State of Emergency Declared in Oregon due to Wildfires

Josephine and Douglas counties declare states of emergency

Oregon Gov. has declared a state of emergency Josephine and Douglas counties as wildfires burn thousands of acres, destroy scores of buildings and threaten hundreds of homes.

At least 7 major wildfires are currently active in the state of Oregon.  [Dozens of smaller fires have not been logged.]

Meantime, a threat of dry lightning and thunderstorms is forecast Tuesday night through Wednesday.

“A strong weather system will move through the Pacific Northwest and across the northern Rockies over the course of the week. Dry, gusty winds are already contributing to increased fire danger in this region, but conditions will worsen on Wednesday as the weather system brings a chance of ‘dry’ thunderstorms. The lightning from these storms could ignite new wildfires that could spread rapidly.” NWS reported.

Douglas Complex Fire. Credit: Marvin Vetter, ODF

Douglas Complex Fire. Some 54 lightning-sparked blazes have been burning at least 21,400 acres since Friday and were only 5 percent contained Tuesday evening.

• Location: 7 miles north of Glendale, OR
• Percent Contained: 5%
• Complex Size: 21,400 acres
• Cause: Lightning
• Start Date: 7/26/13
• Total Personnel: 1,260
• Growth Potential: Extreme
• Terrain Difficulty: Extreme

Evacuations and Closures:

Cow Creek Road from Riddle into the fire area and from Glendale into the fire has been closed. The public is asked to honor the road blocks and not interfere with firefighters working in the area.

Evacuations have been ordered for McCullough Creek Road, Reuben Road, and Mt. Reuben Road in Douglas County, and Poorman Creek Road in Josephine County.

An additional four hundred residences are considered threatened. This means evacuations could be necessary at some point in the future. Any official evacuation orders would be issued by the Douglas County or Josephine Sheriff’s Offices. [Inciweb]

The Whiskey Complex Fire. The Whiskey Complex consists of four distinct fires on the Tiller Ranger District: Buckeye, Big Brother, Whiskey, and Smith Ridge. The fires were caused by lightning on July 26, 2013. The blazes have consumed at least 3,068 acres in steep and remote terrain in timber, the fire activity has been primarily ground fire with occasional tree torching and spotting. [Oregon Interagency Incident Management]

The Whiskey Complex Fire.  Credit:  K. Gregor

The Whiskey Complex Fire is currently ZERO – 7 percent contained with about 780 personnel deployed.

• Nine people were evacuated from five residences in Ash Valley on Monday as the Buckeye Fire crossed the top of the ridge above the homes. Firefighters expect the fire to slowly back down toward Ash Creek and spare the homes, but asked residents to leave as a precaution.

• Residences in Ash Valley are being served a Level 3 evacuation due to an increase in fire activity on the Buckeye Fire.  Additional road closures are expected.

The Big Windy Complex Fire. The Big Windy consists of 3 fires: The Big Windy Fire, Calvert Peak Fire, and Jenny Fire (formerly the Windy 16 Fire).

• Cause: Lightning
• Size: 2,914 acres
• Date of Origin: Friday July 26th, 2013 approx. 03:00 AM
• Location: 25 miles NW of Grants Pass
• Total Personnel: 186
• Containment: 0 percent
• Growth Potential: High
• Terrain Difficulty: Extreme

Brimstone Fire.  Another lightning-sparked wildfire 10 miles northwest of Merlin, the blaze has consumed more than 2000 acres since Monday July 29th, 2013. Some 773 personnel have been deployed to control the fire.  Brimstone is one of 24 lightning-fires on land protected by ODF’s Grants Pass District.

The Labrador Fire. The blaze was ignited by lightning on July 26. The fire is currently estimated to be 1,050 acres and burning adjacent to the Illinois River near the community of Oak Flat.

• Containment: The fire is 0 % contained
• personnel: 414
• Growth Potential: Extreme
• Terrain Difficulty: High

The Colockum Tarps Fire. The blaze started at about 8:00 a.m. on Saturday July 27 near  the intersections of Colockum Road and Tarpiscan Road, south of Malaga, Chelan County, Washington. Malaga is near Wenatchee, Washington.

