21 Aug 2008, 9:30am
Oregon
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Wild Rivers Complex Fires

Location: 18 miles W of Grants Pass, Josephine Co., OR

Specific Location: Unknown. The reported coordinates put the fire 6 miles SE of Grants Pass (Lat 42° 22´ 27″ Lon 123° 11´ 39″) but that does not comport with the general location reported. We can only surmise that the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF has screwed up the coordinates.

Correct Coords: Lat 42° 22′ 04″, Lon 123° 44′ 15″

Date of origin: 08/16/2008 (Not officially reported to the public by the RR-SNF for 4 days)
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 09/01/2008 at 6:45 PM
Personnel: 107
Size: 1,082 acres
Percent contained: 100%

Costs to Date: $6,840,000

Transfer of command from Vanskike’s Type 2 to Wade’s Type 3 team today at 1500.

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Situation as of 08/31/2008 at 5:20 PM
Personnel: 275
Size: 1,082 acres
Percent contained: 100%

Costs to Date: $6,667,438

Fire is 100% contained. Transition meeting with incoming Type 3 organization (transition to occur 9/1 at 1500).

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Situation as of 08/30/2008 at 5:40 PM
Personnel: 349
Size: 1,082 acres
Percent contained: 95%

Costs to Date: $6,400,000

Horse Mtn Fire is 1,062 acres with active management. Whiskers Fire is 16 acres in
monitor status. East Fork Fire is 4 acres in monitor status.

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Situation as of 08/29/2008 at 5:20 PM
Personnel: 406
Size: 1,082 acres
Percent contained: 90%

Costs to Date: $6,119,898

Horse Mtn Fire is 1,062 acres with active management. Whiskers Fire is 16 acres in
monitor status. East Fork Fire is 4 acres in monitor status.

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Situation as of 08/27/2008 at 7:00 PM
Personnel: 533
Size: 985 acres
Percent contained: 80%

Costs to Date: $5,363,493

Horse Mtn Fire is 965 acres with active management. Whiskers Fire is 16 acres in
monitor status. East Fork Fire is 4 acres in monitor status.

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Situation as of 08/25/2008 at 5:30 PM
Personnel: 596
Size: 800 acres
Percent contained: 60%

Costs to Date: $4,318,413

4105 Road closed to non-fire traffic.

Horse Mtn. Fire, 781 acs, burnout operation successful. Continued preparation work on contingency lines. Whiskers Fire, 16 acs, monitor status. East Fork Fire, 3 acs, monitor status.

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Situation as of 08/24/2008 at 5:30 PM
Personnel: 609
Size: 739 acres
Percent contained: 55%

Costs to Date: $3,440,104

Horse Fire, 720 acs, improvement of containment lines in preparation of a burnout operation the evening of 8/24. Whiskers Fire, 16 acs, monitor status. East Fork Fire,
3 acs, monitor status.

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Situation as of 08/22/2008 at 5:45 PM
Personnel: 613
Size: 645 acres
Percent contained: 45%

Costs to Date: $1,300,000

Significant mopup progress on Whiskers Fire. Continued direct hand and dozer line construction on Horse Mountain Fire. Five helicopters on fire.

Coordinates continue to be mis-reported. Google Earth users should insert the correct coordinates given above.

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Situation as of 08/21/2008 at 5:30 PM
Personnel: 466
Size: 600 acres
Percent contained: 35%

Costs to Date: $900,000

Suwyn’s Great Basin Type 2 IMT assumed command today at 0600. Fires are W of Grants Pass in Horse Mtn. vicinity.

Correct Coords: Lat 42° 22′ 04″, Lon 123° 44′ 15″

Whisker Fire was contained. Clear weather allowed accurate mapping of Horse Mountain Fire and progress with direct line continues.

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 at 7:00 PM
Personnel: not reported
Size: 350 acres
Percent contained: 35%

Weather impacted air support, was not able to fly. Crews had to come off the lines early
due to bad weather. Unlike every other kind of woods worker in Oregon, RR-SNF firefighters cannot work when it is drizzling.

Type 2 IMT not affiliated with the RR-SNF will be taking command 8/21/08, so there is some hope for containment and control of this fire. Had it been left to the devices of the RR-SNF, Grants Pass would be at extreme risk right now.

