Wildfire Aware Situation Report: THURSDAY | AUGUST 17, 2023
Welcome to the Wildfire Aware Situation Report for THURSDAY | AUGUST 17, 2023, for the United States. Initial Attack activity continues to be LIGHT, with 179 NEW FIRES reported. There are 11 NEW LARGE FIRES in California, Hawaii, Washington, Arizona, Florida, and Montana.
Smith River Complex (CA): (2 fires), Six Rivers NF, USFS. IMT 2 (CA Team 15). Seven miles northeast of Gasquet, CA. Timber and brush. Active fire behavior with torching, crowning and long-range spotting. Numerous structures, communication and energy infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area, road and trail closures in effect.
Slide 1 (CA): Mendocino NF, USFS. Twenty-four miles northwest of Flournoy, CA. Chaparral, grass and timber. Active fire behavior with backing, torching and group torching. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Lone Pine (CA): Six Rivers NF, USFS. Four miles northeast of Willow Creek, CA. Timber and brush. Moderate fire behavior with backing, short-range spotting and isolated torching.
Deep (CA): Shasta-Trinity NF, USFS. IMT 2 (CA Team 10) mobilizing. Ten miles north of Weaverville, CA. Brush and timber. Active fire behavior with uphill runs, torching and short-range spotting. Structures threatened. Evacuations, area and trail closures in effect.
SKU August Lightning Complex (CA): Siskiyou Unit, Cal Fire. Two miles south of Yreka, CA. Timber and brush. Energy infrastructure threatened.
Blue Lake (WA)*: Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, USFS. Twenty-three miles northwest of Winthrop, WA. Timber and brush. Active fire behavior with uphill runs, spotting and backing. Structures threatened. Road and trail closures in effect. Last narrative report unless significant activity occurs.
Hidden (AZ): Arizona Strip District, BLM. Twenty-seven miles southeast of Littlefield, AZ. Grass and brush. Moderate fire behavior with creeping, wind-driven runs and smoldering. Structures threatened.
Powerline Grade (FL)*: Florida Forest Service. Started on private land six miles southwest of Indiantown, FL. Grass. Moderate fire behavior with backing. Last narrative report unless significant activity occurs.
Coulee (MT)
Pulehu (HI)
3 large fires were contained. There are a total of 35 UNCONTAINED LARGE FIRES currently.
Northern California Area (PL 4)
Head (CA): Klamath NF, USFS. IMT 1 (CA Team 5). Twenty-one miles northwest of Yreka, CA. Timber and chaparral. Extreme fire behavior with short crown runs, long-range spotting and running. Several communities threatened. Evacuations, area and road closures in effect. Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping.
Lahaina (HI): County of Maui. One mile northeast of Lahaina, HI. Grass. No new information.
Upcountry (HI): County of Maui. Eight miles northeast of Wailea, HI. Grass and timber. No new information.
Northwest Area (PL 4)
Lookout (OR): Willamette NF, USFS. IMT 2 (NW Team 6). Four miles north of McKenzie Bridge, OR. Timber, chaparral and brush. Active fire behavior with single tree torching, flanking and creeping. Numerous structures and communication infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Bedrock (OR): Willamette NF, USFS. IMT 2 (NW Team 12). IMT is also managing the Salmon fire. Twelve miles south of Vida, OR. Timber and brush. Active fire behavior with torching, uphill runs and short crown runs. Numerous structures threatened. Evacuations, area, road and trail closures in effect.
Salmon (OR): Willamette NF, USFS. Four miles northeast of Oakridge, OR. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping. Several communities and infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Sourdough (WA): North Cascades NP, NPS. IMT 2 (NW Team 10). Six miles northeast of Newhalem, WA. Timber and brush. Active fire behavior with flanking, backing and creeping. Structures and energy infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area, road and trail closures in effect
Flat (OR): Rogue River-Siskiyou NF, USFS. CIMT (NR Team 2). Two miles southeast of Agness, OR. Brush, timber and chaparral. Minimal fire behavior with backing, creeping and flanking. Structures threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Wiley (OR): Willamette NF, USFS. Started on private land 10 miles southeast of Sweet Home, OR. Timber. Moderate fire behavior with isolated torching and backing. Residences threatened. Road closures in effect.
