Fire Season 2021

[TT-SEA]

12 minutes ago, Front Ranger said:

Smokiest day yet here. Sun has been obscured all day, and palpable smoke smell in the air.

Satellite shows mid level clouds over your area as well... that is probably why the sun was obscured although its probably hard to tell that if there is smoke at ground level.  

[Cloud]

Red Apple Fire:

- Now 7,000 acres

- 1000+ homes under evacuation orders. 

- about 200 personnel fighting the fire. 

[Front Ranger]

50 minutes ago, TT-SEA said:

Satellite shows mid level clouds over your area as well... that is probably why the sun was obscured although its probably hard to tell that if there is smoke at ground level.  

True. Driving around both this morning and early afternoon, I couldn't even see the top of the downtown skyline. Definitely mostly smoke in the lower levels today.

[Cloud]

Appears the cause of these brush fires is a sparking semi-truck. It’s been so dry it doesn’t take much.

 

[TacomaWaWx]

Bootleg fire is going strong. Lot of fires in northern WA and BC are emitting a lot of smoke. 

[TacomaWaWx]

Zoomed in on the bootleg fire. Going to be a lot more acreage burned today and tonight compared to yesterday. 

[TacomaWaWx]

Explosive fire development with the bootleg fire. Wouldn’t surprise me if it neared 300k by tomorrow morning.

[Kayla]

Had quite a clear day here surprisingly today. Was nice to see blue bird skies again after a brisk morning low of 45 degrees.

Looks like the smoke moves back in again later tonight with all those fires in ID and OR really flaring up today.

[hawkstwelve]

As if worrying about naturally-caused fires wasn't enough...

Brush fires along I-5 and SR-101 appear to have been intentionally set, per WSP.

https://komonews.com/news/local/brush-fires-along-i-5-sr-101-appear-to-have-been-intentionally-set-wsp-says

[Timmy Supercell]

I haven't seen any major southward progression (towards me) but major plume today.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Went hiking in the Central Cascades today, did not see any smoke from the Bruler Fire. Also saw Hwy 138 up the North Umpqua will be opening soon as the Jack Fire has now moved south into the mountains. I read that fire overall is not burning with high intensity. Mostly in the undergrowth. 

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

3 hours ago, iFred said:

My wife is attending a wedding there right now and the house and venue are on the line for evacuation orders.

 

Ohme Gardens?  Very popular wedding site.  Good news is that they saved the gardens.  Might be a few days until they open up again.

[TacomaWaWx]

20 minutes ago, Brian_in_Leavenworth said:

Ohme Gardens?  Very popular wedding site.  Good news is that they saved the gardens.  Might be a few days until they open up again.

Seems like they dodged a bullet with the fire shifting away from the populated areas down the hill. Came pretty close to destroying homes but thankfully none were lost. 

[Timmy Supercell]

[Cloud]

Red Apple Fire in Chelan County as of 8:00pm. 
 

- 9,000 acres

-10% contained

- 1500 residents and businesses threatened under some level of evacuation notifications. 

Still growing quite rapidly. 

[HoodCanalBridge]

The 3 WA Wildland taskforces are being reassigned from the Grandview fire near Sisters to the Bootleg fire.   I’ve been seeing hints of lightning in the forecasts, any thoughts on that?

[TT-SEA]

38 minutes ago, HoodCanalBridge said:

The 3 WA Wildland taskforces are being reassigned from the Grandview fire near Sisters to the Bootleg fire.   I’ve been seeing hints of lightning in the forecasts, any thoughts on that?

It's possible... here is the ECMWF lightning map through Sunday.

[Cloud]

Looks like a search warrant has been obtained and investigators are looking into a house where they believed may have started the Red Apple Fire. Possibly for an illegal burn. 

Such a shame that we’ll never learn.

[TacomaWaWx]

No update just yet on the bootleg fire…chuweah fire north of banks lake is 22,900 acres with 20% containment. Varden fire on the north cascades highway is near 3,000 Acres. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

The Bootleg was mapped at 232,000 acres last night. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Sounds like the Darlene Fire near Lapine burned 3 homes 11 outbuildings and an RV. 

[HoodCanalBridge]

[Timmy Supercell]

18 hours ago, CloudBFIWx said:

Appears the cause of these brush fires is a sparking semi-truck. It’s been so dry it doesn’t take much.

 

A few days ago someone in south K-Falls almost did the same thing, dragging a chain down one of the major roads. Caused a few scattered spark ups on the sides. 

Talk about being careless, even if it was innocent, it helps to be mindful.

[MossMan]

3 hours ago, Timmy_Supercell said:

A few days ago someone in south K-Falls almost did the same thing, dragging a chain down one of the major roads. Caused a few scattered spark ups on the sides. 

