National Fire News Report ~ 8/24/08

National Preparedness Level 3

(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 24, 2008

Light wildland fire activity was reported throughout the country. Firefighters in Oregon and California made excellent progress toward containment goals yesterday. Five new large fires were reported, three in Montana, and one each in Colorado and Oregon. Firefighters contained three large fires yesterday.

Weather Discussion: Warm and dry conditions continue throughout much of the West. Isolated dry thunderstorms are possible in northeast Nevada, northern Utah and western Wyoming. A large low pressure system will approach the Northwest with scattered showers mainly west of the Cascades today, spreading east overnight into Monday. Wind speeds will also begin to increase across the West. Tropical Storm Fay will continue to slowly move westward along the Gulf Coast and bring heavy rainfall to western Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 8/24/08
Number of new large fires	5	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	34	Arizona (2) California (5) Colorado (1) Idaho (2) Montana (5) Nevada (1) New Mexico (1) Oregon (12) Tennessee (1) Washington (3) Wyoming (1)
Acres from active fires	383,899
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	10
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	20,645
Fires contained since 8/23/08	3
Year-to-date large fires contained	658
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 8/24/08)	Fires: 63,109	Acres: 4,434,364
2007 (1/1/07 - 8/24/07)	Fires: 63,779	Acres: 6,854,854
2006 (1/1/06 - 8/24/06)	Fires: 78,037	Acres: 7,165,712
2005 (1/1/05 - 8/24/05)	Fires: 43,181	Acres: 6,818,389
2004 (1/1/04 - 8/24/04)	Fires: 54,266	Acres: 6,630,417
2003 (1/1/03 - 8/24/03)	Fires: 43,373	Acres: 2,556,710
2002 (1/1/02 - 8/24/02)	Fires: 60,335	Acres: 6,177,698
2001 (1/1/01 - 8/24/01)	Fires: 56,670	Acres: 2,840,500
2000 (1/1/00 - 8/24/00)	Fires: 70,719	Acres: 5,846,352
5-year average
2003 - 2007	Fires: 60,798	Acres: 6,248,661
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 60,703	Acres: 5,261,394

