National Fire News Report ~ 8/12/08

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 12, 2008

The Craig Fire in northern California was contained at 2,001 acres. Thirteen large fires continue to burn 441,133 acres throughout the northern part of California.

Fire activity remained light throughout the states. Six new large fires were reported: two each in Texas and Idaho; and one each in Kentucky and Oregon. Firefighters contained seven large fires: three in Texas; and one each in Kentucky, 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: The West Coast will continue to have warm and dry weather conditions. Showers and thunderstorms are predicted across the Gulf Coast states today.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 8/12/08
Number of new large fires	6	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	32 fires and complexes 34 total fires	Arizona (1) California (9) Idaho (5) Montana (3) North Carolina (3) Oregon (4) Texas (3) Utah (1) Washington (1) Wyoming (2)
Acres from active fires	547,231
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	2
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	39,720
Fires contained since 8/11/08	7
Year-to-date large fires contained	622
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 8/12/08)	Fires: 57,496	Acres: 4,025,294
2007 (1/1/07 - 8/12/07)	Fires: 59,836	Acres: 5,590,643
2006 (1/1/06 - 8/12/06)	Fires: 74,805	Acres: 6,151,418
2005 (1/1/05 - 8/12/05)	Fires: 41,502	Acres: 5,591,268
2004 (1/1/04 - 8/12/04)	Fires: 51,164	Acres: 5,775,916
2003 (1/1/03 - 8/12/03)	Fires: 40,200	Acres: 2,053,102
2002 (1/1/02 - 8/12/02)	Fires: 56,115	Acres: 5,422,011
2001 (1/1/01 - 8/12/01)	Fires: 53,283	Acres: 1,788,629
2000 (1/1/00 - 8/12/00)	Fires: 65,316	Acres: 4,478,679
5-year average
2004 - 2008	Fires: 56,961	Acres: 5,426,908
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 56,730	Acres: 4,469,076

Current Wildland Fires
Arizona	Fires: 1	Acres: 400	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Robbins (Phoenix Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 400 acres at 30 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles southeast of Buckeye.
California	Fires: 9	Acres: 441,133	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Bear Wallow Complex (Klamath National Forest): 14,090 acres at 49 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Information: Call 707-467-1512 or visit the web site.
Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 9,447 acres at 69 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. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Call 530-283-7882 or visit the web site.
Craig (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): The fire was contained at 2,001 acres. Information: Call 530-538-7826 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complexes (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 95,768 acres at 69 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. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Call 530-226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
Panther (Klamath National Forest): 21,018 acres at 33 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. Moderate fire activity was reported. Information: Call 530-841-4406.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 61,763 acres at 69 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): 86,531 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): 50,183 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: 4	Acres: 1,972	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 350	New WFU: 1
Church Canyon (Maggie Creek Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 800 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire is five miles northeast of Kamiah. Information: Visit the web site.
Snow Hole (Craig Mountain Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 200 acres at an unknown percent contained. This fire is 12 miles southeast of Cottonwood. Rapid rates of fire spread was reported. Structures are threatened.
Hume Creek (West St. Joe Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 132 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is three miles southwest of Emida.
NEW Cove Springs (Fort Hall Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): 840 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is 16 miles east of Blackfoot.
NEW South Barker (Sawtooth National Forest): 350 acres. This fire is five miles northwest of Rocky Bar. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
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. Information: Visit the web site.
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 252-423-0815 or visit the web site.
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: Call 541-573-7600 or 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: Call 541-352-6002 ext. 628 or 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. Information: Visit the web site.
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 or visit the web site.
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.