Incident Overview
The Heatwave Complex is comprised of twelve lighting-ignited fires (see map) discovered in Olympic National Park since June, threee of which are active. The fires of the Heatwave Complex are burning in remote wilderness areas within Olympic National Park where they pose no immediate threats to life, safety, and property. These fires are moving slowly across the landscape where they are benefitting the ecosystem. The fires of the Heatwave Complex are creating a mosaic of burned and unburned vegetation across the landscape. The majority of fire activity and smoke occur along the perimeter or edge of the fire, which can sometimes vary from a few hundred feet to several acres in size.
A reconnaissance flight conducted on October 10, 2009 detected visible smoke from the Buckinghorse, Constance, and 10 Mile fires. Cool but dry weather on October 11 and 12 allowed the fires to continue to burn with short, upslope runs observed on the Constance fire on the evening of October 11. Significant precipitation and cooler weather for the remainder of October has dramatically reduced fire activity and no smokes have been observed for several weeks. However, because of the extremely heavy fuel type with deep duff and large logs burning within the fire areas the fires have yet to be declared out.
10 Mile Fire - 770 acres - The 10 Mile Fire is being monitored. Fire behavior is minimal. The fire is smoldering in heavy fuels.
Constance Fire - 443 acres - The Constance Fire is being monitored. There has been a slight increase in size due to fire smoldering and creeping high up in the Constance Creek drainage.
Buckinghorse Fire - 330 acres - This fire is smoldering in heavy ground fuels.
Nine fires are considered inactive:
Knife Fire - 170 acres - No smoke observed for 3 weeks; inactive.
Solduc Fire - 6 acres - No smoke observed for 5 weeks; inactive.
Dose (July 11) - 0.1 acre - Inactive
Second Column (July 11) - 0.1 acre - Inactive
Five Ridge (July 28) - 0.1 acre - Inactive
Morganroth (July 29) - 0.1 Acres - Inactive
Long (July 29) - 0.1 Acres - Inactive
Wilder One (July 29) - 0.1 Acres - Inactive
Wilder Two (July 29) - 0.1 Acres - Inactive
Given the remote locations of these fires, steep terrain conditions, and habitat management goals, fire managers will continue to monitor these fires as they progress naturally, and are prepared to take actions as needed where they can do so safely and effectively. Fire managers are confining the east side of the Constance fire to prevent additional fire growth on the Olympic National Forest and surrounding private land.
Closures: All trails are open at this time. For more backcountry information, please contact the park's Wilderness Information Center (360-565-3100).
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Saturday June 13th, 2009 approx. 09:42 PM |
| Incident Commander | Todd Rankin |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 2 |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,719 acres |
| Fuels Involved | These fires are burning in a variety of vegetation. The Constance Fire and 10-Mile Fire are in Douglas-fir and mountain hemlock forests, with a mixed understory. The Buckinghorse Fire and Knife Fire are mostly in sub-alpine fir forests. |
| Fire Behavior | Fire activity ebbs and flows depending on how dry it is, the type of vegetation the fire is burning in, and how steep the landscape is. These fires may continue until they burn themselves out naturally or they are extinguished by heavy precipitation. Due to recent precipitation, fire behavior is minimal. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | The Heatwave Complex fires are located in remote areas of Olympic National Park and pose no immediate threat to life, safety, and property. Fire managers will continue to monitor these fires as they progress naturally, and are prepared to take actions as needed where they can do so safely and effectively. Managing wildland fire requires land managers to balance risks and benefits in an ever-changing environment. Firefighter and public safety, protection of developments, and natural resource benefits are the objectives driving the management of the Heatwave Complex. Crews are clearing trails of fallen trees and rolling debris resulting from the fires. They are also mitigating other trail hazards, like nearby damaged trees that may unexpectedly fall over the trail. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Low |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme; Steep, rocky terrain limits fire growth, but increases safety hazards for firefighters working on the ground. |
| Remarks | Fire managers in Olympic National Park are managing the Heatwave Complex fires for resource benefits. As they burn, these naturally occurring and slow-moving fires are creating a healthy mosaic of burned and unburned forest. Wildlife will benefit from increased habitat diversity. The current fires are also creating natural fuel breaks which will help moderate the intensity and slow the spread of larger, more intense wildfires in the future. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 6-10 mph NE |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 47 degrees |
| Humidity | 35% |
