NORTHWEST FIRES

INITIAL ATTACK
New fires: 14 fires for 338 acres
Oregon: 7 fires for 335 acres
Washington: 7 fires for 3 acres
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1

NEW LARGE FIRES

Microwave Fire (OR-954S-0001)
The wildfire is located on state-protected lands approximately 7 miles E of Hood River, OR. Size is estimated at 600+ acres in grass, brush, hardwoods and timber. Some residents have been evacuated, there are threats to the town of Mosier, OR. An Oregon Department of Forestry Type 2 Incident Management Team (Hirsch) has been committed.

ONGOING INCIDENTS

WASHINGTON:

Oden Road Fire (WA-NES-001262)
Fire is located 2 miles N of Malott, WA. A Type 3 Incident Management Team is committed. Primary fuels are timber, grass, and sage. The fire has burned 9,607 acres (No change) and is 90% contained.Minimal fire behavior as mop up continues. Containment is expected today, August 28.

Brush Creek Fire (WA-NCP-203)
The contain/confine fire is burning 14 miles NW of Newhalem, WA in timber. Size is 110 acres with no containment. Spotting and torching have been observed as dry conditions and an unstable atmosphere contribute to fire growth.

OREGON:

Canal Creek (OR-WIF-111)
The wildfire is located 8 miles SW of Detroit, OR, in heavy dead and down fuels. Size is 128 acres with 5%containment. Extreme fire behavior observed on 8/27 resulted in the fire doubling in size. A Type 3 IMT (Vetter IC) is committed.

WEATHER SYNOPSIS
A weak cold front just off the southern Oregon coast this morning will be swinging inland along with an upper level disturbance this evening. The upper level “low” will linger over the region through the weekend. This scenario will supply an increased onshore flow with windy conditions in central OR/WA this evening. The thermal trough currently over the Cascades early this morning will rapidly move eastward establishing itself over eastern OR/WA this afternoon. High pressure with warming and drying is expected early next week but southerly flow aloft will continue the threat of thunderstorm activity

LARGE FIRE POTENTIAL Increased IA activity expected today lasting through much of the weekend due to lightning. Most of the lightning should be fairly wet, however E4 and E1 both indicate an elevated threat of large fires today due to possibly drier type storms in those areas. The overall burn conditions will be particularly high in eastern Washington and north central and NE Oregon today due to a dry and unstable airmass associated with the thermal trough Compounding problems will be an increase in wind in central OR/WA by this evening as a marine push results in strong, gusty west winds through the Col Gorge and down east slopes of the Washington and north Oregon Cascades. Current fires in those areas will likely be affected by these conditions.