Tiger Creek Fire Update for Oct. 5, 2024

PENDLETON, Ore. (Oct. 5, 2024) —The Tiger Creek Fire, located approximately 15 miles southeast of Walla Walla, WA in the Mill Creek Municipal Watershed, on the Walla Walla Ranger District has seen growth due to higher winds, its size at approximately 475 acres with moderate fire activity.

Fire crews are continuing to work from an established anchor point on the fire and create containment line where it is feasible.  Aircraft continue to be used to limit fire spread and spot fire growth in the Mill Creek Watershed. Halting the growth, active suppression of this fire and public safety will continue to be a priority task for fire crews, while limiting environmental impacts to the watershed.

*Correction* A correction from prior news releases about roads closures. Access through Forest Service Road 65 up through FSR 64 to the junction with Indian Camp is closed. Government Mountain Road/FSR 6511 is closed from North Fork Walla Walla trailhead to the junction with FSR 65 at Tiger Saddle. Government Mountain Rd/FSR 6511 is open from the west up to North Fork Walla Walla trailhead.

California Team 15 will take command of Tiger Creek Fire tonight, more information can be found at:

Phone number: 509-213-5793
Email: 2024.tigercreek@firenet.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566629887119
InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incid.../orumf-tiger-creek-fire

Weather: Weather over the weekend predicts mostly clear to sunny weather. With the humidity to rise up to 38 percent over Saturday night, with east winds up to 7 mph shifting to southeast winds up to 9 mph. Sunday is expected to keep the humidity at or above 31 percent with south winds up to 9 mph shifting to west winds up to 7 mph around 2 p.m.

Smoke: Walla Walla’s air quality for today is good and remains steady, some residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke as the fire continues to burn. Check out https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1 for more information.

The current fire danger rating is at MODERATE and public use restrictions phase A for Umatilla National Forest are in effect.

More information regarding restrictions, please contact:

Umatilla National Forest:
Information Hotline: Toll-Free (877) 958-9663
www.facebook.com/UmatillaNF  
X: @UmatillaNF

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.  

Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.

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BMIDC MORNING BRIEFING
October 4th, 2024
BMIDC WEBSITE
10/3 (NEW) INITIAL ATTACK	Fires	Acres
Umatilla National Forest	1	.1
Wallowa Whitman National Forest	1	1
Vale/PRD District BLM Baker Area	0	0
NEO Oregon Department of Forestry		.
WA DNR Snake River Unit	0	0
BIA Umatilla Agency	0	0
Totals	1	.1
INCIDENT SUMMARY
BMIDC Incidents 10/3/2024 Wildfire OR-UMF-000834, Dead Horse.  NFJDRD.  Divide Wells area.  14 miles W of Ukiah, OR.  0.1 Acres.  Human Caused.  Resources responded 10/3.   (Example)OR-UMF-000630, Spout Springs. Walla Walla R.D., T3N R38E Sect 21. Spout Springs Area 23 Mile SE of Walla Walla, WA. 1 Unknown Cause UMF Stat. Resources Responded.

Tiger Creek Fire Update for Oct. 3, 2024

PENDLETON, Ore. (Oct. 3, 2024) —The Tiger Creek Fire, located approximately 15 miles southeast of Walla Walla, WA in the Mill Creek Municipal Watershed, on the Walla Walla Ranger District has maintained its size at approximately 383 acres overnight. Forest Officials are temporarily closing the area around Indian Ridge. Access through Forest Service Road 65 up through FSR 64 to the junction with Indian Camp and 6511 from the Forest boundary near Government Mountain to the North Fork Walla Walla Trailhead has been closed for the safety of the public and fire personnel.

Firefighting resources from the Umatilla National Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry, City of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County and other partner agencies, remain on scene assisting in the full suppression effort and continue working to minimize the impact of this fire. A Complex Incident Management Team, California Team 15, will in brief tomorrow and begin the process of taking over management of the fire.

Fire crews will continue working from an established anchor point on the fire.  Aircraft continue to be used to limit fire spread in the Mill Creek Watershed. Halting the growth of this fire and public safety will continue to be a priority task for fire crews.

Community Meeting: Forest and fire officials invite the public to join them at the Walla Walla High School, 800 Abbott Rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362, for a community meeting tomorrow, Friday, October 4 from 6:30 - 8 pm. Doors open at 6 pm. Fire officials will share information about current operations of the Tiger Creek Fire and have time for questions and answers. This event will be recorded and published the next day on Facebook.