20 Aug 2008, 7:08pm
Montana
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Triangle Peak WFU Fire

Location: 2 miles W of Nyack, Flathead Co., MT

Specific Location: Great Bear Wilderness, Flathead NF, Lat 48° 26´ 2″ Lon 113° 51´ 37″

Date of origin: 08/09/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 08/19/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 20
Size: 270 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Maximum desired fire size: not reported

First official report 8/20/08.

Costs to Date: $75,000

Heavy helicopter support will continue to be critical for working E edge of the fire to prevent it from spreading towards private land and homes.

20 Aug 2008, 6:58pm
Idaho
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Bargamin WFU Fire

Location: 15 miles SE of Elk City, Idaho Co., ID

Specific Location: Nez Perce NF, Lat 45° 49´ 11″ Lon 114° 56´ 43″

Date of origin: 08/09/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 08/19/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 0
Size: 525 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Maximum desired fire size: not reported

First official report 8/20/08.

Single tree torching, with short crown runs in the drainages.

20 Aug 2008, 6:49pm
Idaho
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Diamond WFU Fire

Location: 18 miles WNW of Darby MT in Idaho Co., ID

Specific Location: Diamond Lake, Selway-Bitterroot, Nez Perce NF, Lat 46° 6´ 9″ Lon 114° 32´ 12″

Date of origin: 08/02/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 08/19/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 0
Size: 692 acres
Percent Contained: 0%
Maximum desired fire size: not reported

First official report 8/20/08.

Personnel from the Darby RD will be patrolling the Bear Creek Pass area to warn public of potential fire danger and wrap trailhead signs. Fire information signs will be posted at the trailheads and trails will remain open until fire activity and eastward spread warrants a closure.

20 Aug 2008, 6:34pm
Montana
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Cardinal Peak WFU Fire

Location: 14 miles NE of Seeley Lake, Powell Co., MT

Specific Location: Flathead NF, Lat 47° 22´ 10″ Lon 113° 20´ 6″

Date of origin: 08/09/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 08/19/2008
Personnel: 0
Size: 228 acres
Percent contained: 0
Maximum desired fires size (MMA): not reported

First official report 08/20/2008. This will also be the last report until the fire reaches 1000 ac or complexity changes.

20 Aug 2008, 9:59am
Oregon
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Lonesome Complex/Middlefork Fire

Location: 21 mi NE of Prospect, Douglas Co., OR

Specific Location: Rogue River-Siskiyou NF, Middle Fork Rogue River near Halifax Cr in the Sky Lakes Wilderness, Lat 42 43 10. Long 122 15 50.

Date of origin: 08/16/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 09/17/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 690
Size: 9,056 acres (reported but an underestimate)
Percent contained: 15%

Costs to Date: $7,233,424

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Area closure has been implemented.

Fire gained at least 3,000 acres yesterday. Active crown fire crossed the Cascade crest and is burning on the Fremont-Winema NF. Fire is now ~3 miles W of populated areas of the Klamath Valley. Plans are moving forward to establish a second Incident Base on the Winema side of the crest,in addition to the current ICP.

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Situation as of 09/16/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 698
Size: 5,963 acres (reported but an underestimate)
Percent contained: 15%

Costs to Date: $6,697,666

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Area closure has been implemented.

Fire gained at least 500 acres yesterday. Active crown fire crossed the Cascade crest and is burning on the Fremont-Winema NF. Fire is now ~4 miles W of populated areas of the Klamath Valley.

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Situation as of 09/15/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 693
Size: 5,886 acres
Percent contained: 15%

Costs to Date: $6,104,755

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Area closure has been implemented.

Fire gained ~725 acres yesterday. Active crown fire. The fire is less than one mile from the crest of the Cascades and threatens to burn on the Fremont-Winema NF.

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Situation as of 09/14/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 558
Size: 5,160 acres
Percent contained: 10%

Costs to Date: $5,571,554

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Area closure has been implemented.

Active crown fire on the E flank. Perimeter spread on the N and S.

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Situation as of 09/13/2008 7:00 PM
Personnel: 512
Size: (no update, est. ~6,000 acres)
Percent contained: 5%

Costs to Date: $5,122,234

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Pacific Crest Trail has been closed due to anticipated fire activity adjacent to the trail. The fire is spreading unchecked to the S toward the Seven Lakes Basin. The fire has also moved W out of the wilderness area and burned over 1,000 acres of non-wilderness forests in the Bessie Creek watershed.

