Wildfire Aware Situation Report: TUESDAY | AUGUST 15, 2023
Welcome to the Wildfire Aware Situation Report for Tuesday, August 15, 2023, for the United States. Initial Attack activity continues to be LIGHT, with 168 NEW FIRES reported. There are 4 NEW LARGE FIRES in Washington, Arizona, Hawaii, and Mississippi.
Trinity (WA): Spokane District, BLM. Seven miles north of Benton, WA. Short grass. Active fire behavior with running, flanking and smoldering. Structures threatened. Road closures in effect.
Midsan (AZ): Tonto NF, USFS. Twenty-five miles northeast of Cave Creek, AZ. Grass and brush. Moderate fire behavior with backing and uphill runs. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday. Last narrative report unless significant activity occurs.
Upcountry (HI): County of Maui. Eight miles northeast of Wailea, HI. Grass and brush. Minimal fire behavior with creeping. Several communities threatened. Area and road closures in effect.
Gobblerhead Road (MS)
14 large fires were contained. There are a total of 28 UNCONTAINED LARGE FIRES currently.
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. Active fire behavior with running, flanking and smoldering. Structures threatened. Road closures in effect.
Ben Harison (OR)
Airplane Lake (WA)*
High Range (OR)*
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.
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. Residences threatened.
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.
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.
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): (3 fires), Flathead NF, USFS. Previously reported incident. Seventeen miles west of Swan Lake, MT. Timber. Active fire behavior with single tree torching, flanking and spotting. Numerous structures and infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area and road closures in effect. Last narrative report unless significant activity occurs.
Bowles Creek (MT): Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, USFS. Previously reported incident. Twenty-five miles southwest of Philipsburg, MT. Timber and brush. Moderate fire behavior with backing, creeping and isolated torching. Road and trail closures in effect. Last narrative report unless significant activity occurs.
Middle Ridge (MT)
Buckskin 2 (ID)*
Snowden (ID)*
West Fork (ID)*
Little Bear (ID)*
Sawtooth (ID)*
Sidney (ID)*
Southwest Area (PL 3)
Black Feather (NM): Santa Fe NF, USFS. IMT 1 (SW Team 2). Ten miles northwest of Cuba, NM. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Several communities and infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Brady (AZ):Central District, Arizona DOF. Seven miles northeast of Pine, AZ. Timber, brush and grass. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Residences threatened. 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 creeping and smoldering. Structures and energy infrastructure threatened. Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping.
Kane (AZ): Kaibab NF, USFS. IMT 2 (SW Team 4). Forty miles southwest of Page, AZ. Timber, grass, and brush. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
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): Tonto NF, USFS. Twenty-five miles northeast of Cave Creek, AZ. Grass and brush. Moderate fire behavior with backing and uphill runs. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday. Last narrative report unless significant activity occurs.
Cottonwood Ridge (AZ)
Spoon (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)*
Great Basin Area (PL 3)
Elkhorn (ID)*: Payette NF, USFS. CIMT (GB Team 2). Twenty-five miles northeast of Warren, ID. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. 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 torching, smoldering and backing. Structures and energy infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Hayden (ID)*: Salmon-Challis NF, USFS. IMT 2 (GB Team 4). Eighteen miles west of Leadore, ID. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
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.
Sand Lake (AK)
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)*
Southern Area (PL 3)
Campbell (TX): Texas A&M Forest Service. CIMT (SA Gold Team). Three miles northeast of Olney, TX. Grass and brush. Active fire behavior. Structures threatened.
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.
Staples (TX)
Santa Rosa Creek (TX)
Hill (TX)
Burnett 109 (TX)
Hawkweye (TX)
Boggy Creek(TX)
Monkey Creek (TX)
Granjeno (TX)
Cedar Top (TX)
Double Back (TX)
Gobblerhead Road (MS)
Dry (TX)(
Hogpen (TZ)*
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.
Little Mesa (CO)*: Uncompahgre Field Office, BLM. Previously reported incident. Fifteen miles southwest of Delta, CO. Brush and timber. Moderate fire behavior with single tree torching, wind-driven runs and smoldering. Structures threatened. Road closures in effect. Last narrative report unless significant activity occurs.
Quartz Ridge (CO)
Lowline (CO)*
Southern California Area (PL 3)
York (CA): Mojave National Preserve, NPS. Forty-seven miles northwest of Needles, CA. Brush, grass and timber. Minimal fire behavior. Residences threatened. Area and road closures in effect.
Pika (CA)*
Northern California Area (PL 2)
Upcountry (HI): County of Maui. Eight miles northeast of Wailea, HI. Grass and brush. Minimal fire behavior with creeping. Several communities threatened. Area and road closures in effect.
*Nationally, 60 fires are being managed under a strategy other than full suppression.
We remain at National Preparedness Level 3.
Wildfire Aware Situation Report: Weather Discussion
Provided by the National Interagency Fire Center
Hot, dry, and unstable conditions will continue across the Northwest extending into northern California, the northern Rockies, and northern Great Basin. Temperatures up to 110°F will occur in the lower valleys, with widespread temperatures in the 90s in the higher elevations. Relative humidity will fall to 10-25% with poor overnight recovery below 30% for many mid-slopes and ridges. In addition, gusty westerly winds will develop in the Cascade Gaps, while isolated to scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms develop over northern California into southwest and central Oregon with several new ignitions likely. Monsoon moisture will remain across the southern Sierra and Southwest into the greater Four Corners, with scattered wet thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Cooler temperatures are forecast across much of Texas into the Lower Mississippi Valley, but dry and gusty post-frontal northerly winds will create locally elevated conditions in north and central Texas into Louisiana. Scattered thunderstorms will develop near the stalled front in south Texas and along the Gulf Coast with potential new ignitions, while scattered to widespread thunderstorms will develop along the East Coast. Cooler, moisture conditions are forecast for Interior Alaska.
Red Flag Warnings remain across the Pacific Northwest, with Fire Weather Watches extending into Northern California. The Storm Prediction Center has no areas of Fire Weather concern but has an area of isolated Dry Thunderstorms highlighted for Northern California into Southern Oregon.
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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.