• The Kittitas County Sheriff established a Level 3 Evacuation Notification for the western shore of the Columbia River from the northern boundary of Kittitas County south to Skookumchuck Creek and Scammon Landing. The Wild Hourse Wind Farm was placed under Level 2 evacuation notice. The Renewable Energy Center is now closed to the public. A Level 1 Evacuation Notice is now in effect for the Whiskey Wildlife Area as well.
  

• Size:  59,316 acres (~93 square miles)
• Percent Contained 8%
• Total Personnel: 370
• Significant Events:  Evacuations, continued progress on west, scouting for perimeter control opportunities in the south. Significant growth continues in south and west portions of the fire. Fire crossed Quilmene Rd. to the south. VLAT used to hold fire on Quilmene ridge and check slopover. Established trigger points with Kittitas County.
• Growth Potential: Extreme
• Terrain Difficulty: High

News Link: Evacuation and destruction caused by Colockum Tarps Fire

The Mile Marker 28 Fire. The blaze started on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. The fire is located 15 miles northeast of Goldendale, Washington along Highway 97 and is burning in grasslands, shrub brush, timber, and timber litter. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

• Size 22,469 acres
• Percent Contained: 60%
• Total Personnel: 1,345
• Significant Events: US Hwy 97 remains closed Teusday. The Level 1 (advisory) advisory and level 2 (potential evacuation) remains in effect.

Sunnyside Turnoff Fire

• Size: 51,340 acres
• Contained: 95%

Related Links

• Dry Thunderstorms Threaten Pacific Northwest  July 31, 2013
• Oregon Wildfires Threaten Hundreds of Homes July 30, 2013

Oregon Wildfires Threaten Hundreds of Homes

105 Homes evacuated, another 300 threatened by lightning-sparked wildfires

Some 1,024 fire crews are battling the The Douglas Complex Fire, which has consumed more than 21,000 acres and is only 2 percent contained.

The Douglas Complex started Friday morning, July 26, 2013, after 54 fires were ignited by lightning.

The Douglas Complex. Credit: Marvin Vetter, ODF

Evacuation Update Correction [Inciweb]

Updated information from Josephine County regarding the evacuations put in place:

Evacuations

• Graves Creek bridge to Lower Graves Creek Road/Lower Wolf Creek Road.
• Lower Wolf Creek Road to Water Tank Drainage on Lower Wolf Creek Road.

Road Closures

• Roads Closed at Graves Creek Bridge, water tank drainage as well as Lower Wolf Creek Road from the town of Wolf Creek to the Water Tank drainage.

Additional Homes Evacuated in Josephine County

Josephine County Sheriff issued a road closure order this afternoon due to fire activity in the area. Lower Wolf Creek Road is closed from the town of Wolf Creek to Leland Road. Lower Graves Creek Road is closed from Leland Road to the Rogue River. Josephine County Sheriff’s Office also issued an evacuation order for all residences on Lower Graves Creek Road from the Graves Creek Bridge to Leland Road, Lower Wolf Creek Road, and from Lower Graves Creek to Water Tank Gulch. This new evacuation order affects an estimated 30 residences.

Evacuation orders are still in effect for:

• McCullough Creek Road, Reuben Road, and Mt. Reuben Road in Douglas County, and Poorman Creek Road in Josephine County.

• Citizens can evacuate to Glendale Elementary School or Josephine County Fairgrounds:

Fire Statistics

• Location: 7 miles north of Glendale, OR
• Percent Contained: 2%
• Complex Size: 21,000 acres
• Cause: Lightning
• Start Date: 7/26/13Total
• Personnel: 1024
• Growth Potential: Extreme
• Terrain Difficulty: Extreme

Other Evacuation News

Montana

Moose Meadow fire was sparked by lightning on July 25, 2013 and has exploded to more than 2,500 acres, prompting evacuation orders for dozens of residences in the Moose Lake and Kaiser Lake areas.

The blaze is currently 5% contained, with full containment expected Sunday September 1, 2013 .