Burnout operations on the NW flank of the fire. Fire is currently active on the E flank in Halifax Creek.

Planned control operations have exceeded the preferred alternative WFSA boundary on
the north side of the fire. The WFSA is being revised and reviewed. Regional Forester
Representative team is in place reviewing planned strategies.

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Situation as of 09/12/2008 6:30 PM
Personnel: 443
Size: (no update, est. ~5,500 acres)
Percent contained: 5%

Costs to Date: $4,668,412 reported (understated, est. $5 million)

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Pacific Crest Trail has been closed due to anticipated fire activity adjacent to the trail. The fire is spreading unchecked to the S toward the Seven Lakes Basin. The fire has also moved W out of the wilderness area and burned over 1,000 acres of non-wilderness forests in the Bessie Creek watershed.

Burnout of the NW corner of the fire is planned for today (9/13).

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Situation as of 09/11/2008 8:00 PM
Personnel: 356
Size: ~3,500 acres
Percent contained: 5%

Costs to Date: $4,514,951

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Fire experienced significant growth today on the NW side of the fire, estimated growth 600-800 acres. Upslope crowning runs.

Middlefork Fire ~3,200 acres, Bessie Fire 69 acres, Lonesome Fire 411 acres.

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Situation as of 09/10/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 62 reported but not accurate
Size: 2,780 acres
Percent contained: 20%

Costs to Date: $4,500,000

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Blue Mountain Type 2 IMT (Batten) has taken over the fire from the local Type 3 team.

Middlefork Fire made significant runs both north and south of the Middle Fork of the Rogue River. Crippled Horse Spring overrun. Fire less than 2 miles from PCT.

Middlefork Fire 2,300 acres, Bessie Fire 69 acres, Lonesome Fire 411 acres.

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Situation as of 09/09/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 62
Size: 2,280 acres
Percent contained: 20%

Costs to Date: $4,125,000

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Burnout on West Flank to keep fire contained in wilderness area.

Middlefork Fire 1,800 acres, Bessie Fire 69 acres, Lonesome Fire 411 acres.

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Situation as of 09/08/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 62
Size: 1,564 acres
Percent contained: 40%

Costs to Date: $3,600,000

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Finished contingency line on NW side of fire for possible burnout operations. No announcement of target incineration acres.

Middlefork Fire 964 acres, Bessie Fire 69 acres, Lonesome Fire 411 acres.

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Situation as of 09/07/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 62
Size: 1,280 acres
Percent contained: 40%

Costs to Date: not updated, est. $3.5 million

Estimate date of containment on 10/1.

Middlefork Fire has crossed the Middle Fork of the Rogue and is headed E toward the Crippled Horse Spring and PC Trail. Old-growth forest, multiple value resource complex is burning. No containment effort. Let It Burn fire.

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Situation as of 09/06/2008 3:30 PM
Personnel: 62
Size: 1,180 acres
Percent contained: 40%

Costs to Date: $3,440,000

Middlefork Fire reported to have crossed the Middle Fork of the Rogue and is headed E toward the Cripple Horse Spring and PC Trail. Heavy inversion over fire, creeping and smoldering. Crews reportedly continue with indirect line on the W side of fire.

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Situation as of 09/05/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 62
Size: 1,130 acres
Percent contained: 40%

Costs to Date: $3,340,000

Burnout completed on west end.

Update noon 09/06: Middlefork Fire reported to have crossed the Middle Fork of the Rogue River and is headed east toward the Crippled Horse Spring and PC Trail.

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Situation as of 09/04/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 62
Size: 1,030 acres
Percent contained: 35%

Costs to Date: $3,200,000

Burnout in progress on west end of fire.

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Situation as of 09/03/2008 1:30 PM
Personnel: 62
Size: 963 acres
Percent contained: 35%

Costs to Date: $2,750,000

Smoke inversion over fire most of morning.

Planned Actions: Finish contingency line outside wilderness with possible burnout if conditions are favorable.

