National Fire News Report ~ 8/9/08

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 9, 2008

The Sherwin Fire in southern California was contained at 347 acres. Northern California remains the most active with 27 large fires and 494,452 acres burned.

Heavy wildland fire activity continued. Six large fires were reported: four in Oregon; and one each in Texas and Oklahoma. Four large fires were contained: one each in California, Oklahoma, Montana, and New Mexico.

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: Wet thunderstorms are predicted to continue today in eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the Four Corner states. Winds will increase in eastern Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Source: National Interagency Coordination Center

Daily statistics 8/9/08
Number of new large fires	6	States currently reporting large fires:
Number of active large fires	32 fires and complexes 35 total fires	Arkansas (1) California (13) Idaho (1) Montana (2) Nevada (1) North Carolina (2) Oregon (4) Texas (5) Utah (1) Washington (1) Wyoming (3)
Acres from active fires	607,675
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) fires	2
Number of Wildland Fire Use (WFU) acres	35,605
Fires contained since 8/8/08	4
Year-to-date large fires contained	607
Year-to-date statistics
2008 (1/1/08 - 8/9/08)	Fires: 56,424	Acres: 3,971,076
2007 (1/1/07 - 8/9/07)	Fires: 58,656	Acres: 5,455,244
2006 (1/1/06 - 8/9/06)	Fires: 73,193	Acres: 5,905,804
2005 (1/1/05 - 8/9/05)	Fires: 40,209	Acres: 5,109,149
2004 (1/1/04 - 8/9/04)	Fires: 50,382	Acres: 5,584,592
2003 (1/1/03 - 8/9/03)	Fires: 38,731	Acres: 1,913,228
2002 (1/1/02 - 8/9/02)	Fires: 54,633	Acres: 4,974,357
2001 (1/1/01 - 8/9/01)	Fires: 56,004	Acres: 1,625,321
2000 (1/1/00 - 8/9/00)	Fires: 63,916	Acres: 4,115,937
5-year average
2004 - 2008	Fires: 55,773	Acres: 5,205,173
10-year average
1999 - 2008	Fires: 55,391	Acres: 4,208,690

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: 13	Acres: 494,452	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. Information: Call 707-467-1512 or visit the web site.
Blue 2 (Six Rivers National Forest): 8,865 acres at 64 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. Moderate fire activity was reported. Information: Call 530-283-7882 or visit the web site.
Craig (Butte Unit, Cal Fire): 2,500 acres at 75 percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles east of Oroville. Residences and cultural sites are currently threatened. Evacuations and road closures are in place. Information: Call 530-538-7826 or visit the web site.
Iron and Alps Complex (Shasta-Trinity National Forest): 91,210 acres at 70 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 95 percent contained. This complex of two fires is 14 miles west of Hayfork. Fire behavior was minimal. Information: Call 530-226-2500 ext. 2 or visit the web site.
Panther (Klamath National Forest): 14,402 acres at 14 percent contained. This fire is 14 miles southwest of Happy Camp. Information: Call 530-841-4406.
Rich (Plumas National Forest): 6,112 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is 20 miles west of Quincy. Residences remain threatened. Information: Call 530-283-7882 or visit the web site.
Sherwin (Inyo National Forest): The fire was contained at 347 acres. Information: Call 760-873-2427 or visit the web site.
Siskiyou Complex (Klamath National Forest): 60,777 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): 83,806 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): 48,634 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: 1	Acres: 5,464	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Cabin Creek (Payette National Forest): 5,494 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 35 miles west of Cobalt. Information: Call 208-634-0700.
Montana	Fires: 2	Acres: 10,916	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Russian Flats (Lewis and Clark National Forest): 743 acres at 84 percent contained. This fire is 27 miles southwest of Stanford. Information: Call 406-366-5900 or visit the web site.
Tumble Creek (Custer National Forest): The fire was contained at 380 acres. Information: Call or 406-446-2103 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: 465	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Jacob (Ely Field Office, Bureau of Land Management): 465 acres at 80 percent contained. This fire is located 95 miles south of Ely. Minimal fire behavior was reported.
New Mexico	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 1
Peak (Santa Fe National Forest): The fire was contained at 365 acres. Information: Call 505-438-7628 or visit the web site.
North Carolina	Fires: 2	Acres: 40,966	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.
Oklahoma	Fires: 0	Acres: 0	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 1
NEW Hay Bale (Shoshone National Forest): The fire was contained at 930 acres.
Oregon	Fires: 4	Acres: 7,698	New fires: 4	Fires contained: 0
NEW Silvies River (Burns District, Bureau of Land Management): 1,100 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is located 13 miles northwest of Burns. Structures are threatened. Information: Visit the web site.
NEW 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.
NEW Oakbrook (Prineville District, Bureau of Land Management): 468 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles northeast of Maupin. Information: Visit the web site.
NEW Sunshine (Malheur National Forest): 130 acres at 65 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles north of Prairie City. The fire spread rapidly. Information: Visit the web site.
Texas	Fires: 5	Acres: 7,167	New fires: 1	Fires contained: 0
Black (Texas Forest Service): 1,810 acres at 80 percent contaned. This fire is eight miles northeast of Albany.
Sharpeye (Texas Forest Service): 617 acres at 60 percent contaned. This fire is 16 miles west of Palo Pinto.
Florence (Texas Forest Service): 3,700 acres at 75 percent contaned. This fire is burning 35 miles north of Austin. Structures have been evacuated.
Knob Hill (Texas Forest Service): 400 acres at 95 percent contaned. This fire is 53 miles northeast of Austin.
NEW Swenson (Texas Forest Service): 640 acres at an unknown percent contaned. This fire is 65 miles northeast of Abiene.
Utah	Fires: 1	Acres: 502	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Little Bald Mountain (Wasatch-Cache National Forest): 502 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is 11 miles southwest of Grantsville. Information: Call 801-558-8016 or visit the web site.
Washington	Fires: 1	Acres: 18,723	New fires: 0	Fires contained: 0
Columbia River Road (Colville Agency, Bureau of Indians): 18,723 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is located 16 miles southeast of Kennewick. Structures and cultural sites are threatened. 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 percent contained. This fire is 65 miles west of Cody. Structures 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.