USDA Forest Service and DOI Bureau of Land Management 2017 Pacific Northwest Fire Narrative Background: Night operations High Cascades Complex The 2017 Fire Season Narrative is dedicated to the memory of Ray Rubio, a Redmond smokejumper who died on December 19, 2016 from injuries sus- tained in a fall after a late season assignment to the Southeast. An Army vet- eran from the 82nd Airborne, Ray worked for the federal government for 25 years, 22 years as a smokejumper. CONTENTS Executive Summary Preseason: January through May 3 Fire Season Key Elements 5 Weather and Climate 5 Fire Season Precipitation Trends in Fire Danger 2017 Lightning Statistics Wind Events Thermal Troughs Successful Interagency Coordination & Cooperation 9 July 4 Rainbow Family Gathering August 21 Solar Eclipse Fire Prevention and Education MAC Group Adjustment of Priorities 11 Fire Season Timeline 13 Acknowledgments 30 Appendices 31 Appendix A: Overview 32 Basic Fire Statistics Large Fires Aviation Program Large Fire Costs Preparedness Levels Safety and Wellness Fireline Injuries and Illnesses Facilitated Learning Analysis CISM Response Structures Lost Evacuations Significant Contributions Military Support Sustainable Operations Appendix B: Southwest Oregon 39 Chetco Bar Shan Creek Miller Complex High Cascades Complex Appendix C: Central Cascades 49 Sheep Springs Whitewater Complex Umpqua North Complex Milli Horse Prairie Appendix D: Southeast Oregon 65 Greater Sage-grouse and RFPAs Ana Hawk Cinder Butte Appendix E: Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge 70 Indian Creek Eagle Creek Appendix F: Central & Northeast Oregon 75 Bear Butte Desolation Appendix G: Washington 79 Sutherland Canyon/Straight Hollow Diamond Creek Jolly Mountain Norse Peak Uno Peak Sawmill Creek Appendix H: Post-Fire Response & Recovery 92 Fire Suppression Repair Emergency Assessment and Mitigations Rapid Assessment and Long-Term Recovery Bureau of Land Management Forest Service State Summaries Appendix I: PNW Fire Prevention Education Teams Eclipse Report 98 Appendix J: Science and Technology 104 Wildland Fire Decision Support System Smoke Forecasting Risk Management and Assistance Teams “Habitat” for Fire Infrared Mapping Appendix K: Air Quality and Smoke 110 Appendix L: Spanish Outreach 114 Acronyms and Glossary 115 Background: Fuels burn during the Milli Fire in Deschutes National Forest near Sisters, OR, August 24, 2017 Executive Summary The 2017 Pacific Northwest fire season of eastern Oregon were still recovering unstable atmospheric conditions. Addi- was as memorable as it was long and from the occupation of the Malheur Na- tionally, the entire region was impacted arduous. The season was character- tional Wildlife Refuge in 2016 and braced by smoky conditions from fires burning ized by extreme fire behavior on multi- for the large crowds both the gathering in Canada and California. Along with the ple large long-duration fires, as well as and the eclipse would bring. An inci- hazardous smoke conditions, wildfires high visibility wildland-urban-interface dent management team (IMT) was de- made headlines frequently. Governor incidents. Compounding the effect were ployed and established unified command Kate Brown declared a State of Emer- the August 21 Total Solar Eclipse, other with local and regional fire and law en- gency on August 2 to address statewide national incidents and natural disasters forcement leaders. With an anticipated fire activity. This enabled the mobiliza- straining the capacity of firefighting re- 25,000 visitors, the region was experi- tion of the Oregon National Guard to sources during times of high fire activity encing high fire danger indices and red support firefighting efforts. On August 3, nationwide. The geographic area was flag conditions. While Eastern Oregon the region moved to Preparedness Level in Preparedness Level 5 for a record 40 saw no increased fire activity due to the 4 for nine days. On August 12, the Pacific days. Many incident management teams Rainbow Family Gathering in July at the Northwest region transitioned to a Pre- and firefighters had assignments that time, many of those visitors were ex- paredness Level 5 and remained there extended beyond the typical 14 days. pected to stay in Oregon to await the for a record 40 consecutive days. Despite the challenging season and en- eclipse, increasing the concern about suing fatigue, the region maintained a human-caused ignitions. Lightning storms moved through the solid safety record. area again, igniting several fires in Ore- July temperatures were well above av- gon and Washington. Many of these fires The long season started for many in late erage for much of the western US. The continued to grow into project fires, with fall of 2016, when around 800 fire per- month was characterized by heavy light- residents and visitors heavily impacted sonnel from the Pacific Northwest trav- ning activity that sparked multiple long- by smoke, highway closures, and evacu- eled to the southeastern United States duration fires. A Type 1 IMT was ordered ations. At this time, smoke was present- after a string of