Wildfire Aware Situation Report: WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 23, 2023
Welcome to the Wildfire Aware Situation Report for WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 23, 2023, for the United States. Initial Attack activity was LIGHT, with 135 NEW FIRES reported. There are 3 NEW LARGE FIRES in California, Texas, and Colorado.
We are at National Preparedness Level 4.
Bighill #2 (CA): Hoopa Valley Tribe, BIA. Fourteen miles northwest of Willow Creek, CA. Timber and brush. Moderate fire behavior with flanking. Structures and communication infrastructure threatened. Area and road closures in effect.
Camp Lake (TX): Texas A&M Forest Service. Started on private land nine miles east of Mineola, TX. Timber. Active fire behavior with wind-driven runs and single tree torching.
Pike Ridge(CO): White River Field Office, BLM. Thirty-nine miles north of Grand Junction, CO. Timber. Moderate fire behavior with smoldering, creeping and single tree torching. Structures and energy infrastructure threatened.
12 large fires were contained. There are a total of 56 UNCONTAINED LARGE FIRES currently.
Northern California Area (PL 4)
Smith River Complex (CA): (8 fires), Six Rivers NF, USFS. IMT 2 (CA Team 15) and IMT 2 (NW Team 13). Seven miles northeast of Gasquet, CA. Timber and brush. Active fire behavior with backing, torching and spotting. Several communities, energy and communication infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area, road and trail closures in effect.
Happy Camp Complex (CA): (6 fires), Klamath NF, USFS. IMT 1 (CA Team 5). Twenty-one miles west of Yreka, CA. Timber and heavy slash. Moderate fire behavior with flanking, backing and creeping. Several communities, energy and communication infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, road and trail closures in effect.
2023 SRF Lightning Complex (CA): (5 fires), Six Rivers NF, USFS. IMT 1 (CA Team 2). Twenty-two miles north of Hoopa, CA. Timber, brush and hardwood litter. Active fire behavior with flanking, backing and creeping. Several communities, energy and communication infrastructure threatened. Area and trail closures in effect.
South Fork Complex (CA): (2 fires), Shasta-Trinity NF, USFS. IMT 2 (CA Team 11). Fifteen miles west of Hayfork, CA. Timber and brush. Active fire behavior with flanking, short crown runs and short-range spotting. Communities of Hyampom and Lake Mountain Ranch, energy and communication infrastructure threatened. Area closure in effect.
Deep (CA): Shasta-Trinity NF, USFS. IMT 2 (CA Team 10). Ten miles north of Weaverville, CA. Brush and timber. Active fire behavior with torching, creeping and smoldering. Structures threatened. Evacuations, area and trail closures in effect.
Slide 1 (CA): Mendocino NF, USFS. Twenty-four miles northwest of Flournoy, CA. Chaparral, grass and timber. Minimal fire behavior with creeping. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
SKU August Lightning Complex (CA):Siskiyou Unit, Cal Fire. Two miles south of Yreka, CA. Timber and brush. Moderate fire behavior with backing, creeping and smoldering. Energy infrastructure threatened.
Lahaina (HI): County of Maui. One mile northeast of Lahaina, HI.Grass and brush.No new information. Last report unless new information is received.
Upcountry (HI): County of Maui. Eight miles northeast of Wailea, HI. Grass and brush. No new information. Last report unless new information is received.
Northwest Area (PL 5)
Gray (WA): Northeast Region, Washington DNR. IMT 2 (NW Team 7). Three miles southwest of Medical Lake, WA. Timber, grass and brush. Active fire behavior with wind-driven runs, torching and flanking. Several communities and railroad infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area and road closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Oregon (WA): Northeast Region, Washington DNR. IMT 2 (NW Team 7). Three miles southwest of Medical Lake, WA. Timber and grass. Moderate fire behavior with backing, creeping and smoldering. Several communities and railroad infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area and road closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.
Lookout (OR): Willamette NF, USFS. IMT 2 (NW Team 6). Four miles north of McKenzie Bridge, OR. Timber. Active fire behavior with uphill runs, group torching and short-range spotting. Community of McKenzie Bridge and infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area, road and trail closures in effect.
Bedrock (OR): Willamette NF, USFS. Transfer of command from IMT 2 (NW Team 12) to IMT 1 (NW Team 2) will occur tomorrow. 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
Sourdough (WA): North Cascades NP, NPS. Transfer of command from IMT 2 (NW Team 10) to IMT 2 (NW Team 8) will occur tomorrow. Six miles northeast of Newhalem, WA. Timber and brush. Active fire behavior with uphill runs and torching. Structures and energy infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area, road and trail closures in effect
Flat (OR): Rogue River-Siskiyou NF, USFS. IMT 2 (SW Team 3). Two miles southeast of Agness, OR. Brush, timber and chaparral. Moderate fire behavior with backing, isolated torching and smoldering. Structures threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Huckleberry Flats (WA): Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF, USFS. Nine miles east of Darrington, WA. Timber and brush. Moderate fire behavior with backing, creeping and torching. Structures threatened. Road closures in effect.
Wiley (OR): Willamette NF, USFS. Started on private land 10 miles southeast of Sweet Home, OR. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping. Road closures in effect.
Winona(WA)
Blue Lake (WA)*
Dome Peak (WA)*
Airplane Lake (WA)*
Northern Rockies Area (PL 3)
River Road East (MT): Lolo NF, USFS. CIMT (NR Team 1). Six miles southeast of Plains, MT. Timber and grass. Active fire behavior with flanking, short-range spotting and single tree torching. Several communities and infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area and road closures in effect.
