National Fire News Report ~ 8/10/08

National Preparedness Level 4

(On a scale from 1 to 5)

Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are
(MST) 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday
208-387-5050
This report will be updated daily.

August 10, 2008

The Rich Fire was contained in northern California at 6,112 acres. Wildland fire activity has increased throughout the Pacific Northwest due to thunderstorms.

Wildland fire activity moderated throughout the nation yesterday. Seven new large fires were reported: three in Oregon; two in Idaho; and one each in North Carolina and Montana. Five large fires were contained: two in Texas; and one each in California, Oregon, and Nevada.

On August 5, a Carson Helicopters Sikorsky S-61 helicopter assigned to the Iron Complex in California crashed while shuttling a fire crew. Seven Grayback Forestry Inc firefighters were fatally injured. A Carson Helicopters pilot and a US Forest Service pilot were also fatally injured. The firefighting community extends condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.

Australia and New Zealand are providing 44 fire specialists and managers to assist with fire suppression operations in California.

Weather Discussion: Gusty winds are expected across Montana, eastern Idaho, and Wyoming. Thunderstorms will shift east of the Continental Divide today.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 8/10/08
Number of new large fires	7	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	30 fires and complexes 34 total fires	Arkansas (1) California (10) Idaho (2) Montana (3) North Carolina (3) Oregon (6) Texas (3) Washington (1) Wyoming (3)
Acres from active fires	546,590
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	2
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	35,605
Fires contained since 8/9/08	5
Year-to-date large fires contained	612
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 8/10/08)	Fires: 56,751	Acres: 3,985,545
2007 (1/1/07 - 8/10/07)	Fires: 58,656	Acres: 5,455,244
2006 (1/1/06 - 8/10/06)	Fires: 73,193	Acres: 5,905,804
2005 (1/1/05 - 8/10/05)	Fires: 40,209	Acres: 5,109,149
2004 (1/1/04 - 8/10/04)	Fires: 50,382	Acres: 5,584,592
2003 (1/1/03 - 8/10/03)	Fires: 38,731	Acres: 1,913,228
2002 (1/1/02 - 8/10/02)	Fires: 54,633	Acres: 4,974,357
2001 (1/1/01 - 8/10/01)	Fires: 56,004	Acres: 1,625,321
2000 (1/1/00 - 8/10/00)	Fires: 63,916	Acres: 4,115,937
5-year average
2004 - 2008	Fires: 56,099	Acres: 5,251,267
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 55,720	Acres: 4,312,472