• Incident: Wildland fire, lightning-caused, reported on July 25, 2013
• Location: 18 miles southeast of Philipsburg, MT and 15 miles west of Georgetown Lake, MT
• No of fire crews deployed: 480 personnel

Moose Meadow Fire – Smoke Sunset Over Philipsburg. Source: Beaverhead – Deerlodge National Forest U.S. Forest Service

-oOo-

Texas

• A large wildfire northwest of Smithville forces multiple home evacuations

Related Links

• Dark Gray Air Warning!! July 29, 2013
• Third Town May Be Forced to Evacuate July 29, 2013
• Mass Evacuations as Wildfires Erupt in Wash. July 28, 2013
• Hundreds of Homes Evacuated as MT Wildfire Grows  July 27, 2013

Drought and Deluge Disasters Declared

Disaster declared in dozens of additional counties due to lingering drought, Hurricane ISAAC

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated the entire state of Michigan, which includes 83 counties, as primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive heat that began March 1, 2012, and continues.

• USDA has designated 147 additional counties in 14 states as natural disaster areas-128 counties in 10 states due to drought.

U.S. Drought Disaster Map 2012. [August 29, 2012] Source: USDA. Edited for brevity by FIRE-EARTH.

Since the second week of July, USDA has designated 1,892 unduplicated counties in 38 states as disaster areas-1,820 due to drought.

• The disaster declaration extends also to 15 counties in three surrounding states because they are contiguous.
  • Indiana: Five counties.
  • Ohio. Three counties.
  • Wisconsin. Five counties.

• Iowa. USDA has designated 11 counties in Iowa as agricultural disaster areas  due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Minnesota. The declaration extends to four Minnesota counties because they are contiguous.

• Montana. USDA has designated 23 counties in Montana as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Idaho.  The declaration extends to three Idaho counties because they are contiguous.
  • Wyoming.  The declaration extends to two Wyoming counties because they are contiguous.

• Idaho. USDA has designated 6 counties in Idaho as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Montana.  The declaration extends to two Montana counties because they are contiguous.

• Alabama. USDA has designated five counties in Alabama as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Georgia. The declaration extends to three Georgia counties because they are contiguous.

• South Dakota.USDA has designated 50 counties in South Dakota as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat, high winds, hail, frosts and freezes that began Jan. 1, 2012, and continues. The declaration extends to counties in the following bordering states.
  • Iowa.  One county.
  • Minnesota. Three counties.
  • Montana. Two counties
  • North Dakota. Six counties.

• Mississippi. USDA has designated ten counties in Mississippi as as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Tennessee. The declaration extends to two Tennessee counties because they are contiguous.

• Maryland. USDA has designated 18 counties in Maryland as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive heat that began April 20, 2012, and continues.  The declaration extends to areas in the following surrounding states.
  • Independent City: Baltimore.
  • Delaware. Four counties.
  • District of Columbia.
  • Pennsylvania.  Two counties.
  • Virginia. Two counties.
  • Independent City:  Alexandria.

• Kentucky.   USDA has designated three counties in Kentucky as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Indiana.  The declaration extends to three counties in the adjacent state of Indiana because they are contiguous.

• Tennessee. USDA has designated 6 counties in Tennessee as a primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Mississippi.  The declaration extends to three counties in the adjacent state of Mississippi because they are contiguous.

Wildfires

• Oregon. USDA has designated seven counties in Oregon as primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by wildfires that began July 8 and continue. The disaster declaration extends to counties in the adjacent states:
  • Idaho.  Four counties.
  • Nevada. Two counties.

Multiple Freezes

• Pennsylvania. USDA has designated four counties in Pennsylvania as a primary and contiguous natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by multiple freezes that occurred April 3-30, 2012.
  • Maryland.  The declaration extends to two counties in Maryland because they are contiguous.

• Maine. USDA has designated seven counties in Maine as primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by frost, freezes, hailstorms and excessive rain.
  • New Hampshire. The declaration extends to four counties in New Hampshire because they are contiguous.