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Situation as of 09/02/2008 2:00 PM
Personnel: 62
Size: 923 acres
Percent contained: 35%

Costs to Date: $2,700,000

Middle Fork Fire: Continue to scout contingency lines outside wilderness boundary and hold fire within existing trail system. [In other words, no direct attack. As temps climb this week, there is a good chance this fire will blow up and cause $millions in permanent damages to Oregon forests. The perps responsible are Mr. Martin and Mr. Conroy. Their careers will be ruined if the worst case scenario occurs. Capice? - Ed]

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Situation as of 08/31/2008 12:00 noon
Personnel: 106
Size: 800 acres
Percent contained: 35%

Costs to Date: $2,600,000

Middle Fork Fire, minimal fire behavior. Lonesome Fire, smoldering interior, perimeter secured 200′. Bessie Fire, smoldering interior, perimeter secured 200′.

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Situation as of 08/29/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 100
Size: 760 acres
Percent contained: 35%

Costs to Date: $2,117,646 (not updated)

Middle Fork Fire grew 200 acres. Lonesome - no growth, Bessie Rock - no growth.

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Situation as of 08/27/2008 4:30 PM
Personnel: 120
Size: 551 acres
Percent contained: 80%

Costs to Date: $2,117,646

28 acre increase to the ESE. Still holding on Middlefork trail.

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Situation as of 08/25/2008 3:30 PM
Personnel: 208
Size: 512 acres
Percent contained: 70%

Costs to Date: $1,840,958

Minimal fire behavior, creeping and smoldering was observed.

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Situation as of 08/24/2008 3:00 PM
Personnel: 338
Size: 502 acres (no explanation for acreage reduction)
Percent contained: not reported

Long term assessment team assessing Middlefork fire to develop Long Term Plan.

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Situation as of 08/22/2008

No update. This fire is being managed by a local Type 3 team, yet it has more than 100 personnel and therefore requires a Type 2 IMT. Lack of updates is one indication that the job has overwhelmed the local group. Fire is in important and high value area, and has potential for spread. Inadequate attack and fire management at early stages could lead to extreme catastrophe and disaster later. This is no place to play with fire.

Please call Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy, phone number: (541) 618-2200, and let him know that mis-management of this fire, should it blow up, could result in legal actions against him personally.

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Situation as of 08/21/2008 2:45 PM
Personnel: 294
Size: 660 acres
Percent contained: 10%

Bessie Fire 60% lined. Minimal fire activity due to recent precip.

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 10:30 PM
Personnel: 294
Size: 660 acres
Percent contained: 5%

This complex is comprised of the Lonesome, Bessie, Gopher, Lily, and Incident 246 Fires.

Reported comment: “Will get eyes on the fire tomorrow.” This means the personnel have not arrived at the the fire. At last report a local team from the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF was in charge of this fire, but they are not qualified or capable. It is critical that a regional Type 2 or Type 1 IMT be assigned to this fire or extreme resource damage will ensue.

Responsible official: Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy
Phone Number: (541) 618-2200

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Situation as of 08/19/2008 8:30 PM
Personnel: 43
Size: 500 acres
Percent contained: 0%

Major cultural resource area. Historic use of beargrass, huckleberries by numerous tribes. Lonesome Fire north of Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness. Middlefork Fire on west edge of Sky Lakes Wilderness.

20 Aug 2008, 9:42am
Washington
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Swanson Lake Fire

Location: 4 Miles Southwest of Creston, Lincoln Co., WA

Specific Location: Swanson Lake, Channeled Scablands, Lat 47° 37´ 40″ Lon 118° 32´ 28″

Date of origin: 08/18/2008
Cause: under investigation

Situation as of 08/25/2008 5:15 PM
Personnel: 619
Size: 19,090 acres
Percent contained: 95%

Costs to Date: $3,800,000

All emergency notifications have been lifted today however the boat launch at Hawk Creek Campground remains closed to public access until 8-27-08 so that it can safely be used for filling water tenders.

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Situation as of 08/24/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 709
Size: 19,090 acres
Percent contained: 75%

Costs to Date: $3,400,000

Hawk Creek Ranch Rd and Dodd Canyon remain at evacuation level 2; those areas are open to local traffic only. The Boat Launch at Hawk Creek Campground remains closed to public access so that it can safely be used for filling water tenders.

All divisions are in mop-up and/or patrol status today with the goal of achieving 300′ mop-up along the fire perimeter and 500′ around structures. Demob of most resources, except those staying to work with the type 3 organization, will occur on Tuesday Aug 26.

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Situation as of 08/22/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 727
Size: 19,090 acres
Percent contained: 45%

Costs to Date: $2,200,000

Hawk Creek Ranch Rd and Dodd Canyon remain at evacuation level 2. Those areas are open to local traffic only. The Boat Launch at Hawk Creek Campground remains closed to public access. Flare-ups in Div B continue to be a problem around residences.

