Wildfire Situation Update Date: July 21, 2021
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Wildfire Situation Update Date: July 21, 2021 NW Preparedness Level: 5 For DNR’s current fire situation National Preparedness Level: 5 status please visit: NW T2 IMT Rotation: NW Team 6 http://fireinfo.dnr.wa.gov/ (Sheldon) DNR IA Activity: Light Weather Summary: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 1000 hrs. Jon Bonk – NWS IMET Today/Tonight: - Red Flag Warning from now through 2200 hrs. Tonight for wind and low humidity covering most of eastern Washington As of 1000 hrs., the thunderstorm threat has largely moved east of the Idaho border. By one count, about 250 cloud to ground lightning flashes occurred in southeast and east central Washington between midnight and now. Many of those occurred in the primary rain shaft where a couple places recorded close to 0.20”of rain. Most areas received far less, however, and it’s likely significant lightning occurred outside the rain cores. Moving forward, gusty winds are developing in the Cascade east slope valleys and along the higher ridges of central Washington. 40 mph gusts have already occurred. Winds there will briefly decrease this afternoon, but then return later this afternoon and evening with gusts around 45 mph and briefly around 50 mph. The Gorge and adjoining areas will routinely see 35-40 mph gusts. Other east slope areas, the Basin, and west exposed ridges will have gusts mainly 25-35 mph this afternoon and evening. Remaining areas will see gusts mainly 20-25 mph. Winds will largely decrease beginning late evening with locally breezy winds continuing near the Cascade gaps. All this wind will quickly dry out areas that received rain overnight and further dry out the region as a whole. Humidity will be quite low with driest regions reaching 8-15% and somewhat higher humidity of 15-25% closer to the Cascade gaps. With the drier air moving into the region, humidity recovery will be fair to poor for much of eastern Washington tonight, especially over areas that received lightning. Needless to say, this 1-2 punch from Mother Nature will present challenges to fire control efforts today. Please refer to local NWS warnings and forecasts for specific details. *More information below* Burn Restrictions/Announcements: July 20, 2021: DNR Closes Eastern WA Lands to Recreation Due to Extreme Fire Danger This temporary closure will apply to DNR-managed state lands, conservation areas, community forests and any associated roads, trails, campgrounds, recreational sites or recreational facilities. The decision to close recreation and all public access on DNR-managed lands east of the Cascades is in addition to the burn ban that Commissioner Franz enacted earlier this month on the 13 million acres of forestlands under DNR fire protection. The burn ban will remain in effect through at least September 30. Campfires also remain banned on DNR-managed lands statewide due to ongoing fire danger. Read the full announcement here. July 18, 2021: Colville Tribes Closes Reservation Due to Uncontrolled Fires The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation declared a state of emergency today due to multiple uncontrolled fires on the Colville Reservation. The Reservation is currently shut down to industrial activities and to the general public. The Tribes has imposed an Industrial Fire Precaution Level IV general shutdown, which closes all forest roads to the public. State and county improved roads (with a paved or gravel surface) remain open. Read the full announcement here. July 16, 2021: Umatilla National Forest lands temporarily closed A full Forest closure means that the public is prohibited from entering any part of Umatilla National Forest at any time, including National Forest lands, roads, trails and recreational facilities. Access on county, state or federal roadways will still be open. Forest Service personnel will attempt to reach as many people as possible to begin vacating campsites and informing individuals who are camping in the Forest currently. The public should cancel any plans for visiting the Umatilla National Forest for the next several weeks. This is a temporary closure and the Forest will continually assess conditions and lift the closure once the unprecedented conditions moderate. Read the full announcement here. July 6, 2021: Inslee declares wildfire state of emergency, limited burn ban Gov. Jay Inslee today declared a statewide state of emergency relating to the growing risk of wildfires, including a statewide prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30, 2021. Although this order includes some burn ban exceptions (for example, the use of gas-fueled stoves in some circumstances and also small, recreational campfires in contained structures on a person’s private property) nothing in the order supersedes more restrictive provisions by a lawful authority, like city or county governments. The proclamation also activates the Washington National Guard to assist in wildfire suppression efforts. Read the