National Fire News Report ~ 8/13/08

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 13, 2008

Firefighters contained the Lime Complex in northern California at 64,502 acres. Eight large fires continue to burn 379,322 acres in California.

Light wildland fire activity was reported throughout the rest of the states. One new large fire was reported in New Mexico. Five large fires were contained: one each in Texas, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah.

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: Hot and dry weather conditions will develop today along the West Coast. Wet and dry thunderstorms are possible in Montana and Wyoming.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 8/13/08
Number of new large fires	1	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	26	Arizona (1) California (8) Idaho (4) Montana (3) New Mexico (1) North Carolina (1) Oregon (3) Texas (2) Washington (1) Wyoming (2)
Acres from active fires	443,816
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	3
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	40,275
Fires contained since 8/12/08	5
Year-to-date large fires contained	627
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 8/13/08)	Fires: 57,736	Acres: 4,049,281
2007 (1/1/07 - 8/13/07)	Fires: 60,017	Acres: 5,694,742
2006 (1/1/06 - 8/13/06)	Fires: 75,171	Acres: 6,174,494
2005 (1/1/05 - 8/13/05)	Fires: 41,899	Acres: 5,681,779
2004 (1/1/04 - 8/13/04)	Fires: 51,366	Acres: 5,820,351
2003 (1/1/03 - 8/13/03)	Fires: 40,542	Acres: 2,111,737
2002 (1/1/02 - 8/13/02)	Fires: 56,115	Acres: 5,422,011
2001 (1/1/01 - 8/13/01)	Fires: 53,800	Acres: 1,911,636
2000 (1/1/00 - 8/13/00)	Fires: 65,720	Acres: 4,703,435
5-year average
2004 - 2008	Fires: 57,238	Acres: 5,484,129
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 57,053	Acres: 4,549,359

Current Wildland Fires
Arizona	Fires: 1	Acres: 517	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Robbins (Phoenix Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 517 acres at 70 percent contained. This fire is located seven miles southeast of Buckeye.
California	Fires: 8	Acres: 379,322	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Bear Wallow Complex (Klamath National Forest): 14,136 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): 9,728 acres at 69 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles east of Klamath. Cultural and communication sites are threatened. 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.
Iron and Alps Complexes (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 96,046 acres at 68 percent contained. This complex of three fires is one mile north of Junction City. Residences and power lines remain threatened. Information: Call 530-623-6415 or visit the web site.
Lime Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): The complex was contained at 64,502 acres. Information: Call 530-226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
Panther (Klamath National Forest): 21,663 acres at 35 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. Active fire behavior was reported. Information: Call 530-841-4406.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 62,361 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): 87,132 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): 50,425 acres at 89 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: 1,944	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 650	New WFU: 0
Church Canyon (Maggie Creek Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 800 acres at 80 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): 300 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 12 miles southeast of Cottonwood. Structures are threatened.
Hume Creek (West St. Joe Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): The fire was contained at 132 acres.
Cove Springs (Fort Hall Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): 844 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is 16 miles east of Blackfoot.
South Barker (Sawtooth National Forest): 650 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: 12,365	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Deep Draw (Flathead Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): 1,449 acres at five percent contained. This fire is eight miles west of Elmo. Cultural sites are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
Russian Flats (Lewis and Clark National Forest): 743 acres at 94 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.
New Mexico	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 150	New WFU: 1
NEW Alta (Sante Fe National Forest): 150 acres. This fire is four miles northwest of Youngsville. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
North Carolina	Fires: 1	Acres: 210	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Pine Stand Ridge (National Forests in North Carolina): 210 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles northwest of Murphy. Structures are threatened. Moderate fire activity was reported.
Oregon	Fires: 3	Acres: 11,010	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Silvies River (Burns District, Bureau of Land Management): 4,040 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is located 13 miles northwest of Burns. Information: Call 541-573-7600 or visit the web site.
North Pole Ridge (Prineville District, Bureau of Land Management): 6,700 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles north of Clarno. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Visit the web site.
Eagle Creek (Northeast Oregon District, Oregon Department of Forestry): The fire was contained at 370 acres. Information: Visit the web site.
Gnarl (Mount Hood National Forest): 270 acres at 30 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: 2	Acres: 4,317	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
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. Precipitation fell on the fire yesterday.
Fawn Ridge (Texas Forest Service): The fire was contained at 500 acres.
Utah	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Devil (Salt Lake Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): The fire was contained at 1,588 acres. Information: Visit the web site.
Washington	Fires: 1	Acres: 21,171	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Columbia River Road (Colville Agency, Bureau of Indians): 21,171 acres at 50 percent contained. This fire is located nine miles west of Nespelem. Structures and cultural sites are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
Wyoming	Fires: 1	Acres: 11,960	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 39,475	New WFU: 0
New Fork (Bridger-Teton National Forest): 11,960 acres at 65 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles north of Pinedale. Information: Call 866-651-4234 or visit the web site.
Gunbarrel (Shoshone National Forest): 39,475 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.