Included in the reported 17 outbuildings destroyed were two seasonal cabins.

Burnout activity was conducted in Div C today in order to secure the containment line.

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 752
Size: 19,090 acres
Percent contained: 35%

Costs to Date: not reported, est $1.7 million

Hawk Creek Ranch Rd and Dodd Canyon remain at evacuation level 2. Those areas are open to local traffic only. The Boat Launch at Hawk Creek Campground was closed to public access however the campground was reopened.

Strong winds continue to threaten the containment lines. A CL215 water scooper aircraft was dispatched to help keep the fire within containment lines at the Div B/C break. Engines continued to secure structures and mop up.

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Situation as of 08/21/2008 3:30 PM

Approximately 35 residents along the Hawk Creek Canyon Road and Hawk Creek Canyon Estate in the Dodd Canyon area remain under a level 2 evacuation notice. Hawk Creek Campground is now open, but the boat launch remains closed for suppression activity.

A community meeting is scheduled for tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Davenport Memorial Hall, 507 Park St., Davenport, WA.

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 6:30 PM
Personnel: 648
Size: 19,000 acres
Percent contained: 20%

Costs to Date: $930,000

Structures Destroyed: 1 residence, 17 outbuildings

Hawk Creek Ranch Rd and Dodd Canyon were evacuated last night due to significant fire behavior. Evacuation notice was returned to level 2 this morning, allowing local traffic back into those areas.

CL215 scooper and helicopters were utilized last night to slow the fire near residences. Light rain has reduced fire activity.

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Situation as of 08/19/2008 6:30 PM
Personnel: 390
Size: 15,415 acres
Percent contained: 10%

Costs to Date: $300,000

Structures Threatened: 40 residences. Structures Destroyed: 2 residences.

WA IMT #2 (Reed/Schulte) assumed management of the fire at 1200 8/19. Rapid fire spread in light fuels, torching in timber, spotting.

Light rain is likely in morning, chance of thundershowers with gusty winds in the afternoon and evening. Goal is to reach containment before predicted heat, low humidities. and wind increase on Saturday.

19 Aug 2008, 10:39am
Idaho
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Moose Creek WFU Fires

Location: 25 Miles SSW of Powell, ID

Specific Location: Moose Creek, Nez Perce NF, Lat 46° 12´ 48″ Lon 114° 49´ 38″

Date of Origin: 07/25/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 08/23/2008 3:00 PM
Personnel: 0
Size: 2,549 acres
Percent contained: 0%
Maximum desired fire size (MMA): 4 million acres

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 4:00 PM
Personnel: 0
Size: 2,173 acres
Percent contained: 0%
Maximum desired fire size (MMA): not reported

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Situation as of 08/18/2008 3:00 PM
Personnel: 0
Size: 1,153 acres
Percent contained: 0%
Maximum desired fire size (MMA): not reported

First official mention of these fires by the Rocky Mtn. Coordination Center: 8/18

14 fires, largest are Elbow WFU (500 acs), Diamond WFU (250 acs), Warm Springs WFU (200 acs), Indian WFU (150 acs), and Issac WFU (40 acs).

Wilderness manager has initiated contacts with all potentially affected outfitters.

Active perimeter growth on all flanks with creeping, torching, short range spotting and active backing observed from patrol flight.

19 Aug 2008, 10:22am
Montana
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Bear Gulch Fire

Location: 12 miles E of Townsend, Broadwater Co., MT
Specific Location: Big Belt Mtns., 6 mi W of Missouri River, N of Hwy 12, Helena NF, Lat 46° 19´ 57″ Lon 111° 11´ 26″

Date of origin: 08/18/2008
Cause: under investigation

Situation as of 08/24/2008 12:30 PM
Personnel: 220
Size: 755 acres
Percent contained: 100%

Costs to Date: $1,400,000

Fire is 100% contained. 100% mopup of all spots, and within 2 chains of Line. Secrest Type 2 IMT turning fire over to Type 3 organization at 0600, Monday, 8/25/08.

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Situation as of 08/22/2008 3:45 PM
Personnel: 270
Size: 755 acres
Percent contained: 91%

Costs to Date: $1,078,000

Completed handline around fire. Continue 100% mopup on all spots and within 2 chains of line.

