suspended on the Salmon River corridor due to mudslides upriver causing a large amount of debris in the river system making navigations dangerous for jet boats transporting firefighters and supplies. Unmanned Aerial System (drone) conducted infrared operations of the fire today.    

Fire behavior is expected to be minimal across the fire with low rates of spread following rainfall across the fire area. The wetting rain will temporarily reduce heat and fire spread. However, a negative aspect of heavy rainfall is the potential for mudslides and for burnt logs to roll down hillsides. Rainfall is expected to continue today. 

The Magruder road is open. It is the northern boundary of the Area Closure on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.  The Idaho Centennial Trail is closed from Chamberlain Basin to Campbell’s Ferry also from Campbell’s Ferry to the Magruder Road at Dry Saddle. Currently all trails in and out of Campbell’s Ferry are closed. 

The US Forest Service Nez Perce-Clearwater, and Payette National Forests issued the Elkhorn fire area, roads and trails closure order #01-17-05-23-003, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/nezperceclearwater/alerts-notices/?aid=82169. The closure area spans both sides of the Salmon River but excludes the Salmon River Wild and Scenic Corridor below the high-water line. 

Beginning today boaters are required to stop at Hancock Campsite on river-left at river mile 26.1 to receive further instruction from a Forest Service representative regarding passing through and camping in the area of the Elkhorn fire. Camping, recreating (i.e., picnic, bathroom breaks and beach walking) and stopping through the area of fire activity is allowed with some exceptions. Upon leaving Hancock Camp there will be no stopping until boaters pass Magpie Creek Camp. After passing Magpie Creek Camp, boaters will be allowed to camp and recreate on a First Come, First Served basis everywhere except: Upper Allison, Allison, Lower Allison, Whitewater Camp, Campbell’s Ferry and China Bar. Upon leaving China Bar, there are no camping restrictions connected to the Elkhorn Fire. 

An Temporary Fire Restriction (TFR) is in place.  All aircraft (including drones) not assigned to the fire are required to remain out of the TFR area.  

Visit Inciweb for information on wildfires at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov, and follow the Payette National Forest on Twitter at @PayetteForest, and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/payettenational forest 

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Special Statement

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER WATCH : RED FLAG WIND WARNINGS TODAY.

Fire

The Lowline wildfire is currently at 1,821 acres and 55% containment.

Smoke

West winds increased yesterday pushing most of the smoke east. The smoke impacts this morning are improved compared to prior days. The area saw very little smoke activity on the fire last night. We will see brief periods of

MODERATE air quality in the Gunnison area early a.m. Smoke clearing out with increasing winds out of the west. Castleton Ranch area along County Road #730 area will see periods of

MODERATE smoke as west winds increase pushing ground smoke east of the fire. Aspen and Crested Butte will see

GOOD air quality throughout the day.

A public meeting will be held at 7:00 PM on Mondayy, August 7 at Glacier Bible Camp, 400 5th Street West, Hungry Horse, MT. Incident Management Team members and local officials will provide an update on the Ridge Fire. Please join us.

Cheney, WA, - The West Hallett Fire was reported at 1337 on Monday July 31st. It is located approximately 2 miles West of Highway 195 North of the Cheney Spokane Road.

Cheney, WA, - The West Anderson Fire was reported at 1708 on Wednesday August 2nd. It is located approximately ½ mile east of the city of Cheney South of West Anderson Road.

Currently there are approximately 150 line and support personnel assigned to the fires.
The West Hallett fire is 99% contained and is sized at 126 acres. Evacuation levels are at level 1 (be ready to go) for residences within the fire perimeter. See attached map for clarification.

The West Anderson Fire is 80% contained and is sized at approximately 48 acres. Evacuation levels are at level 1 (Be ready to go) for areas along West Anderson road south of Cheney Spokane Road. See attached map for clarification.

Washington Department of Natural Resources and Spokane County Fire District 3 have assigned management of both fires to a Northeast Washington Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team.
On West Hallett, This fire is on patrol status and will be handed back to the local district for checking starting Tuesday Morning.

On West Anderson, Firefighters have established a perimeter around the entire fire and are utilizing a hose lay to mop-up. Crews will continue to work inward toward complete extinguishment.

We anticipate turning these fires back to local district on Tuesday 8/8/2023. The fires will be completely extinguished and in a patrol status. Patrol status means that crews from the local district will be checking to make sure that if hotspots or smokes show themselves that they are extinguished.

The Fish lake/Columbia Plateau trail through the fires is closed to the public for safety concerns. We anticipate it re-opening morning of Tuesday 8/8/2023.

The incident command post is located at the Cheney middle School in Cheney WA. Fire information contact is Eric Keller at 509-481-7064.