Trinity (WA): Spokane District, BLM. Seven miles north of Benton, WA. Short grass. No new information
Airplane Lake (WA)*
Northern Rockies Area (PL 3)
Ridge Creek (ID): Idaho Panhandle NF, USFS. IMT 2 (EA Silver Team). Nine miles northeast of Hayden, ID. Timber. Moderate fire behavior with flanking, short-range spotting and single tree torching. Residences and energy infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Ridge (MT): Flathead NF, USFS. IMT 1 (CA Team 4). Six miles east of Hungry Horse, MT. Timber and brush. Moderate fire behavior with backing, creeping and smoldering. Residences and communication infrastructure threatened. Area and road closures in effect.
Big Knife (MT)*:Flathead Agency, BIA. CIMT (NR Team 3). CIMT is also managing the Niarada and Mill Pocket fires. Five miles east of Arlee, MT. Timber. Moderate fire behavior with backing, flanking and single tree torching. Numerous structures threatened. Road closures in effect.
Niarada (MT): Flathead Agency, BIA. Twelve miles west of Elmo, MT. Timber, brush and grass. Moderate fire behavior with backing, isolated torching and creeping. Numerous residences threatened. Trail closures in effect.
Mill Pocket (MT): Flathead Agency, BIA. Fifteen miles west of Elmo, MT. Grass, brush and timber. Minimal fire behavior with backing, creeping and smoldering. Road closures in effect.
Colt (MT): Southwestern Land Office, Montana DNR. CIMT (NR Team 5). Twelve miles northwest of Seeley Lake, MT. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with creeping, single tree torching and smoldering. Structures and communication infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
East Fork (MT): Kootenai NF, USFS. Twelve miles south of Trego, MT. Timber. Moderate fire behavior with isolated torching, backing and flanking. Road closures in effect.
Gravel Pit (MT): Northwest Land Office, Montana DNR. Twenty-five miles southeast of Libby, MT. Timber, brush and grass. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping.
Midnight (ID): Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, USFS. Thirteen miles east of Grangeville, ID. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Residences and communication infrastructure threatened.
Consalus (ID): Idaho Panhandle NF, USFS. Eight miles southwest of Lamb Creek, ID. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with creeping, backing and smoldering. Residences threatened. Road closures in effect.
Tin Soldier Complex (MT)
Bowles Creek (MT)
Buckskin 2 (ID)*
Snowden (ID)*
West Fork (ID)*
Little Bear (ID)*
Sawtooth (ID)*
Sidney (ID)*
Great Basin Area (PL 3)
Elkhorn (ID)*: Payette NF, USFS. CIMT (GB Team 2). Twenty-five miles northeast of Warren, ID. Timber and brush. Moderate fire behavior with backing, flanking and single tree torching. Structures threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Thompson Ridge (UT): Fishlake NF, USFS. IMT 2 (GB Team 5). Ten miles southeast of Beaver, UT. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with creeping, smoldering and backing. Energy infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect. Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Hayden (ID)*
Southern Area (PL 3)
Black Lagoon (LA): Bayou Sauvage NWR, FWS. Sixteen miles northeast of New Orleans, LA. Grass. No new information. Last report unless new information is received.
Old 97
Dry (TX)(
Hogpen (TZ)*
Alaska Area (PL 3)
Anderson Complex (AK)*: (5 fires), Fairbanks Area, Alaska DOF. IMT 2 (GB Team 3). Started on private land eight miles southwest of Anderson, AK. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering, creeping and torching. Numerous residences threatened. Evacuations in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Lost Horse Creek (AK)*: Fairbanks Area, Alaska DOF. IMT 2 (AK Green Team). Twenty-two miles north of Fairbanks, AK. Timber and brush. Moderate fire behavior with creeping, single tree torching and smoldering. Numerous structures threatened. Evacuations, area and trail closures in effect.
