National Fire News Report ~ 8/11/08

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 11, 2008

Wildland fire activity increased in Oregon and Idaho over the weekend. Currently, Oregon has four large fires and Idaho has three.

Nationally, light wildland fire activity was reported. Seven new large fires developed: two each in Idaho and Nevada; and one each in Texas, Arizona, and Utah. Three large fires were contained: two in Oregon and one in Idaho.

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: Warm and dry weather conditions are predicted for the West Coast. Windy conditions will continue across Montana and Wyoming. Showers and thunderstorms are predicted for the southeastern states.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 8/11/08
Number of new large fires	7	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	32 fires and complexes 36 total fires	Arizona (1) Arkansas (1) California (10) Idaho (3) Montana (3) Nevada (2) North Carolina (3) Oregon (4) Texas (4) Utah (1) Washington (1) Wyoming (2)
Acres from active fires	546,590
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	3
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	37,802
Fires contained since 8/10/08	3
Year-to-date large fires contained	615
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 8/11/08)	Fires: 57,091	Acres: 4,009,291
2007 (1/1/07 - 8/11/07)	Fires: 59,627	Acres: 5,573,900
2006 (1/1/06 - 8/11/06)	Fires: 74,421	Acres: 6,050,640
2005 (1/1/05 - 8/11/05)	Fires: 41,227	Acres: 5,651,572
2004 (1/1/04 - 8/11/04)	Fires: 50,974	Acres: 5,584,592
2003 (1/1/03 - 8/11/03)	Fires: 39,797	Acres: 1,991,613
2002 (1/1/02 - 8/11/02)	Fires: 55,972	Acres: 5,400,334
2001 (1/1/01 - 8/11/01)	Fires: 52,784	Acres: 1,717,785
2000 (1/1/00 - 8/11/00)	Fires: 64,693	Acres: 4,420,539
5-year average
2004 - 2008	Fires: 56,668	Acres: 5,356,128
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 56,386	Acres: 4,411,849

Current Wildland Fires
Arizona	Fires: 1	Acres: 330	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Robbins (Phoenix Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 330 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles southeast of Buckeye. Structures are threatened. Rapid rates of spread were reported.
Arkansas	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 52	New WFU: 0
Hawk's Overlook (Ouachita National Forest): 52 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: 442,118	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Bear Wallow Complex (Klamath National Forest): 14,060 acres at 49 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): 9,226 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 95 percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles east of Oroville. Residences and cultural sites are currently threatened. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Call 530-538-7826 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complexes (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 95,171 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): 64,502 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): 21,802 acres at 28 percent contained. This fire is 14 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Restricted traffic flow was reported on state highway 96. Recreation sites are currently closed. Information: Call 530-841-4406.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 61,404 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): 86,192 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): 49,929 acres at 80 percent contained. This complex is 10 miles east of Orleans. Structures and cultural sites remain threatened. Information: Call 530-627-3532 or visit the web site.
Idaho	Fires: 3	Acres: 948	New fires: 2	Fires contained: 1
Church Canyon (Maggie Creek Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 720 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire is five miles northeast of Kamiah. Minimal fire activity was reported.
NEW Snowhole (Craig Mountain Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 110 acres at an unknown percent contained. This fire is 12 miles southeast of Cottonwood.
NEW Hume Creek (West St. Joe Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 118 acres at 15 percent contained. This fire is three miles southwest of Emida.
Bliss (Twin Falls District, Bureau of Land Management): The fire was contained at 2,000 acres.
Montana	Fires: 3	Acres: 11,516	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Deep Draw (Flathead Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): 600 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is eight miles west of Elmo. Cultural resources are threatened.
Russian Flats (Lewis and Clark National Forest): 743 acres at 90 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. Information: Call 406-446-2103 or visit the web site.
Nevada	Fires: 1	Acres: 2,300	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 100	New WFU: 1
NEW Rock Creek (Elko Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 2,300 acres at 20 percent contained. The fire is burning 28 miles northeast of Battle Mountain. Wind-driven fire behavior was reported.
NEW East Slide Rock Ridge (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest): 100 acres. This fire is nine miles southeast of Jarbidge. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
North Carolina	Fires: 3	Acres: 41,096	New fires: 0	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.
Pine Stand Ridge (National Forests in North Carolina): 130 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles northwest of Murphy. Structures are threatened. Moderate fire activity was reported.
Oregon	Fires: 4	Acres: 9,520	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 2
Silvies River (Burns District, Bureau of Land Management): 3,000 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire is located 13 miles northwest of Burns. Structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
North Pole Ridge (Prineville District, Bureau of Land Management): 6,000 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles north of Clarno. Information: Visit the web site.
Sunshine (Malheur National Forest): The fire was contained at 150 acres. Information: Visit the web site.
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 rapidly due to windy conditions. Information: Visit the web site.
Watson (Vale District, Bureau of Land Management): The fire was contained at 580 acres. Information: Visit the web site.
Gnarl (Mount Hood National Forest): 150 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 24 miles south of Hood River. Area closures are in effect near the fire. Information: Visit the web site.
Texas	Fires: 4	Acres: 5,382	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
Sharpeye (Texas Forest Service): 617 acres at 85 percent contaned. This fire is 16 miles west of Palo Pinto.
Florence (Texas Forest Service): 3,700 acres at 95 percent contaned. This fire is burning 35 miles north of Austin. Evacuations are in order for some residences.
Swenson (Texas Forest Service): 565 acres at 90 percent contaned. This fire is 65 miles northeast of Abiene.
NEW Fawn Ridge (Texas Forest Service): 500 acres at 75 percent contaned. This fire is eight miles southeast of Mason. Structures are threatened.
Utah	Fires: 1	Acres: 800	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Devil (Salt Lake Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 800 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is located 13 miles southeast of Grouse Creek. Wind-driven fire behavior was reported. Structures are threatened.
Washington	Fires: 1	Acres: 20,655	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Columbia River Road (Colville Agency, Bureau of Indians): 20,655 acres at 15 percent contained. This fire is located nine miles west of Nespelem. Structures and cultural sites are threatened. Moderate fire activity was reported Information: Visit the web site.
Wyoming	Fires: 1	Acres: 11,960	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 37,650	New WFU: 0
New Fork (Bridger-Teton National Forest): 11,960 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles north of Pinedale. Information: Call 866-651-4234.
Gunbarrel (Shoshone National Forest): 37,650 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.