The state has 18 wildfires with varying levels of evacuations in effect
Firefighters in Washington state have been very busy recently, especially Saturday when 68 new fires were detected, primarily in the eastern part of the state. Abundant lightning accompanied by strong winds and very dry fuels created critical fire conditions.
They currently have 18 fires with varying levels of evacuations in effect.
Map showing some of the large wildfires in Washington, August 12, 2018. Click to enlarge.
One of the largest is the 45,000-acre Grass Valley Fire that started August 11 west of Grand Coulee Dam. Firefighters report extreme fire behavior with running and spotting. Evacuations and road closures are in effect.
The Cougar Creek Fire has burned 18,890 acres 25 mi west of Chelan, WA. The fire is exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Evacuations are in effect.
The 15,975-acre Crescent Mountain Fire is 16 miles west of Winthrop, WA.
Above: The Vineyard Fire near Hot Springs, South Dakota, August 11, 2018. Photo by Kathleen Ryan Anderson.
(UPDATED at 4:08 p.m. MDT August 13, 2018)
The incident management team has lifted all evacuations on the Vineyard Fire at Hot Springs, South Dakota, including all pre-evacuation notices.
The outlook for the fire has improved so much that the order for the higher level incident management team, the Type 2 team, has been cancelled.
Updated mapping shows that today, August 13, the fire has burned 560 acres. Fire officials estimate it will be fully contained on Friday, August 17.
No injuries have been recorded and no structures have been destroyed.
Firefighters have been taking advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidities to slow the spread of the fire. In addition to the dozers that are constructing fire line, the team is waiting for additional hand crews to arrive so they can put in line where the dozers can’t work.
(UPDATED at 8 p.m. MDT August 12, 2018)
With the Vineyard Fire spreading further to the north and closer to dense residential areas, Sunday afternoon fire officials issued a “pre-evacuation notice” for homes on the east side of Hot Springs, SD affecting 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th streets all the way north to the Veterans Administration Hospital. Then minutes later it was upgraded to a full mandatory evacuation. About two hours after that at 6:45 p.m. all mandatory evacuation notices were lifted by Incident Commander Ray Bubb, including not only the most recents ones on 3rd through 6th streets, but all of the others along Fall River Road. As of Sunday evening the areas have been downgraded to a pre-evacuation notice status, fire spokesperson Joe Johndreau told us at 7:40 p.m. Sunday.
This is an unofficial map showing the approximate area in Hot Springs, SD that for a while Sunday afternoon, August 12, was under an evacuation notice. It has since been downgraded to a pre-evacuation notice. Click to enlarge.
The Evacuation Order has been lifted for all residences including those in city limits as well as the Eagle Valley area. Please keep your bags at the ready incase there are any changes.
It can happen, but it is unusual for an area near a fire to go, within a three-hour period, from no evacuation, to pre-evacuation, to full evacuation, and back to pre-evacuation status. We asked Mr. Johndreau about the reason for the changes. He said Incident Commander Ray Bubb said that the firefighters had a very good day Sunday and accomplished so much that it became safe for the residents to return to their homes.
Mr. Johndreau said Air Attack, who spent hours circling over the fire in a fixed wing aircraft, estimated Sunday evening that the fire has grown to 468 acres.
In addition to the Air Attack ship, other fixed wing aircraft on the fire Sunday included two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT) and one four-engine jet, Tanker 41, a BAe-146 operated by Neptune Aviation. There was also at least one Air National Guard Blackhawk helicopter and, Mr. Johndreau said, possibly other helicopters.
On Sunday the fire was managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team, but a higher-qualified Type 2 Team has been ordered. The main differences between the teams is that the members of a Type 2 team have more experience and have to meet more stringent qualification requirements. The Type 2 Team is also larger by a factor of two or three and will arrive with more overhead personnel than the Type 3 Team had. They don’t come with firefighters or firefighting equipment, except for the organization structure of managers in the Operations Section, including Division Supervisors, Operations Section Chiefs, and aviation managers. The actual on-the-ground-firefighters will need to be ordered with the same process the Type 3 Team was using. The next level up is a Type 1 Team — a Type 2 Team on steroids.
(UPDATED at 12:42 p.m. MDT August 12, 2018)
The Vineyard Fire southeast of Hot Springs, SD grew by about 50 acres Saturday night, primarily on the east side, to bring the total to about 180 burned acres. More firefighting resources are expected to be available Sunday.
Fall River Road (Hwy 18/385) is open but fire officials are asking residents to avoid the area if possible.
