Morning Update August 13, 2007, 8:00 AM
Incident: Cascade Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/13/2007
Current Status
Management of the Cascade Complex is under the command of Paul Broyles' Type 1 Great Basin National Incident Management Team (IMT). The complex is composed of two fires: North Fork (16,091 acres; 25% contained) and Monumental (42,137 acres; 16% contained).
Yesterday, both fires exhibited extreme fire behavior driven by strong south southwest winds, moving farther to the north and east. After 3 p.m. both fires exhibited strong plume dominated behavior, overriding Red Flag winds. There is no estimation at this time of how far the fires progressed or how much acreage was burned. With little humidity recovery, both fires burned actively through the night.
The Monumental Fire spotted across Forest Road 22 (Warm Lake Road) between Warm Lake and Warm Lake Summit. It transitioned rapidly from a surface fire to crowning, torching and long range spotting. The fire also advanced to the northeast into the Rock Creek drainage and burned actively through parts of the 1989 Warm Lake Fire. South of Warm Lake, its advance is being slowed by the burnout and dozer line that crews conducted over the last few days. Containment lines continue to hold in this area and no structures have been reported lost. Structure protection measures remain in place for the Warm Lake, as well as Stolle Meadows and Knox Ranch areas. Powerlines located between Scott Valley and Yellow Pine have been shut down until further notice due to rapid and uncertain fire growth and potential power pole damage. Idaho Power is working in close concert with the IMT to address issues with powerlines.
The North Fork Fire burned across Forest Road 474 and the South Fork Salmon River and continued burning up both sides of the drainage to the north. Crews were able to conduct a successful burnout operation last night in the Six Bit and Two Bit Creek drainages and along a portion of the Warm Lake Road.
The Valley County Sheriff's Department, consulting with the IMT and Boise National Forest staff, has closed Warm Lake Road until further notice to all but emergency traffic. This is necessary to meet operational purposes and to ensure public safety due to the extreme fire behavior that has been observed. The Lick Creek Road was also closed to non-emergency fire fighting traffic effective at 6:45 pm last night.
Estimated Acreage/ containment
Complex Acreage: Estimated at 58,228 acres. Containment is now estimated at 21% for the entire complex. No containment or control dates have been established.
Values at Risk/Structures Lost
Structures and areas that remain threatened include the Meadow Creek and Rice Peak Lookouts, Landmark Historic Guard Station, Walker Peak Communications Site, Stolle Meadows Guard Station, commercial buildings in Stolle Meadows, the Warm Lake, Paradise and Stibnite areas, Deadwood Outfitters, two organizational camps and the Cascade Complex Incident Command Post at Knox Ranch. There are over 200 structures threatened. One structure (Snowshoe Cabin) was lost earlier in the incident.
Resources on the Fire/Costs
These numbers are updated daily at 6:30 p.m. Crews: 36 Helicopters: 6 Engines: 42 Water tenders: 11 Dozers: 2 Personnel: 1,144 Reportable Injuries: 4 Costs to Date: $9,547,183
Cooperators
Cooperators include: Valley County Sheriff's Office, Valley County government, Southern Idaho Timber Protection Association, Boise National Forest, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Power and Idaho Division of Land & Forestry.
Closures and Restrictions
The Boise, Payette and Salmon-Challis National Forests have implemented road and area closures to provide for public safety within the fire areas. Please contact the Boise National Forest Information Center for more information at (208) 384-3266, or visit their website at www.fs.fed.us/r4/boise/.
Today's Plan
Crews will continue structure protection in the Warm Lake, Stolle Meadows, and Knox Ranch areas, as well as initiate protection of areas north of Warm Lake and Warm Lake Road. Crews may continue burnout operations on the North Fork Fire between Two and Six bit Creeks if conditions allow. Flanking operations on both fires will continue, supported by aerial resources. Additionally, crews will continue mop-up operations where containment lines have held.
Fire Weather
Todays weather will be partly cloudy with temperatures 75-85 and minimum relative humidity near 15%. Winds will be southwest at 5-10 mph, with gusts up to 15 mph. Similar conditions are expected on Tuesday.
Fire Behavior
Fire behavior conditions remain at record levels. The fires will become very active mid-afternoon today, with crowning, torching and long-range spotting up to 1 mile possible. Topography and winds will influence fire activity and movement.
Fire and Other Information
Further information on the Cascade Complex can be obtained by calling (208) 632-2810 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. or by going to http://www.inciweb.org/. For information on other fires elsewhere in the area, contact the Boise National Forest Information Center for more information at (208) 384-3266 or go to www.fs.fed.us/idahofires/.