Flood Disaster Declarations

• Minnesota. USDA has designated 28 counties in Minnesota as primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred April 1-July 31, 2012.
  • Wisconsin. The declaration extends to three counties in Wisconsin because they are contiguous.

• Maine. Seven counties in Maine been named as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain that occurred June 15-30, 2012.

Hurricane ISAAC Disaster Declarations

• Mississippi. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Mississippi  in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012, and continuing.
  • The worst affected counties are Amite, Attala, Carroll, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Grenada, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Stone, Walthall, Wayne, Wilkinson, and Yazoo.

• Louisiana. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012, and continuing.
  • The worst affected areas are parishes of Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Franklin, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, and West Baton Rouge.

Other Disaster Declarations

• New Mexico.The President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Mexico  in the area affected by flooding during the period of June 22 to July 12, 2012.
  • The worst affected areas are the counties of Lincoln and Sandoval and the Santa Clara Pueblo.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• Disaster Declared for 142 U.S. Counties Posted August 23, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Global Warning

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Texas Declared Major Disaster Area

Wildfires have destroyed about 2,000 homes since Aug 30

The White House declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas due to wildfires beginning on August 30, 2011, and continuing.

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FIRE-EARTH will continue to update the 2011 Disaster Calendar for the benefit of its readers.

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Disaster Calendar 2011 – September 10

[September 10, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,649 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Texas, USA. The White House declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas due to wildfires beginning on August 30, 2011, and continuing.
• Bastrop County Complex Fire has consumed about 34,068 acres, TFS reported. The 719-acre Union Chapel Fire is now included in this complex. An assessment team has confirmed 1,386 homes have been destroyed on the main fire, with 28 lost on the Union Chapel Fire. Two civilians were found dead Tuesday.
• BEAR CREEK (#536), Cass County. 49,997 acres, 30 percent contained. The fire is burning very actively in heavy timber and is threatening numerous houses. Twenty-four homes have been destroyed southeast of Linden.
• RILEY ROAD, Grimes/Montgomery/Waller counties. 21,269 acres, 30 percent contained. About 58 homes have been destroyed on this fire burning west of Magnolia.
• At least 23 other large fires are currentlt burning in Texas (NIFC).
• TFS  has responded to 179 fires for 170,686 acres in the past 7 days.

YTD Fire Stats, September 10, 2011. Source: TFS

• For additional details see earlier entries including
• Flooding in the U.S. Northeast Forces Mass Evacuations
• Texas Wildfires Destroy 1,626 Homes, as Drought Worsens
• Texas Wildfires Torch 1,100 Homes
• Texas Bastrop Blaze Burns 25,000 Acres, 476 Homes
• Drought Intensifies in Southern U.S.

US Wildfire:

• States currently reporting large fires (NIFC):
• Arizona (3)
• California (2)
• Florida (1)
• Idaho (6)
• Minnesota (1)
• Montana (4)
• Oklahoma (3)
• Oregon (7)
• Texas (26)
• Washington (2)

• Washington, USA. A large wildfire in Goldendale, Washington, has consumed about 5,300 acres and destroyed at least 64 buildings, reports said.
• A firefighter described the fire as “a greased pig rodeo,” moving first in one direction, then another by shifting winds. Hundreds of people have been evacuated.
• Oregon, USA. Major wildfires, continue to burn in Central and Eastern Oregon, Most of the blazes have been ignited by lightning.
• The largest blaze burning in Oregon is the High Cascades Complex near Madras, which was started by lightning, has so far consumed about 108,000 acres, reports said.
• The Shadow Lake Fire has consumed more than 7,000 acres since August 28 when it was ignited by lightning.
• Wyoming, USA. A large wildfire located about 24 miles north of Dubois, WY, near the Double Cabin Campground and Guard Station, has consumed more than 20,000 acres.
• The Norton Point fire was started by lightning.
• Idaho, USA. The Saddle Complex Fire, which was ignited by lightning on August 10, has consumed 30,511 acres, InciWeb reported.
• 30 Wyoming Air National Guard members have been deployed to Idaho to help fight wildfires, reports said.
• Salt (Salmon-Challis National Forest): 17,546 acres at 17 percent contained. This fire is 16 miles southwest of Salmon. Evacuations are in effect. (NIFC)
• California. Canyon Fire (Kern County Fire Department): 14,802 acres at 91 percent contained. This fire is five miles southeast of Tehachapi.
• Montana. Forty One Complex (Bitterroot National Forest): 6,027 acres. This complex of four fires is eight miles east of Hamilton.
• Oklahoma. Ferguson Fire (Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge): 40,002 acres at 85 percent contained. This fire is 12 miles northeast of Cache.

