Lick Creek Fire Update – Monday, July 19, 2021 – 9:00 a.m.

 Current Situation: The fire perimeter to the north and east, along the South Fork of the Asotin Creek and Peola road is contained and remains in patrol status. To the southeast, established fireline was wind tested by strong northern winds picking up embers from some trees torching on the interior of the fireline. Crews continued to maintain and improve fireline in that area and will patroll during day and night operations. Firelines near the Cloverland snow park area and Forest Service road 43 continue to be improved and are on track to be put into a patrol status soon. The southwest line of the fire also received higher winds during the night creating spot fires that night crews were able to contain. Patrolling and gridding of the area will continue as fireline is improved and hotspots are identified. Gridding is the action of searching for a small fire by systematically traveling over an area on parallel courses or gridlines.  

The west side of the fire has remained stable allowing for heavy machinery to move in to grade roads, improving access routes to that side of the fire. Alternate, or contingency firelines are still being constructed east of Big Butte Lookout and to the west near Clearwater Lookout. Contingency lines are secondary containment lines constructed as back up in case the fire escapes primary containment lines.  

Due to historically high temperatures and dry fuel loads the crews will be on a red flag warning starting Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning when dry lighting and isolated thunderstorms are possible. This weather has the potential to create funneling and channeled winds that could blow embers over the fireline and create isolated torching of trees on the interior of the fireline.  

The Umitilla National Forest has requested that PNW Team 3 also assume command of Green Ridge Fire which is southwest of Lick Creek Fire. Today Lick Creek fire managers will be on site at Green Ridge to gain situational awareness and implement a transition plan for Tuesday morning when PNW Team 3 will take responsibility for the Green Ridge fire.     

Today’s Activities: Crews are securing and strengthening containment lines. Aerial operations will be conducting burnout as needed and reconnaissance flights to look for spot fires outside the contained fireline and identifying interior hotspots. Crews on the southern-most tip of the fire will grid burned areas looking for hotspots and are patrolling established firelines. The fire has slowed down to creeping and smoldering with localized hot areas with some minimal fire activity in unburned areas inside the fireline. The potential for fire spread or growth is minimal at this time. Crews will remain diligent as the possible thunderstorms move in creating wind that may pick up embers over established lines. 

Weather and Smoke Information: Temperatures will warm back into the 80s in the mountains and upper 90s for the lower valleys.  Dry conditions are expected to persist. Smoke Information is available on the Washington Smoke Blog at: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ 

Evacuations: Evacuation levels have changed. Evacuation zones, and fire perimeter maps are posted on InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615. 

Closures: All Forest Service lands, roads, and trails within the Umatilla National Forest are closed. For more information visit the Umatilla National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd931174.pdf. 

ADDITIONAL FIRE INFORMATION: 

Fire Information: 509-780-6238   |   InciWeb:  inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7615/   |   Facebook: Lick Creek Fire 

Lick Creek Fire Quick Facts
Start Date: July 7, 2021	Approx. Size: 71,512 ac.	Resources:
Cause: Lightning	Containment: 40%	10 Crews
Incident Commander:	Total Personnel: 476	34 Engines
Randy Johnson  Pacific Northwest Team 3	Location: Approximately 20 miles SW of Asotin, WA	5 Dozers  22 Water Tenders  1 Mastecator