Smoke: Walla Walla’s air quality for today is good and remains steady, some residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke as the fire continues to burn. Check out https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/?m=1 for more information.

The current fire danger rating is at MODERATE and public use restrictions phase A for Umatilla National Forest are in effect and forest personnel will continue scouting for potential new smoke reports.

More information regarding restrictions, please contact:

Umatilla National Forest:

Information Hotline: Toll-Free (877) 958-9663

www.facebook.com/UmatillaNF  

X: @UmatillaNF

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.  

Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.

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Map of Fire Closure area around Indian Ridge.
A fire map will be provided in future updates.

Tiger Creek Fire Public Meeting for October 4, 2024 at Walla Walla High School.

The Umatilla National Forest and fire officials invite the public to join them at the Commons, Walla Walla High School, 800 Abbott Road, Walla Walla, WA 99362, for a community meeting tomorrow, Friday, October 4 from 6:30 - 8 pm. Doors open at 6 pm.

Fire officials will share information about current operations of the Tiger Creek Fire and have time for questions and answers. This event will be recorded and published the next day on Facebook.

For more information regarding restrictions, please contact:
Umatilla National Forest Information Hotline: Toll-Free (877) 958-9663.

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

 

BMIDC MORNING BRIEFING
October 3rd, 2024
BMIDC WEBSITE
10/2 (NEW) INITIAL ATTACK	Fires	Acres
Umatilla National Forest	0	0
Wallowa Whitman National Forest	0	0
Vale/PRD District BLM Baker Area	0	0
NEO Oregon Department of Forestry	1	.75
WA DNR Snake River Unit	0	0
BIA Umatilla Agency	0	0
Totals	1	.75
INCIDENT SUMMARY
BMIDC Incidents 10/2/2024 Wildfire OR-UMF-000830, Tiger Creek.  WWRD.  Tiger Canyon area.  15 miles SE of Walla Walla, WA.  383 Acres.  Human Caused.  Resources responded 10/1.   OR-971S-000832, MERA.  LGD ODF.  Fox Hill area.  3 miles NW of La Grande, OR.  0.75 Acres.  Human caused.  Resources responded 10/2.    (Example)OR-UMF-000630, Spout Springs. Walla Walla R.D., T3N R38E Sect 21. Spout Springs Area 23 Mile SE of Walla Walla, WA. 1 Unknown Cause UMF Stat. Resources Responded.

Tiger Creek Fire Update for Oct. 2, 2024

PENDLETON, Ore. (Oct. 2, 2024) —Tiger Creek Fire located approximately 15 miles southeast of Walla Walla, WA in the Mill Creek Municipal Watershed, on the Walla Walla Ranger District is currently estimated at 400 acres in size. The fire growth is upslope to the east. Within the prescribed fire units planned for this fall, approximately 228 acres have burned, with approximately 155 acres burning outside the planned area. According to fire managers the fire activity was moderated overnight by the cooler weather. However, over the next few days warmer and drier conditions may lead to increased fire behavior.

Firefighting resources from Umatilla National Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry, City of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County and other partner agencies are already on the scene assisting in this full suppression effort and are working to minimize the impact of this fire. A Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered to assist with this incident as well as additional aviation and ground resources are enroute to the fire.

Access through the fire area will be temporarily restricted on Forest Service Road 65 and Indian Ridge Trail for the safety of the public and fire personnel.

Area residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke in the evenings and overnight while the fire continues to burn.

The current fire danger rating is at MODERATE and public use restrictions phase A for Umatilla National Forest are in effect and forest personnel will continue scouting for potential new smoke reports.

More information regarding restrictions, please contact:

Umatilla National Forest:
Information Hotline: Toll-Free (877) 958-9663
www.facebook.com/UmatillaNF  
X: @UmatillaNF

The latest fire information will be posted on the Blue Mountains Fire Information Blog. To receive updates on fires in the Blue Mountains, follow our blog at http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/. 

Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.

