All Signs Point To A PL4 Nationally Tomorrow: Multiple Regions And States See Significant Increase In Wildfire Activity Today.
All it took was for Zeus to go on one drunken drive across the nation with a bag full of lightning, Big Ernie sitting shotgun, and we have fires everywhere.
Oregon got lit up and now is dealing with a plethora of wildfires in the southern portion of the state. The Elk Fire in Klamath County has grown to 2,000 acres. The fire now spans across the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Fremont-Winema National Forest lands outside the town of Bonanza.
Over the last two days, neighboring structural resources from Klamath and Lake counties were mobilized to assist local resources with suppression activities for the fire. Given the fire’s rapid growth and the high fire potential in the area, the Governor signed a conflagration declaration at 12:07 p.m., authorizing the mobilization of structural resources under the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM.)
Southern Oregon Fire Management
The Hope Fire in Washington is looking a lot better this afternoon after growing to 6,764 acres. A CIMT will be taking command of that fire.
Yesterday, structure protection firefighters assessed structures and worked with heavy equipment, providing protection where possible, while providing for firefighter safety. On the south end of the fire, crews focused on reinforcing dozer and hand lines constructed the previous day.
Crews also scouted options to contain fire activity slowly moving toward the river in extremely steep terrain. On the west side of the fire, there was minimal fire activity and crews assessed containment options. On the east and north sides, fire activity increased when afternoon winds increased and shifted directions. Firefighters and equipment (dozers) successfully installed indirect fireline to the north by widening and improving existing roads south of Pepoon and Ansaldo Lakes.
Washington IMT 3
There is also the Western Pines Fire in Washington, which is actively burning North of Davenport, has now grown to 4,136 acres.
Yesterday, crews engaged in initial attack of the fire with retardant drops form aerial resources and structure protection crews engaging in operations. Local and adjacent fire district resources engaged in initial attack and began to construct direct and indirect fire line in coordination with dozers.
Aerial resources began to slow the fire and ground crews looked for safe areas to begin more fire line construction but rugged terrain limited access to some areas. Crews worked through the night to continue to get better containment of the fire.
Northeast Washington Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team #1
Colorado was hit hard by dry lightning last night, resulting in a very heavy initial response to multiple fires across the state. The South Rim Fire is burning in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and is exhibiting extremely active fire behavior, with Red Flags and high winds fueling its growth.
Last updated at 450 acres, but it is likely much larger now.
Also in Colorado, the Boyce Fire started this afternoon in the Uncompahgre National Forest and also got a significant IA response. The fire is still active and pushing hard with winds fueling the spread.
Adding to the strain on resources and aviation platforms, the Deer Creek Fire in Utah, located near the Colorado border, is also burning actively near La Sal, UT. This fire is estimated at 600+ acres and growing.
Fire in La Sal on Deer Creek Road: Please leave the area if you are within 5 miles of this incident or Mountain Shadow Estates. If you have been displaced because of this and need a place to get out of the heat go to the Community Center at Hwy 46 in La Sal, UT.
San Juan County Sheriff
Arizona was also busy this afternoon, with the most activity coming from the White Sage Fire. Evacuations have started for all areas north of Jacob Lake. The fire has now grown to over 1,000 acres and is still burning. It’s looking like this fire will end up being a Team fire.
The Tonto National Forest also has a new start in very rugged terrain called the Billy Fire. Resources have arrived on scene and are developing plans on how to attack the fire.
Northern California continues to experience fire growth on the Green Fire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, which now has nearly 900 firefighters on the scene and en route. That fire was last mapped at nearly 5,036 acres.
You also have the Butler Fire in Siskiyou County, which is currently at 3,970 acres. Northern California is incredibly busy now.
Add this to all the resources in Alaska currently, they have been getting rain over the last 24 hours, and resource constraints are beginning to develop.
The United States has told Canada that we can’t send any more resources up North until our season slows down. All signs are pointing to the National Preparedness moving to a PL4 tomorrow.
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Great wrap up. Thanks.
It’s not too soon to ask a serious question about overall strategy, I hope. I apologize in advance.
A week ago NIFC declared they had 28 fires being managed in alternative suppression strategies. Presumably, this meant resources were and are tied up and tied down doing something other than putting those fires out. That means the “wildfire inventory,” to quote a senior R6 fire honcho, was high and resource intensive before this inevitable bust.
Your story today is the reason many of us want aggressive initial attack from the outset. The Chief mentioned earlier this year he wanted the fire organization to hit them hard, put them out, then refurb for the next fire.
Are we just repeating the “wildfire management” strategy of the past four years? Monitor, let burn, confine, point protection, then express surprise and dismay when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan?
What’s different this year? It’s an important question because according to the fire organization on social media and in general conversations they may not be committed to the Chief’s view of what’s supposed to be happening. One wag said they’d just change terms, again, write some new euphemisms for the status quo, then fight fire however they want and carry on with what they know best.
It’s not Dirty August and the inventory has leapt ahead of available resources. Is that where we are?
Serious answers only, please.
Good report and photo's (as always) - Any indications or intel from your sources on how resource availability, coordination, and IMT staffing is holding up with all they've been through now that things are ramping up ?? Best wishes to all those who are currently engaged.