The map below shows the APPROXIMATE location of the Vineyard Fire, based on satellite data from 3:13 a.m. August 12. The fire could have spread through light vegetation on the top of the hill, such as grass, and then cooled making it impossible for the heat sensors on the satellite to detect the fire at those locations. The satellite is on a polar orbit and passes over twice a day.
This 3-D map shows the APPROXIMATE location of the Vineyard Fire at 3:13 a.m. MDT August 12, 2018. It is based on data from a satellite orbiting 200 miles overhead. With this system the location cannot be precisely determined. Click to enlarge.
Weather forecasters have added the southern Black Hills to Sunday’s Red Flag Warnings, for hot, dry, and breezy conditions. The forecast for the fire area on Sunday predicts 93 degrees, 18 percent relative humidity, and 19 mph south winds gusting to 27. These conditions could result in fire behavior that challenges firefighters.
(We initially received incorrect information about who took the photo at the top of this article. We now know it was taken by Kathleen Ryan Anderson. We apologize for the confusion.)
(UPDATED at 10:55 p.m. MDT August 11, 2018)
By 8 p.m. Saturday the Vineyard Fire southeast of Hot Springs, SD had burned approximately 130 acres and was spreading north.
Late in the afternoon a second single engine air tanker and a large air tanker joined the fight, making retardant drops to assist firefighters on the ground who were protecting structures. Fire officials expect to have a helicopter and a Type 3 Incident Management Team working on the fire Sunday.
The Fall River County Sheriff’s Office is requesting evacuees to go to the Mueller Center in Hot Springs.
Vineyard Fire, August 11, 2018. Photo by Martin Volunteer Fire Department.
The high temperature at Wind Cave National Park north of Hot Springs on Saturday was 93, the relative humidity reached 21 percent, and the winds were 8 to 12 mph out of the south with gusts to 22. The forecast for the fire area calls for Saturday night temperatures to get down to 63 with 52 percent relative humidity and 10 mph south to southwest winds gusting to 14. On Sunday forecasters expect 95 degrees, 16 percent humidity, and south winds of 16 mph gusting to 25. Much of northwest South Dakota is in a Red Flag Warning area on Sunday, but most of the Black Hills, including the fire area, are outside the warning area.
(Updated at 6:48 p.m. MDT August 11, 2018)
A wildfire half a mile southeast of Hot Springs, South Dakota started at about 3:45 p.m. MDT August 11 and spread rapidly up slope above Fall River Road. It was attacked by local, state, and federal firefighters and a single engine air tanker that responded from Chadron, Nebraska.
Firefighters estimate it has burned approximately 80 acres and is threatening 70 structures. They have requested
It has been a rather quiet wildland fire season so far this year in South Dakota. Until today.
Resa Ru shot this video of the Vineyard Fire along Fall River Road about half a mile southeast of Hot Springs, South Dakota, August 11, 2018. Used with permission.
We will update this article when more information is available.
Vineyard Fire at approximately 6:30 p.m. MDT August 11, 2018. Photo by Wendee Pettis.This is a very rough approximation of the location of the Vineyard Fire southeast of Hot Springs, SD.
The Carr Fire has burned over 186,000 acres west and northwest of Redding, California
The red line shows the perimeter of the Carr Fire at 10:16 p.m. PDT August 10, 2018. The white line was the perimeter two days before. The beginning of the burnout can be seen at the north end of the fire. Click to enlarge.
Above: Map of the Carr Fire, August 11, 2018.
(Originally published at noon PDT August 11, 2018)
Firefighters have decided to use a bold tactic to stop the northern spread of the Carr Fire in California. Since it started from a burning vehicle near Redding on July 23 it has burned over 186,000 acres in an area about 27 miles long by 19 miles wide.
(To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Carr Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)
The tactic they selected a couple of days ago was to go approximately five miles north of the fire and backfire, igniting ahead of the main fire hoping that eliminating burnable fuel will stop the main fire when it reaches the backfire. This is taking place along a 12-mile stretch at the northwest part of Shasta Lake near Moist Cove working to the northwest, roughly following Road N7601 and dozer lines they are constructing. Then they make a left turn south for another five miles to tie in with the main fire east of Trinity Lake.
If crews can get the backfire to consume the fuel for at least several hundred yards (more is better) toward the main fire, they will have a pretty good chance of success.
