NORTHWEST FIRES

The author of NWFires has returned after a 2 day deployment at the Dead Canyon Fire. Apologies for the lack of updates!  In a 24 hour period there were a reported NINE state mobilization fires in Washington State. Here is today’s daily update:

INITIAL ATTACK
New fires: 5
Oregon: 1 fire for 0 acres
Washington: 4 fires for 2 acres
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 6
Type 2 IMTs committed: 2

NEW LARGE FIRES

Sable Fire (WA-OWF-782)
This resource benefit fire, located 35 miles NW of Chelan, WA, has been burning for some time and has recently grown to 150 acres due to instability and gusty winds. There have been some smoke impacts to the Stehekin area. The fire remains well within its management area.

See below for ongoing incidents

WEATHER SYNOPSIS
A transient ridge of high pressure aloft will bring a general warming and drying trend to the area today as well as significantly lighter winds to the east slopes of the Washington Cascades and Columbia River Basin. A very weak front will approach the coast tonight then shift inland on Tuesday. Precipitation accompanying this system will be rather light and confined to Western Washington. The broader impacts for Tuesday will be increased onshore flow, cooler temperatures and breezy west winds.

Warmer and drier weather will return Wednesday and Thursday as an upper level ridge strengthens over Idaho and Montana. Instability will increase on Thursday as the winds aloft turn southerly. Given the very dry air mass in place, thunderstorms look unlikely with increasing Haines Indices a more significant concern The next upper level trough will move inland late Thursday night and Friday once again bringing breezy west
and a brief cool down through increased onshore flow.  Isolated showers or thunderstorms are also possible Friday primarily in Washinton and the NE corner of Oregon.  Warmer and drier conditions will return for the weekend as a stronger ridge of high pressure builds over the Pacific Northwest.

LARGE FIRE POTENTIAL
The periodic but brief upper level troughs are slowing the drying trend of the fuels and will keep fuel conditions near status quo for much of the week. Increasing instability on Thursday will be a concern for all ongoing fires, however C1 is the only PSA anticipated to be in the ‘brown’ and therefore the only one to reach the high risk threshold for burning environment. Instability will likely be a concern again for the weekend with a
thermal trough building beneath the strong ridge of high pressure

ONGOING INCIDENTS

Washington:

Oden Road Fire (WA-NES-001262)
Fire is burning in Okanogan County near the Methow Valley. Primary fuels are timber, grass, and sage. The fire has burned approximately 8,447 acres and is 30% contained. SR 20 remains closed to all except residents of the area. Structure protection and mopup around residences continue. AWashington Type 2 Incident Management Team ( Johnson) is in place at this time.

Dry Creek Complex (WA-MCR-000048)
Fire is burning near the intersection of HWY 240 and HWY 24 west of the Hanford Site in Washington. Primary fuels are grass and brush. The fire has consumed approximately 40,000 acres and is 80% contained. State mobilization resources are being demobed. A Washington Type 2 Incident Management Team (La Fave) is in place at this time.

Dead Canyon Fire (WA-WFS-00005)
13 miles south of Mabton, WA. The fire is being demobilized.

Buffalo Lake Fire (WA-COA-0254)
This fire is burning 3 miles SE of the Colville Agency in grass and shrubs. The fire is contained at 330 acres.

Grant County Complex
This complex of fires has been demobilized.