East Fork (MT): Kootenai NF, USFS. CIMT (NR Team 6). Twelve miles south of Trego, MT. Timber. Active fire behavior with wind-driven runs, group torching and spotting. Numerous residences threatened. Evacuations and road closures in effect.
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.
Tin Soldier Complex (MT): (3 fires), Flathead NF, USFS. Previously reported incident. Seventeen miles west of Swan Lake, MT. Timber. Active fire behavior with short crown runs, group torching and spotting. Numerous structures and infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area and road 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.
Doris Point (MT): Flathead NF, USFS. Sixteen miles northeast of Kalispell, MT. Brush and timber. Active fire behavior with spotting, smoldering and short crown runs. Structures threatened. Area and road closures in effect.
Colt (MT): Southwestern Land Office, Montana DNR. Transfer of command from CIMT (NR Team 5) back to the local unit will occur tomorrow. Twelve miles northwest of Seeley Lake, MT. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Structures and communication infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday. Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping.
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.
Big Knife (MT)*
Bowles Creek (MT)*
Buckskin 2 (ID)*
Sawtooth (ID)*
Stadium Creek (MT)*
Throng (MT)*
Snowden (ID)*
West Fork (ID)*
Little Bear (ID)*
Sidney (MT)*
Old Ahsahka (ID)
Great Basin Area (PL 3)
East (ID): Boise NF, USFS. IMT 2 (GB Team 6). Ten miles southeast of Cascade, ID. Timber. Moderate fire behavior with group torching, short-range spotting and backing. Structures and communication infrastructure threatened.
Thompson Ridge (UT): Fishlake NF, USFS. Transfer of command from IMT 2 (GB Team 5) to the local unit will occur tomorrow. Ten miles southeast of Beaver, UT. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
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.
Ant (ID)
Chilcoot (ID)*
Hayden (ID)*
Southern Area (PL 3)
Hill Top(TX): Texas A&M Forest Service. CIMT (Florida State Gold Team). Started on private land five miles east of Buffalo Gap, TX. Grass and chaparral. Moderate fire behavior with smoldering.
Beaver Pond (MS): National Forests in Mississippi, USFS. Seventeen miles north of St Martin, MS. Southern rough. No new information.
Black Lagoon (LA): Bayou Sauvage NWR, FWS. Sixteen miles northeast of New Orleans, LA. Grass. Minimal fire behavior.
Dry (TX)
Powerline Grade (FL)*
Hogpen (TX)
Rumps (TX)
Spann (TX)
Stead (TX)
Cearley (TX)
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 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs, CO. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with creeping, backing and smoldering. Area, road and trail closures in effect.
Quartz Ridge (CO): San Juan NF, USFS. Eleven miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO. Timber. Moderate fire behavior with backing, isolated torching and smoldering. Road and trail closures in effect.
Black Mountain (WY)
Deserado (CO)
Little Mesa (CO)*
Lowline (CO)*
Alaska Area (PL 2)
Anderson Complex (AK): (5 fires), Fairbanks Area, Alaska DOF. Started on private land eight miles southwest of Anderson, AK. Timber. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Numerous residences threatened.
Lost Horse Creek (AK)*
Pogo Mine Road (AK)*
Mount Hayes (AK)*
McCoy Creek (AK)*
Wood (AK)*
Mooseheart (AK)*
Chitsia (AK)*
Waterfall (AK)*
Napoleon (AK)*
Clear Creek (AK)*
Delta (AK)*
Ponds (AK)*
Kevinjik (AK)*
Sunagun (AK)*
Pick (AK)*
Dagislakhna (AK)*
Holonada (AK)*
Southwest Area (PL 2)
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.
American Mesa (NM): Carson NF, USFS. Eighteen miles west of Dulce, NM. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Energy infrastructure threatened.
Misdan (AZ)
Prior (NM)*
Turkey (NM)*
Porcupine (NM)*
Wildcat (AZ)*
Dolan (NM)*
Black River Complex (AZ)*
Carlota (AZ)*
Southern California (PL 2)
Plant (CA): Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Eighteen miles southwest of Maricopa, CA. Grass and brush. Area closures in effect. No new information.
Eastern Area (PL 1)
Dragway (NJ): New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Six miles west of Berlin, NJ. Timber and chaparral. Active fire behavior.
*Nationally, 49 fires are being managed under a strategy other than full suppression.
Wildfire Aware Situation Report: Weather Discussion
Provided by the National Interagency Fire Center
Deeper monsoonal moisture will arrive in the Southwest from the remnants of Tropical Storm Harold, with scattered to widespread wet thunderstorms across the Four Corners states. Scattered thunderstorms will also continue over the Big Bend and Trans Pecos. Lingering isolated thunderstorms are likely in portions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, with isolated showers and thunderstorms possible in northern Washington as an upper low moves in from the Pacific. Near normal temperatures with relative humidity above 25% is forecast for much of the northern Intermountain West. Light northeasterly offshore winds over far northwest California will weaken this afternoon before redeveloping tonight. Hot, dry, and locally breezy conditions will continue across much of the southern and central Plains into the Midwest and Southeast. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely on portions of the northern Plains through the Great Lakes, and thunderstorm coverage will likely increase but remain mostly isolated in Florida.
Red Flag Warnings remain in effect from Central Texas into southern Mississippi. Fire Weather Watches are in effect for the Pacific Northwest coastal ranges. The Storm Prediction Center issued no areas of concern for today.
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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.
