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INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT
FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2006 – 0530 MDT
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL 3
CURRENT SITUATION:
Initial attack activity was light nationally with 167 new fires reported. Ten new large fires (*) were reported, four in the Northern Rockies Area, two in the Southern Area and one each in the Southwest, Eastern Great Basin, Eastern, and the Rocky Mountain Areas. Seven large fires were contained, two each in the Northwest and Southern Areas, and one each in the Western Great Basin, Eastern and Eastern Great Basin Areas. Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Opliger) is assigned to the 21,651 acre Wutlus Lake fire 37 miles west of Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. This fire is 100% contained. No further information was received.
NORTHERN ROCKIES AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
PINE RIDGE COMPLEX, Southern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Bennett) has been ordered. This complex, comprised of five fires, is 30 miles east of Billings, MT in sagebrush and agricultural fields. Evacuations are in progress. Numerous residences, ranches, rangeland, agricultural crops, timber, powerlines, petroleum pipelines and a rest area are threatened. Weather and ongoing drought conditions are hindering containment. Extreme fire behavior was observed.
BUNDY RAILROAD, Billings District, Bureau of Land Management. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (McNitt) has been ordered. This fire is eight miles northeast of Warden, MT in timber, grass and sagebrush. Evacuations are in effect for several ranches. High winds, low relative humidity, and drought conditions are hampering efforts to contain the fire. Extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread were reported.
HORTON-HAY, Eastern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Grant) has been ordered. This fire is 35 miles southwest of Miles City, MT in ponderosa pine, grass and sagebrush. Structures and utility infrastructure are threatened. An evacuation order is in effect for the Moon Creek area. Rapid rates of spread and growth to the south were reported.
WATT DRAW, Miles City District, Bureau of Land Management. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Reid) has been ordered. This fire is 13 miles southeast of Ashland, MT in grass, timber and sagebrush. Three residences, outbuildings, and grazing allotments are threatened. Isolated torching, running, and spotting were observed.
SHANE RIDGE, Southern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Heintz) is assigned. This fire is 10 miles southeast of Columbus, MT in timber, grass and understory. Significant progress was made in completing the control line. Single and group tree torching was observed. The Team is also managing the Saunders fire.
IRON JAW, Eastern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. This fire is 15 miles southwest of Miles City, MT in timber and grass. No further information was received.
SAUNDERS, Southern Land Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Heintz) is assigned. This fire is four miles west of Columbus, MT in grass and timber. Numerous residences remain threatened. Brumfield and Countryman Creek Roads remain closed to non-residents. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering in heavy woody material and deep duff was reported.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
SAWTOOTH COMPLEX, San Bernardino Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). A Unified Command has been established between a CDF Type 1 Incident Command Team (Henson) and the Forest Service. This complex, comprised of the Sawtooth, Waters, and Ridge fires, is two miles east of Yucca Valley, CA, in chaparral. Numerous residences remain threatened. Evacuation orders for Pioneer Town, Pipes Canyon, and the Skyline Ranch area of Yucca Valley have been lifted. A portion of the fire has burned into the San Bernardino National Forest. Weather and steep, rocky terrain continue to hinder containment efforts. Extreme fire behavior in Big Morongo Canyon and spotting were reported.
MILLARD COMPLEX, San Bernardino National Forest. A Unified Command has been established between a Type 2 Incident Management Team (Walker), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), the Forest Service, and Riverside County Fire Department. This complex, comprised of four fires, State, Jump Off, For Sure and Millard, is seven miles north of Cabazon, CA in chaparral and conifer. There is potential for this complex to merge with the Sawtooth Complex. Numerous residences and cultural resources remain threatened. Extreme fire behavior with rapid spread continues.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
CANYON, Santa Clara Unit, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). A CDF Type 1 Incident Command Team (Paul) is assigned. This fire is 11 miles west of Patterson, CA in chaparral. Several residences, ranches and Henry Coe State Park remain threatened. Del Puerto Canyon Road remains closed to civilian traffic. Difficult access, steep terrain and weather continue to hinder containment. Continued dry, hot conditions have intensified ignition potential. Very active fire behavior was reported.
EASTERN GREAT BASIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
BABOON 2, Cedar City District, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 10 miles south of Minerville, UT in cheatgrass, sagebrush, pinyon pine and juniper. Active fire behavior included torching, short runs and backing fire.
SAGE VALLEY, Richfield Field Office, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is 10 miles north of Mills, UT in pinyon pine, juniper, grass and sagebrush. Interior torching was reported.
WEST KANOSH, Fish Lake National Forest. This fire is six miles southwest of Kanosh, UT in brush and hardwood slash. Torching and creeping were reported.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
THORN DIVIDE COMPLEX, Crook County. A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Lowe) is assigned. This fire is 5 miles south of Devils Tower National Monument, WY in timber and grass.
Numerous residences, powerlines and the National Monument are threatened. Evacuations are in effect. Active fire runs, torching and spotting were reported.
WOLF CANYON, South Dakota State. This fire is five miles northeast of Edgemont, SD in grass. Short runs, spotting and single tree torching were reported.
DIVIDE, Mofatt County. This fire is 20 miles northwest of Craig, CO in grass, sagebrush and wheat fields. One structure is threatened. Spotting and 20 foot flame lengths were observed.
WESTERN GREAT BASIN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
BALLY, Ely District, Bureau of Land Management. This fire is seven miles northeast of Barley, NV in brush, slash, pinyon pine and juniper. Crews made good progress on east and west flanks. Torching and creeping were observed.
NORTHWEST AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
TIN PAN, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. A Fire Use Management Team (Furlong) is assigned. This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. This fire is seven miles west of Lucerne, WA in timber. Smoldering, creeping and single tree torching were reported.
SOUTHERN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
LINDSEY BAY, National Forests of Florida. This fire is five miles southeast of Wilma, FL in southern rough. Some light precipitation fell over the fire area.
SOUTHWESTERN AREA INCIDENTS/LARGE FIRES:
AUGER, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. This lightning-caused Wildland Fire Use (WFU) incident is being managed to accomplish resource objectives. This fire is 21 miles northwest of Glenwood, NM in timber. Minimal fire behavior with some flanking and backing was observed. This will be the last narrative report unless significant activity occurs.
OUTLOOK:
Fire Weather Watches: For Friday afternoon and evening for much of north central Montana for low relative humidities and gusty winds. For eastern portions of Wyoming and South Dakota for low relative humidity and increasing winds.
Weather Discussion: A large high pressure ridge will strengthen over the West today with hot and dry conditions. Winds will increase over eastern Idaho, and western portions of Montana and Wyoming. Elsewhere, thunderstorms will develop mainly over the Southwest.
Full NICC Report:
http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.rtf