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Situation as of 08/21/2008 4:00 PM
Personnel: 305
Size: 755 acres
Percent contained: 72%

Costs to Date: $761,000

Good progress made on handline going direct, due to cooler temps and higher humidity. Beginning mopup in Divisions A & Z.

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 4:00 PM
Personnel: 225
Size: 755 acres
Percent contained: 36%

Costs to Date: $520,000

Fire transitioned to Secrest Type 2 IMT at 0600 today. Due to favorable weather, crews made good progress securing line on SE & SW sides of fire. Proceeding to N side.

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Situation as of 08/19/2008 10:00 PM
Personnel: not reported
Size: 750 acres
Percent contained: 0%

Secrest team will take over at 0600 on 8/20

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Situation as of 08/18/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: not reported
Size: 400 acres
Percent contained: 0%

Secrest’s Type 2 Team ordered.

19 Aug 2008, 10:12am
Idaho
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Porcupine Fire

Location: 20 miles E of Elk City, Idaho

Specific Location: 5 mi SE of Red River Hot Springs, Nez Perce NF, Lat 45° 43´ 14″ Lon 115° 5´ 53″

Date of origin: 08/18/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 09/17/2008 7:00 AM
Personnel:26
Size: 2,350 acres
Percent contained: 25%

Costs to Date: $1,100,000

Fire has flared up again. Short crown runs, with moderate rates of ground fire spread.

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Situation as of 08/21/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 140
Size: 2,147 acres
Percent contained: 10%

Costs to Date: $551,740

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 161
Size: 2,147 acres
Percent contained: 0%

Costs to Date: $262,895

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Situation as of 08/18/2008 2:45 PM
Personnel: not reported
Size: 300 acres
Percent contained: 0%

Est date of containment: 10/01/2008 [indicates that no attempt will be made to contain this fire. It is a non-suppression "suppression fire, a de facto whoofoo. - Ed]

Red River Hot Springs, Green Mountain Lookout, Sable Creek Ranch, Outfitter camps threatened. Road closure in effect for Forest Road 468 (Montana Road).

Group tree torching (100% stand mortality) and very active fire behavior with uphill runs observed.

19 Aug 2008, 9:53am
Oregon
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Bessie Rock Fire

Location: 7 miles E of Prospect, Jackson Co., OR

Specific Location: between Red Blanket Creek and Bessie Creek, 3 mi W of Bessie Rock, Rogue River-Siskiyou NF, Lat 42° 46´ 17″ Lon 122° 20´ 16″

Date of origin: 08/17/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 08/21/2008

No update

Situation as of 08/20/2008

No update

At last report a local team from the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF was in charge of this fire, but they are not qualified or capable. It is critical that a regional Type 2 or Type 1 IMT be assigned to this fire or extreme resource damage will ensue.

Responsible official: Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy
Phone Number: (541) 618-2200

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Situation as of 08/19/2008 7:30 PM
Personnel: 94
Size: 160 acres
Percent contained: 15%

Building line slowly with limited resources. Falling teams removing hazard trees so crews can safely work. Fuel jack pots [group torching] burning actively with the fire creeping between jack pots.

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Situation as of 08/18/2008 10:00 PM
Personnel: not reported
Size: 150 acres
Percent contained: 0%

Heavy airtankers worked on the incident today (8/18).

18 Aug 2008, 11:54pm
Idaho
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Cayuse WFU Fire

Location: 30 miles W of North Fork, Lemhi Co., ID

Specific Location: Lat 45° 30´ 19″ Lon 114° 35´ 36″

Date of Origin: 08/05/2008
Cause: lightning

As of 08/22/2008 see Border Complex WFU Fires [here]

Situation as of 08/19/2008 4:00 PM
Personnel: 9
Size: 450 acres
Percent contained: 0%
Maximum desired fire size (MMA): 106,000 acres

Costs to Date: not updated

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Situation as of 08/18/2008 4:00 PM
Personnel: 14
Size: 345 acres
Percent contained: 0%
Maximum desired fire size (MMA): not reported

Costs to Date: $220,000

First official report 8/18

18 Aug 2008, 11:32pm
Idaho
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North Minidoka Fire

Location: 1 mi N of Minidoka, 13 mi NE of Rupert, Minidoka Co., ID

Specific Location: Minidoka-Arco Road, Lat 42° 47´ 46″ Lon 113° 29´ 12″

Date of origin: 08/18/2008
Cause: Human

Situation as of 08/21/2008 4:30 PM
Personnel: not reported
Size: 31,616 acres
Percent contained: 100%