Backing off from the fire, WAY OFF, and removing the fuel by burning it, usually from a ridge, has often worked very well. Sometimes firefighters ignite a backfire from the next ridge ahead of the fire, which may not provide enough time to complete it to the point where it will be effective. The late Rick Gale, who over several decades fought some of the largest wildland fires as a Type 1 Incident Commander and Area Commander, would say, “Don’t choose the NEXT RIDGE, choose the BEST RIDGE”, even if it is miles away.
If the north end does not move any further, the backfire would encompass approximately 40,000 acres, roughly 12 miles by 5 miles in size.
The Carr Fire has been spreading more slowly in recent days. It has been fairly quiet around Redding, but has continued to grow on the northeast and southwest sides.
Resources assigned to the fire include 335 fire engines, 76 hand crews, 12 helicopters, 112 dozers, and 125 water tenders for a total of 4,665 personnel.
According to CAL FIRE, 1,077 residences and 22 commercial structures have been destroyed in the fire. Three people working on the fire have been killed, including two firefighters and one CAL FIRE heavy equipment mechanic.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect Saturday for high temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds.
Below: The California Air National Guard shot this video from the cockpit of one of their Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) C-130’s as it dropped retardant on the Carr Fire in Northern California July 31, 2018.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, announced that a heavy equipment mechanic for the agency was killed while assigned to the Carr Fire near Redding, California. Andrew Jason Brake died August 9 due to a single vehicle accident while assigned to the fire that has burned 177,000 acres west of the city.
From the Sacramento Bee:
Brake was headed north on 99, just south of Tehama Vina Road in Tehama, when the road made a slight curve to the left, California Highway Patrol officer Ken Reineman said. Brake “failed to maintain his path,” drifted off the road to the right and hit a tree. His vehicle, believed to be a pickup truck, was engulfed in flames, Reineman said. Brake died in the vehicle fire, Reineman said. The crash occurred at 12:17 a.m., he added.
Our sincere condolences go out to Mr. Brake’s family, friends, and co-workers.
Four other agency employees or contractors have died in the line of duty in the last month while working on wildfires in California:
–Don Ray Smith, contract dozer operator, of Pollock Pines, CA, on the Carr Fire July 26.
–Redding fire Inspector Jeremy Stoke, Fire Inspector for the Redding, CA Fire department, on the Carr Fire July 26.
–Brian Hughes, Captain on National Park Service Arrowhead Hotshots, Ferguson Fire, July 29.
–Braden Varney, CAL FIRE Heavy Fire Equipment Operator, July 14, Ferguson Fire.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom and Paula. Typos or errors, report them HERE.
The fire has burned over 18,000 acres northwest of Lake Elsinore, California
(Originally published at 9:01 a.m. PDT August 10, 2018)
Thursday afternoon and evening the Holy Fire northwest of Lake Elsinore in Southern California bumped up against homes on the southeast and east sides of the fire. Firefighters on the ground and in the air battled the flames very close to homes along McVicker Canyon Park Road and near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Lake Street.
A spokesperson for the incident management team said the fire grew close to El Cariso Village up on the hill above Lake Elsinore but it had not crossed the Ortega Highway, SR 74.
In this map of the Holy Fire, the red line was the perimeter at 9:45 p.m. PDT August 8, 2018. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite 200 miles overhead at 2:54 a.m. PDT August 10, 2018. The accuracy of those heat sources is not guaranteed, and should be taken with a grain of salt. They may or may not be real. Click to enlarge.
Satellite heat sensing data shows that the fire spread significantly to the north and also on the south side, approaching the Ortega Highway.
(To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Holy Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)
The team has not confirmed that any structures have been destroyed since day one of the fire on August 6 when approximately 12 structures in Trabuco Canyon were destroyed. It was not specified if the structures were outbuildings, such as sheds, or residences. A damage assessment team will be deployed Friday to determine if any homes were destroyed on the Riverside County side of the fire Thursday.
Fire officials said Friday morning the fire has burned approximately 18,137 acres, an increase of more than 8,000 acres in the last 24 hours.
Information released by the Cleveland National Forest, which is where the fire is burning, indicates that in addition to the weather, steep terrain, and limited access, another reason they are losing ground is they are not able to obtain all the firefighting resources they have requested. This is a result of many large fires currently burning in the Western United States — all competing for ground and air resources. Today over 29,000 personnel are assigned to wildland fires across the country.
Insane video of the fire fight in Lake Elsinore. Fire fighters working so hard to save homes. Stay safe! #holyfirepic.twitter.com/U4MdCXJI0Y