full proclamation here. JULY 1, 2021: Commissioner Franz Enacts Statewide DNR Burn Ban Prompted by increased fire danger due to prolonged drought, Fourth of July fireworks, increased temperatures and winds, the order bans all outdoor burning on all forest lands under DNR fire protection, including campfires. Additional information: Residents who see smoke should call 911 to report the fire. For tips on how to stay safe during fire season, go to https://www.dnr.wa.gov/WildfirePrevention. Wildfire statistics can be found on DNR’s Fire Dashboard at http://fireinfo.dnr.wa.gov/. The signed statewide burn ban order can be seen here. Residents can find their Fire Danger Rating Area at https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/firedanger/ and burn restrictions at https://burnportal.dnr.wa.gov/ Region Reports: Note that count of new IA fires and acres is now daily Monday-Friday, with weekend activity included on Mondays. Large Fires are defined as 100 acres in timber or 300 acres in grass. Northeast New Fires 3 IA for 1.8 ac. In Region Avail for Out of Region Resources Engines 32 Engines 0 Available Crews 6 Crews 0 Notes: 5 dozers on standby, strike team currently on Goddard. Team 2 available 7/16-7/27. Northwest New Fires 1 IA for 1.0 ac. In Region Avail for Out of Region Resources Engines 4 Engines 1 Available Crews - Crews - Notes: Has HEQB available, available engine for out-of-region will need to be paired with ENGB or strike team. Olympic New Fires 1 IA fire for 0.1 acres. In Region Avail for Out of Region Resources Engines 5 Engines 0 Available Crews 5 Crews 0 Notes: Pacific Cascade New Fires 0 IA fires. In Region Avail for Out of Region Resources Engines 10 Engines 0 Available Crews 2 Crews 0 Notes: 2 engines may be available tomorrow for out-of-region. Southeast New Fires 0 IA fires. In Region Avail for Out of Region Resources Engines 29 Engines 0 Available Crews 1 Crews 0 Notes: 2 active large fires in region with PNW Team 3 managing both. 5 dozers on stand-by. Estes strike team in Wenatchee, NC/KY strike team in Dayton, single NW engine in Wenatchee, TFLD/ICT4 in Yakima. Ahtanum crew fresh from R&R. Team 3 rostered. South Puget New Fires 2 IA fires for 0.75 acres. In Region Avail for Out of Region Resources Engines 7 Engines 0 Available Crews 3 Crews 0 Notes: 1 HEQBt available for out-of-region Recent Fire Activity Snapshot: See: http://fireinfo.dnr.wa.gov/ Large Fire Details: [see attachments for additional information where available] Cedar Creek. (US Forest Service) WA-OWF-000320. IMT2, NW Team 8 (Stock). 5 mi SW of Mazama, WA. Start 7/8. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 8,443 acres (+2,498). 11% containment. Active fire behavior. Timber. Structures threatened. Evacuations in effect. Road, trail and area closures. IMT1, CA Team 1 (McGowan) will inbrief today at 1000. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/ Delancy. (US Forest Service) WA-OWF-000349. IMT2, NW Team 8 (Stock). 4 mi W of Mazama, WA. Start 7/11. Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 180 acres (+26). 0% containment. Active fire behavior. Timber. Road, trail and area closures. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/ Cub Creek 2. (NE Region DNR) WA-NES-000373. IMT2, NW Team 8 (Stock). 5 mi N of Winthrop, WA. Start 7/16. Full Suppression. Cause: Unknown. 32,473 acres (+24,218). 5% containment. Extreme fire behavior. Brush and timber. Structures threatened. Evacuations in effect. Road, trail, and area closures. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7675/ Summit Trail. (Bureau of Indian Affairs) WA-COA-200087. IMT2, CA Team 10 (Dalrymple). 12 miles W of Inchelium, WA. Start 7/13. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 4,737 acres (+629). 0% containment. Active fire behavior. Timber. Structures threatened. Evacuation notices. Road, trail and area closures. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7677/ Chuweah Creek Fire. (Bureau of Indian Affairs) WA-COA-200084. IMT2, NW Team 12 (Dimke). 15 mi N of Grand Coulee, WA. Start 7/12. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 36,407 acres (+230). 40% containment. Brush and timber. Active fire behavior. Structures threatened. Evacuation notices. Road and area closures. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7664/ Green Ridge. (US Forest Service) OR-UMF-000659. IMT1, PNW Team 3 (Johnson).30 mi E of Walla Walla, WA. Start 7/7. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 2,086 acres (+517). 15% containment. Active fire behavior. Timber. Structures threatened. Evacuations notices. Road, trail and area closures. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7628/ Lick Creek. (US Forest Service) OR-UMF-000658. IMT1, PNW Team 3 (Johnson). 2 mi SW of Asotin, WA. Start 7/7. Full Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 73,190 acres (+1,678) 45% containment. Active fire behavior. Timber. Structures threatened. Evacuations in effect. Road, trail and area closures. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/ Goddard Road.