arsonists across multiple for the Silver Dollar Fire that ignited near ing health hazards and limiting visibility states ignited late season fires. Drought the Hanford Nuclear Site in Washington in many parts of the region. In southern and high winds combined with the hu- State at the beginning of July. In mid-Ju- Oregon, the Chetco Bar Fire quadrupled man-caused starts, resulting in unusual- ly, the region went to Preparedness Lev- in size in mid-August, making a six-mile ly large and rapidly spreading fires for el 3 in anticipation of lightning storms in run one day towards the coastal town that part of the country. eastern Oregon. Heavy initial attack ac- of Brookings. The Whitewater Complex tivity was under way with almost 1,000 closed miles of trails along the eclipse In the Pacific Northwest, planning for the lightning strikes recorded on July 14, ig- path of totality in the Mount Jefferson August 21 Solar Eclipse began in earnest niting three large fires in Washington. Wilderness, including 30 miles of Pacif- in January. Fire managers across multiple ic Crest Trail and hundreds of acres of jurisdictions coordinated with partners During late July, multiple lightning-caused forest and wilderness, potentially push- and cooperators statewide to prepare fires ignited in steep and difficult terrain ing more visitors to central and eastern for the anticipated 1 million additional that prompted fire managers to use in- Oregon each time the area and road clo- visitors across the 70-mile wide path of direct fire suppression tactics. Several sures increased. totality during the peak of Oregon’s wild- fires were reported that would become fire season. Early season efforts focused long-duration fires including Indian Creek In the days prior to the eclipse, many on addressing concerns and mitigating (which merged with Eagle Creek in Sep- parts of central and eastern Oregon threats through prevention and informa- tember), Noisy Creek, Chetco Bar, and experienced gas shortages and severe tion campaigns. The logistical complex- Whitewater. Abundant lightning events traffic congestion. However, during and ity of hosting the anticipated number from July 24 through 26 produced more after the event, no worst-case scenarios of visitors was difficult to quantify and than 3,000 strikes igniting what would emerged. Extensive multi-agency coop- fire managers prepared for worst-case become several complexes in the cen- eration as well as the deployment of four scenarios. Emergency services person- tral and southern Oregon Cascades. The Fire Prevention Education Teams under nel expressed concerns about potential month concluded with fire managers a consolidated fire prevention cam- ignitions and fast-moving fires in areas bracing for record heat in the PNW and paign resulted in having no known hu- with high numbers of eclipse visitors, multiple red flag warnings issued. man-caused fires evolving into any fires and roads with limited access and trans- of significance. portation issues. The month of August proved to be the warmest on record for a number of cli- Early in the season, the eclipse looked Lightning ignited several fires in late mate zones in Oregon and Washington. to be ‘the story’ of the 2017 fire season. June prompting the mobilization of a All-time record (since 1990) values of However, in the days prior to the eclipse, Type 2 IMT to Sutherland Canyon and regional energy release components multiple large fires emerged across the Straight Hollow Fires in Washington. At (ERCs) were reached around August 1 country and in the region. In the days the end of June, the region had seven and again in late August due to the con- following, the Chetco Bar Fire became existing large fires. At the same time, tinuing hot, dry weather. classified as a megafire, with 100,000+ the Malheur National Forest prepared acres burned. Governor Brown invoked During this month, the region experi- for the July 4 Rainbow Family Gathering the Emergency Conflagration Act four enced extreme temperatures, dry weath- following the abrupt location announce- times in 2017 to make additional state er, poor nighttime humidity recovery, and ment on June 20. The rural communities resources available to firefighters and 1 | PNW Fire Narrative 2017 local first responders. This allowed the the national priority. Fires across the re- Coordination Center, 2.87 million acres Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize re- gion experienced explosive fire behavior of National Forest System lands and 2.71 sources to assist local resources in man- with multiple fires growing significantly million acres of lands managed by the aging the imminent threat to life, safety, in size from September 2 through the 6. Bureau of Land Management were af- and property that exceeds local firefight- fected by fire nationally in 2017. Within ing capabilities. The Conflagration Act On September 11, the Department of the Northwest geographic area, Oregon was invoked for the Flounce, Milli, and Defense authorized the 23rd Brigade had 2,058 fires for 717,219 acres, while Chetco Bar fires in the month of August.