Pogo Mine Road (AK)*
Mount Hayes (AK)*
McCoy Creek (AK)*
Wood (AK)*
Cosna (AK)*
Mooseheart (AK)*
Chitsia (AK)*
Draanjik (AK)*
Waterfall (AK)*
Napoleon (AK)*
Clear Creek (AK)*
Delta (AK)*
Ponds (AK)*
Kevinjik (AK)*
Preacher (AK)*
Jordan (AK)*
Crooked (AK)*
Wickersham (AK)*
Hodzana (AK)*
Pick (AK)*
Browns (AK)*
Dagislakhna (AK)*
Holonada (AK)*
Rocky Mountain Area (PL 2)
Bear Creek (CO): San Juan NF, USFS. NIMO (NIMO Team 1). NIMO is also managing the Quartz Ridge incident. Twenty-three miles northwest of Pagosa Springs, CO. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with creeping, single tree torching and smoldering. Residences threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Quartz Ridge (CO): San Juan NF, USFS. Eleven miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping. Road and trail closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Little Mesa (CO)*
Lowline (CO)*
Southwest Area (PL 3)
Black Feather (NM): Santa Fe NF, USFS. Transfer of command from IMT 1 (SW Team 2) back to the local unit will occur today. Ten miles northwest of Cuba, NM. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Several communities and infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Brady (AZ): Central District, Arizona DOF. Seven miles northeast of Pine, AZ. Timber, brush and grass. No new information.Area, road and trail closures in effect. Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping
American Mesa (NM): Carson NF, USFS. Eighteen miles west of Dulce, NM. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Energy infrastructure threatened.
Kane (AZ): Kaibab NF, USFS. Forty miles southwest of Page, AZ. Timber, grass and brush. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Diamond (AZ): Tonto NF, USFS. Eleven miles west of Tonto Basin, AZ. Grass, chaparral and brush. Minimal fire behavior. Structures threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Misdan (AZ)
Dark (NM)*
Prior (NM)*
Turkey (NM)*
Porcupine (NM)*
Wildcat (AZ)*
Dolan (NM)*
Black River Complex (AZ)*
Noonday (NM)*
Tub (NM)*
Carlota (AZ)*
Divide (NM)*
Pasture (NM)*
Davis (NM)*
Southern California Area (PL 3)
York (CA)
Pika (CA)*
*Nationally, 61 fires are being managed under a strategy other than full suppression.
We have moved to National Preparedness Level 4.
Wildfire Aware Situation Report: Weather Discussion
Provided by the National Interagency Fire Center
Hot, dry, and unstable conditions will continue across the Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies, and much of the Great Basin, with little change from prior days. Minimum relative humidity will again fall to 10-25% over a wide area, with poor recoveries for many mid-slope and higher locations, and temperatures of 95 to 110°F will be common. A notable increase in winds is also anticipated in the Northern Rockies and through the Cascade Gaps. Hot weather will extend into northern California, where another round of isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms is expected and could lead to a few new ignitions. Isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms are also likely in portions of Oregon and southern Idaho. An active monsoon will lead to continued wet thunderstorms across southern California and much of the Four Corners states. Hotter and drier weather is expected over Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, while the remainder of the Plains states and the Midwest will see a cooling trend. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely for a good portion of the Great Lakes and the East Coast. It will be mainly dry and breezy over Interior Alaska, but temperatures will be generally near to below normal.
Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather watches are in effect throughout the Pacific Northwest, spreading into Northern California and Northwestern Montana. The Storm Prediction Center has issued Elevated and Extreme Fire Weather areas of concern throughout eastern Oregon and Washington, extending into Western Montana.
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Link to the National Incident Management Situation Report.
Link to the National Weather Service Fire Weather Prediction Center.
Link to the National 7-Day Significant Fire Potential.