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BMIDC MORNING BRIEFING, October 2nd, 2024

 

BMIDC MORNING BRIEFING
October 2nd, 2024
BMIDC WEBSITE
10/1 (NEW) INITIAL ATTACK	Fires	Acres
Umatilla National Forest	1	150
Wallowa Whitman National Forest	2	.2
Vale/PRD District BLM Baker Area	0	0
NEO Oregon Department of Forestry		.
WA DNR Snake River Unit	0	0
BIA Umatilla Agency	0	0
Totals	3	150.2
INCIDENT SUMMARY
BMIDC Incidents 10/2/2024 Wildfire OR-UMF-000830, Tiger Creek.  WWRD.  Tiger Canyon area.  15 miles SE of Walla Walla, WA.  0.01 Acres.  Human Caused.  Resources responded 10/1. OR-WWF-000829, Grande View.  GRFZ.  Mt Emily area.  6 miles SW of Imbler, OR.  0.1 Acres.  Human caused.  Resources responded 10/1.  OR-WWF-000825, Scout.  GRFZ.  Scout Creek area.  14 miles NE of North Powder, OR.  0.1 Acres.  Human Caused.  Resources Responded 10/1. Prescribed Fire OR-UMF-000827, Stentz Springs 2 RX.  PRD.  Clearwater area.  6 Miles E of Camp Wooten State Park.   Prescribed Fire 10/1 OR-UMF-000826, FTJ RX.  NFJD.  Meadow Brook area.  6 Miles S of Dale, OR.  Prescribed Fire 10/1 (Example)OR-UMF-000630, Spout Springs. Walla Walla R.D., T3N R38E Sect 21. Spout Springs Area 23 Mile SE of Walla Walla, WA. 1 Unknown Cause UMF Stat. Resources Responded.

Prescribed Fire in Tiger Creek moves into future planned treatment area

 

In an effort to reduce hazardous fuels surrounding the Mill Creek Municipal Watershed, Walla Walla Ranger District initiated the planned 335-acre Tiger Creek prescribed fire on Sept. 30, 2024. During the operations a local weather shift caused winds which enabled the fire to go beyond the planned perimeter and has moved into other areas that were planned for future treatment projects. The size of the fire is currently being estimated and additional firefighting resources are enroute to support those already on the scene for this full suppression effort.

The burn plan included contingencies in case of such activity. Firefighters from the national forest and partner agencies are providing all needed resources to minimize the impacts of the fire. The fire was declared a wildfire, enabling the deployment of additional personnel and resources to contain the spread.

Access through the prescribed fire area will be temporarily restricted on Forest Service Road 65 and Indian Ridge Trail for the safety of the public and fire personnel.

Area residents along Mill Creek may experience smoke in the evenings and overnight while the fire continues to burn.

Reducing fuels through various treatments including thinning and prescribed burning is an essential part of reducing wildfire risk to nearby communities. These efforts also build resiliency into forest stands for future lightning and other disturbances.

The Tiger Creek Prescribed Fire Project (Tiger Creek Project) aims to protect the Mill Creek Municipal Watershed by using prescribed fire to reduce excessive fuel buildup along the southwest portion of the watershed boundary, approximately 13 miles east of Walla Walla, WA. The District Ranger and fire managers are working closely with our partners in the City of Walla Walla, rural fire departments, Washington Department of Natural Resources and Oregon Department of Forestry to implement the Tiger Creek Prescribed fire through an “all hands, all lands” management approach.

Approximately 160 acres of prescribed burning was successfully accomplished in the Tiger Creek Project area in 2022. Each prescribed burn goes through meticulous planning and preparation to ensure each burn operations meet prescriptive conditions that provide multiple benefits to resources. The Umatilla National Forest also works closely with the Oregon Department of Forestry and Washington State Department of Natural Resources in accordance with each State’s Smoke Management Plans. All burns are monitored until a season-ending rain or snow occurs.

Additional information about the Umatilla National Forest is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla.

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BMIDC MORNING BRIEFING
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
BMIDC WEBSITE
9/30 (NEW) INITIAL ATTACK	Fires	Acres
Umatilla National Forest	0	0
Wallowa Whitman National Forest	1	.1
Vale/PRD District BLM Baker Area	0	0
NEO Oregon Department of Forestry	0	0
WA DNR Snake River Unit	0	0
BIA Umatilla Agency	0	0
Totals	1	.1
INCIDENT SUMMARY
BMIDC Incidents    9/30 OR-WWF-000824, Wolf Creek.   BPFZ, Elkhorn Creek Area, 25 Miles NW of Baker City, OR, T5S R37E SEC 35  Cause Human ORWWF Stat. Contained  09/30 Timber