Costs to Date: not reported

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 4:30 PM
Personnel: not reported
Size: 31,616 acres
Percent contained: 95%

Costs to Date: not reported

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Situation as of 08/19/2008 6:20 PM
Personnel: 55
Size: 31,616 acres
Percent contained: 85%

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Situation as of 08/18/2008 5:00 PM
Personnel: 79
Size: 15,000 acres
Percent contained: 10%

Grass fire, extreme behavior. Burning towards Bear Trap Road.

18 Aug 2008, 11:21pm
California
by admin
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Slinkard Fire

Location: 4 miles SE of town of Seiad Valley, Siskiyou Co., CA

Specific Location: Slinkard Ridge, Klamath NF, Lat 41° 48´ 59″ Lon 123° 9´ 55″

Date of origin: 08/17/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 08/24/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 193
Size: 374 acres
Percent contained: 100%

Costs to Date: $2,910,000

Piloted traffic controls were lifted today on State Highway 96 at 1600 hours. Backhauling of fire suppression equipment was accomplished in all divisions.

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Situation as of 08/22/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 431
Size: 374 acres
Percent contained: 75%

Costs to Date: $2,200,000

Crews successfully maintained holding operations along State Highway 96 as well as hand lines on the northwest and northeast flanks.

Why was this fire held to under 400 acres and less than week of firefighting when the other fires on the Klamath NF topped 120,000 acres, required over two months of firefighting, and are still growing and costing taxpayers over $1 million per day?

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Situation as of 08/21/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 412
Size: 320 acres
Percent contained: 65%

Costs to Date: $1,650,000

Burn out operations were initiated in the Klamath River drainage. The fire was backed down to within a few hundred feet of State Highway 96. Point protection and monitoring was maintained along State Highway 96. Cal Trans provided pilot car guidance for public traffic along State Highway 96 avoiding the need for closure.

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 517
Size: 290 acres
Percent contained: 40%

Costs to Date: $1,300,000

Perimeter growth was again restrained by the use of water drops from helicopters. The final section of indirect handline from Slinkard Peak to State Highway 96 was established. Between this section of line and that which was established 8/19/08, the amount of highway frontage likely to be burned out has been reduced from 4.3 miles to less than 0.5 miles. The threat to developed private properties has also been reduced to a small number of structures. Successful burn out operations in Div. Z has brought the fire to the Walker Creek Road. This burn out has reduced the western exposure from approximately 2 miles of road to approximately 0.5 miles.

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Situation as of 08/19/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 428
Size: 170 acres
Percent contained: 6%

Costs to Date: $500,000

NorCal Team II assumed command of the Slinkard Fire at 0900 today. Good progress was made opening up indirect containment lines as well as seeking and scouting opportunities for indirect line construction closer to the current fire perimeter.

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Situation as of 08/18/2008 3:00 AM
Personnel: 112
Size: 130 acres
Percent contained: 6%

Type 2 IMT ordered. Fire spreading on all flanks, rolling out and making runs, torching.

18 Aug 2008, 10:49pm
California
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Jack Fire

Location: 10 miles SW of Newell, Modoc Co., CA

Specific Location: SW of Tule Lake, near Lava Beds Nat’l Monument entrance station, Lat 41° 49´ 36″ Lon 121° 33´ 34″

Date of origin: 08/17/2008
Cause: lightning

Situation as of 08/21/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 32
Size: 6,900 acres
Percent contained: 83%

Costs to Date: not updated, est $280,000

All park roads have been re-opened. Transition to local team.

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Situation as of 08/20/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 63
Size: 6,730 acres
Percent contained: 75%

Costs to Date: $240,000

Road closures still in effect in the northern portions of the Lava Beds National Monument. Road closure will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

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Situation as of 08/19/2008 6:00 PM
Personnel: 163
Size: 6,500 acres
Percent contained: 60%

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Situation as of 08/18/2008 5:15 PM
Personnel: 202
Size: 3,000 acres
Percent contained: 30%

Fire has made a run to the N and W causing Lava Beds National Park to be closed and start preparing residential evacuations. Type 2 team on order.

 
  
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