Current Wildland Fires
Arizona	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 2		Acres: 978	New WFU: 0
Black (Coconino National Forest): 203 acres. This fire is 17 miles northeast of Flagstaff. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives. Information: Call (928) 526-0866 or visit the web site.
Mill (Kaibab National Forest): 775 acres. This fire is 27 miles southeast of Fredonia. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives. Information: Call (928) 643-8172 or visit the web site.
California	Fires: 5	Acres: 278,128	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Slinkard (Klamath National Forest): 374 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is burning four miles southeast of Seiad Valley. Fire behavior was minimal. Traffic is restricted on Highway 96. Information: Call 530-496-1502 or visit the web site.
Bear Wallow Complex (Klamath National Forest): 44,553 acres at 40 percent contained. This complex of three fires is 13 miles southeast of Happy Camp. Minimal fire activity was reported. Information: Call 707-467-1512 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complexes (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 105,325 acres at 94 percent contained. This complex of three fires is one mile north of Junction City. Numerous structures remain threatened. Information: Call 530-623-6415 or visit the web site.
Panther (Klamath National Forest): 48,108 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is 14 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Fire activity was moderate. Information: Call 530-841-4406 or visit the web site.
Siskiyou/ Blue 2 Complex (Klamath National Forest): 79,768 acres at 81 percent contained. This complex consists of both the Siskiyou and Blue 2 complexes. The complex is 18 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Cultural sites remain threatened. Information: Call 530-627-3532 or visit the web site.
Colorado	Fires: 1	Acres: 900	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
NEW Cottonwood (Moffat County FD): 900 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles north of Craig. Active fire behavior was reported and structures are threatened.
Idaho	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
WFU Fires: 2		Acres: 15,687	New WFU: 0
4th of July (Lemhi County FD): This fire was contained at 330 acres.
South Barker (Sawtooth National Forest): 12,687 acres. This fire is five miles northwest of Rocky Bar. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives. Information: Call 208-867-4323 or visit the web site.
Willow (Caribou-Targhee National Forest): 3,000 acres. This fire is 11 miles west of Macks Inn. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
Montana	Fires: 2	Acres: 7,950	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 3		Acres: 685	New WFU: 3
Knowlton Complex (Eastern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources): 7,025 acres at 50 percent contained. Active fire behavior was reported. Structures are threatened. Information: Call (406) 852-0020 or visit the web site.
Bear Gulch (Central Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources): 925 acres at 96 percent contained. The fire is 12 miles east of Townsend. Information: Visit the web site.
NEW Indian Creek (Bitterroot National Forest): 400 acres. This fire is 29 miles southwest of Darby. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
NEW Wapiti (Bitterroot National Forest): 170 acres. This fire is 27 miles southwest of Darby. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
NEW Cooper (Bitterroot National Forest): 115 acres. This fire is 23 miles southwest of Darby. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
Nevada	Fires: 1	Acres: 13,150	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
East Slide Rock Ridge (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest): 13,150 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is five miles northwest of Rocky Bar. Active fire behavior was reported. Structures are threatened and area closures are in effect. Information: Call (775) 778-6105 or visit the web site.
Silver Creek (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest): This fire was contained at 680 acres.
New Mexico	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 700	New WFU: 0
Alta (Sante Fe National Forest): 700 acres. This fire is four miles northwest of Youngsville. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
Oregon	Fires: 11	Acres: 10,085	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 2,000	New WFU: 0
NEW Rattle (Umpqua National Forest): 150 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is six miles northwest of Tokette Falls. Active fire behavior was reported.
Gnarl (Mount Hood National Forest): 516 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 24 miles south of Hood River. No new information was provided. Information: Call 503-337-2320 or visit the web site.
North Fork (Umpqua National Forest): 451 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is 26 miles northeast of Glide. Information: Call 541-496-9609 or visit the web site.
Bridge Creek (Ochoco National Forest): 4,891 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is seven miles southwest of Mitchell. Fire activity was minimal. Reduction in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. Information: Call 866-534-9655 or visit the web site.
Snow Creek Complex (Deschutes National Forest): 447 acres at 80 percent contained. This complex of five is 27 miles southwest of Bend. Cultural sites are threatened. Areas near the fire are closed. Information: Call 509-660-0100 or visit the web site.
Summit Springs Complex (Sisters Unit, Oregon Department of Forestry): 1,963 acres at 45 percent contained. This complex of three fires is nine miles north of Sisters. Active fire behavior was reported. Structures and cultural sites are threatened. Information: Call 541-549-3189 or visit the web site.
Wild Rivers Complex (Siskiyou National Forest): 645 acres at 50 percent contained. This complex is 17 miles southwest of Grants Pass. Information: Visit the web site.
Middle Fork Complex (Willamette National Forest): 200 acres at 25 percent contained. This complex of 63 fires is burning in Lane County. Information: Visit the web site.
Clackamas River Complex (Mt Hood National Forest): 175 acres at 65 percent contained. This complex of 30 fires is 26 miles southeast of Estacada. Structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
Lonesome Complex (Rogue River National Forest): 495 acres at 35 percent contained. This complex of three is 20 miles northeast of Prospect. Reduction in acreage is due to more accurate mapping. Information: Visit the web site.
Harvey Lake (Warm Springs Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs): 152 acres at 90 percent contained. This fire is 20 miles west of Madras. Information: Visit the web site.
Ochoco Fire Use (Ochoco National Forest): 2,000 acres. This fire is 10 miles southwest of Dayville. These two wildland fire use incidents are being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives. Information: Call 541-416-6503 or visit the web site.
Tennessee	Fires: 1	Acres: 1,150	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Old 15th (Cherokee National Forest): 525 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is three miles southeast of Del Rio. Active fire behavior was reported. Structures are threatened.
Washington	Fires: 2	Acres: 20,148	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
WFU Fires: 1		Acres: 595	New WFU: 0
Jack Creek (Okanogan/Wenatchee National Forest): 1,058 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is located 13 miles southwest of Leavenworth. Information: Visit the web site.
Swanson Lake (Northeast Region, Washington Department of Natural Resources): 19,090 acres at 60 percent contained. This fire is four miles southwest of Creston. Residences and cultural sites are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
Rock Lake (Washington Department of Natural Resources): This fire was contained at 2,172 acres
Foam Creek (Okanogan/Wenatchee National Forest): 595 acres. This fire is 13 miles northwest of Leavenworth. This wildland fire use is being managed to accomplish natural resource objectives.
Wyoming	Fires: 1	Acres: 52,388	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Gunbarrel (Shoshone National Forest): 52,388 acres. This fire is 40 miles west of Cody. Fire activity increased and structures are threatened. Information: Call 307-578-5199 or visit the web site.