Current Wildland Fires
Arkansas	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 105	New WFU: 0
Hawk's Overlook (Ouachita National Forest): 105 acres. This fire is 12 miles southeast of Mena. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
California	Fires: 10	Acres: 435,071	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Bear Wallow Complex (Klamath National Forest): 14,016 acres at 51 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Roads and trails are closed near the fire. Information: Call 707-467-1512 or visit the web site.
Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 9,027 acres at 64 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Klamath. Cultural and communication sites are threatened. Roads and trails are closed. Information: Call 707-457-3974 or visit the web site.
Canyon Complex (Plumas National Forest): 37,831 acres at 97 percent contained. This complex of three fires is 16 miles northeast of Paradise. Information: Call 530-283-7882 or visit the web site.
Craig (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 2,001 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles east of Oroville. Residences and cultural sites are currently threatened. Information: Call 530-538-7826 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 94,272 acres at 68 percent contained. This complex of three fires is one mile north of Junction City. Residences remain threatened. Information: Call 530-623-6415 or visit the web site.
Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 63,263 acres at 97 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Information: Call 530-226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
Panther (Klamath National Forest): 18,197 acres at 23 percent contained. This fire is 14 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Restricted traffic flow was reported on state highway 96. Information: Call 530-841-4406.
Rich (Plumas National Forest): The fire was contained at 6,112 acres. Information: Call 530-283-7882 or visit the web site.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 61,344 acres at 64 percent contained. This complex is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Cultural sites remain threatened. Information: Call 530-627-3532 or visit the web site.
Yolla Bolly Complex (Mendocino National Forest): 85,529 acres at 90 percent contained. This complex of three fires is 47 miles southwest of Redding. Cultural sites are threatened. Active fire behavior was reported. Information: Call 530-833-0357 or visit the web site.
Ukonom Complex (Six Rivers National Forest): 49,591 acres at 80 percent contained. This complex is 10 miles east of Orleans. Structures, cultural sites, and a telecommunication facility are threatened. Information: Call 530-627-3532 or visit the web site.
Idaho	Fires: 2	Acres: 1,070	New fires: 2	Fires contained: 0
NEW Church Canyon (Maggie Creek Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 720 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is five miles northeast of Kamiah. Wind-driven fire activity was reported. Structures are threatened.
NEW Bliss (Twin Falls District, Bureau of Land Management): 350 acres at 15 percent contained. This fire is located three miles south of Bliss. Wind-driven fire behavior caused the fire to spread rapidly. Cultural and communication sites are threatened.
Montana	Fires: 2	Acres: 10,916	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 1
NEW Deep Draw (Flathead Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): 400 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is eight miles west of Elmo. Active fire behavior was reported. Cultural resources are threatened.
Russian Flats (Lewis and Clark National Forest): 743 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 27 miles southwest of Stanford. Information: Call 406-366-5900 or visit the web site.
Cascade (Custer National Forest): 10,173 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles west of Red Lodge. Light precipitation fell on the fire yesterday. Information: Call 406-446-2103 or visit the web site.
Nevada	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Jacob (Ely Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): The fire was contained at 465 acres.
North Carolina	Fires: 3	Acres: 41,076	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
Evans Road (North Carolina Division of Forest Resources): 40,704 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles south of Creswell. Residences are threatened. Information: Call 919-218-3179.
Double H (North Carolina Division of Forest Resources): 262 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 20 miles southeast of Asheville. Residences are threatened. Information: Call 919-218-3179.
NEW Pine Stand Ridge (National Forests in North Carolina): 110 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles northwest of Murphy. Structures are threatened.
Oregon	Fires: 6	Acres: 10,245	New fires: 3	Fires contained: 1
Silvies River (Burns District, Bureau of Land Management): 3,000 acres at 15 percent contained. This fire is located 13 miles northwest of Burns. Structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
North Ploe Ridge (Prineville District, Bureau of Land Management): 6,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 10 miles north of Clarno. Structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
Oakbrook (Prineville District, Bureau of Land Management): The fire was contained at 650 acres. Information: Visit the web site.
Sunshine (Malheur National Forest): 150 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles north of Prairie City. The fire is expected to be contained today. Information: Visit the web site.
NEW Eagle Creek (Northeast Oregon District, Oregon Department of Forestry): 370 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is six miles southeast of Athena. The fire spread moderately due to windy conditions. Information: Visit the web site.
NEW Watson (Vale District, Bureau of Land Management): 575 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is 30 miles northwest of Jordan Valley. Information: Visit the web site.
NEW Gnarl (Mount Hood National Forest): 150 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 24 miles south of Hood River. Information: Visit the web site.
Texas	Fires: 3	Acres: 4,882	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 2
Black (Texas Forest Service): The fire was contained at 1,810 acres.
Sharpeye (Texas Forest Service): 617 acres at 70 percent contaned. This fire is 16 miles west of Palo Pinto.
Florence (Texas Forest Service): 3,700 acres at 90 percent contaned. This fire is burning 35 miles north of Austin.
Knob Hill (Texas Forest Service): The fire was contained at 400 acres.
Swenson (Texas Forest Service): 565 acres at 80 percent contaned. This fire is 65 miles northeast of Abiene.
Washington	Fires: 1	Acres: 21,638	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Columbia River Road (Colville Agency, Bureau of Indians): 21,638 acres at 15 percent contained. This fire is located nine miles west of Nespelem. Structures and cultural sites are threatened. Low to moderate fire activity was reported Information: Visit the web site.
Wyoming	Fires: 2	Acres: 21,292	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 35,500	New WFU: 0
New Fork (Bridger-Teton National Forest): 11,960 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles north of Pinedale. Structures are threatened. Information: Call 866-651-4234.
Le Hardy (Yellowstone National Park): 9,332 acres at five pStructures are threatened. Information: Call 307-344-7102 or visit the web site.
Gunbarrel (Shoshone National Forest): 35,500 acres. This fire is 40 miles west of Cody. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives. Information: Call 307-578-5199 or visit the web site.