Other Global Disasters

• Zanzibar. About 200 people have perished after a boat carrying more than 800 people capsized in the Indian Ocean due to strong currents.

Related Links

• Mega Heatwaves Could Kill Tens of Thousands in the U.S. FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. Disaster Losses Mounting
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA  FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• U.S. back-to-back disasters phase has begun
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs FIRE-EARTH Forecast

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities EDRO Forecast
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

The White House War Vulture Claims 48 More Lives

Obama’s War on Afghanistan Claims the Largest Single U.S. Casualties

[August 7, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,683 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

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Continued hacking and content censorship

In view of the continued hacking and censorship of this blog by the Internet Mafia, the Moderators have decided to maintain only a minimum presence at this site, until further notice.

FIRE-EARTH will continue to update the 2011 Disaster Calendar for the benefit of its readers.

WordPress Continues to Hack Fire-Earth, Affiliated Blogs

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The Blog Moderators Condemn in the Strongest Possible Terms the Continued Removal of Content and Hacking of FIRE-EARTH and Affiliated Blogs by WordPress!

Disaster Calendar 2011 – August 7 Entry

• Russia. The health authorities have declared a state of emergency in a district of Krasnodar Region in south Russia following the outbreak of African swine fever (Montgomery’s disease) a report said.
• “The state of emergency covers an area where 11,839 pigs are being kept, of which 50 have already died, the emergencies center said.”

• California, USA. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated San Luis Obispo County in California as a primary natural disaster area because of the losses to wine grapes caused by freezing temperatures that occurred April 8-9, 2011, the department said.
• Oklahoma, USA. Large wildfires in Edmond have destroyed dozens of houses,  mobile homes and outbuildings, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate in several neighborhoods, reports said.
• Idaho, USA. Three major wildfires, which were sparked by lightning a few days ago, have scorched at least 35,000 acres in southwest Idaho and continue to rage, reports said.
• Oregon, USA. Large wildfires sparked by lightning have consumed about 20,000 acres of forest in central Oregon, reports said. Lines of thunderstorms in the region have produced at least 4,100 lightning strikes on Thursday.
• Utah, USA. A fast-moving major wildfire near Cedar City, Utah has consumed about 10,000 acres and was zero percent contained as of posting.
• Obama’s War on Afghanistan. Obama’s war on Afghanistan claimed 42 more lives over the weekend, most of them Americans.
• On Saturday 31 US special forces and seven Afghan soldiers were killed when their Chinook helicopter was shut down west of Kabul.
• On Sunday 4 more NATO troops were killed in two separate attacks in eastern and southern Afghanistan.
• The war vulture in the White House said: “Their deaths are a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the men and women of our military and their families, including all who have served in Afghanistan.” But, he failed to say what the sacrifice was for, or why it was necessary.
• London, England. Dozens of people were injured and many homes, stores and cars were set alight after rioting broke out in North London borough of Tottenham. Looters ransacked dozens of shops in the area. The violence erupted after a protest calling for justice over the fatal shooting by police of Mark Duggan on Thursday. The victim’s cousin was stabbed to death in a London nightclub in March this year.
• Texas, USA. The official heat-related deaths in Dallas has reached 14, reports said.  At least 11 more deaths are under investigation.
• Missouri, USA. The official heat-related deaths in Kansas City, Missouri has reached at least 24, city’s health department said.
• Maryland, USA. The official heat-related deaths in Baltimore has reached at least 21, reports said.

Related Links

• Nature’s Warnings Exponentially Intensifying  Posted by edro on April 14, 2011
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• US Nuke Plants Threatened by Extreme Heat