Talk about being careless, even if it was innocent, it helps to be mindful.

Yeah the safety chains for my boat trailer were hanging a bit low and could drag momentarily if I hit a bump so I adjusted them so there would be no chance of contact before my trip last month. Unfortunately I saw two people throwing cigarette butts out their car window just yesterday…It’s completely unbelievable!! That was something that people did in the 70’s and 80’s…It’s now 2021 people!! C’MON!! 

[TacomaWaWx]

Bootleg fire is looking active again. 227k as of the latest update earlier today. 

[TacomaWaWx]

[HoodCanalBridge]

Taken from Bly at 8:55pm.   Reported column collapsed happened at the Log fire, caused quite a bit of fire intensity (more than what was already intense) on the bootleg.

[Cloud]

Red Apple Fire:

- Now 11,000 acres. 

- unfortunately still only 10% contained 

[TacomaWaWx]

[TacomaWaWx]

Bootleg fire is 241,000 acres as of this morning. North cascades highway 3,000 acres and the fire north of banks lake is 35,000 acres. Dry gulch fire near walla walla is 65,000 acres. 

[TacomaWaWx]

[Cloud]

39 minutes ago, TacomaWaWx said:

Of 391k acres, 150k of those are from WA State.  Worth noting only 3 of these fires are 100% contained. 
 

Here is a summary of the state's 10 largest fires, from the largest to the smallest, as reported by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group:

- The Lick Creek Fire, burning in the Umatilla National Forest in the southeast corner of the state, has torched 64,792 acres so far. It is 30% contained and 686 firefighters are at the scene. This wildfire, started by lightning, is burning in timber, grass and understory.

- The Chuweah Creek Fire, burning outside of Nespelem on the Colville Reservation, has torched 34,694 acres so far and is 20% contained. A crew of 174 firefighters has been assigned to the blaze, which was ignited by lightning. It is burning in tall grass, timber and understory, and has destroyed about 14 structures, including at least three homes.

- The Batterman Road Fire, which started in East Wenatchee, scorched 14,100 acres and is now 100% contained. It was fought by about 165 personnel. The cause of the fire is unknown.

- The Burbank Fire, burning about eight miles northeast of Yakima, has torched 13,000 acres and is 98% contained. A firefighting crew of 105 is assigned to this blaze, which has scorched an area dominated by tall grass and brush. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

- The Red Apple Fire, burning in Chelan County, has torched 11,000 acres so far and is only 10% contained. A firefighting crew of 200 is assigned to the fire. The official cause of the fire is listed as "under investigation," but it is thought to have started from an illegal burn. About 1,500 homes are in Level 1 or 2 evacuation zones.

- The Silcott Fire, which burned 8,633 acres about two miles west of Asotin in the southeast corner of the state, is now 100% contained. Cause of the fire is not listed.

- The Cedar Creek Fire, burning west of Winthrop in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, has torched 2,899 acres so far. No containment is listed. The fire, started by lightning, has closed a 12-mile stretch of the North Cascades Highway and some local U.S. Forest Service roads. A crew of 386 personnel have been assigned to the fire, which is burning in a rugged, timbered area.

- The Green Ridge Fire, burning in the Umatilla National Forest in the southeast corner of the state, has torched 595 acres so far and is 15% contained. Fuels are primarily mixed conifer trees and high grass. A firefighting crew of 280 personnel has been assigned to the fire, which was sparked by lightning.

- The Andrus Fire, which started about three miles northeast of Cheney in Spokane County, burned an area of 232 acres and is 100% contained. It was fought by about 150 personnel. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

- The Lyle Hill Fire, burning near the Columbia River in Klickitat County, has covered 135 acres so far and is 40% contained. It is burning in tall grass, timber, dormant brush and hardwood slash. The cause is unknown.

[TacomaWaWx]

Nice to see some fires getting contained a bit. Problem is now we’ve got a potential dry lightning event coming to California…and still no rain in sight for most of the region. One fire ends and more start. Bootleg fire emitting a pyro-CB cloud this evening. The Other 2 active fires today are in California south of Tahoe and near the 2018 paradise fire. 

[HoodCanalBridge]

Taken just now on the return to camp

[smerfylicious]

Bootleg Fire finally updated. 22% contained. 273,582 acres.

Big jump from the previous update. Likely over 300k tomorrow...

[TacomaWaWx]

9 hours ago, smerfylicious said:

Bootleg Fire finally updated. 22% contained. 273,582 acres.

Big jump from the previous update. Likely over 300k tomorrow...

Atleast containment has been increased. 

[Timmy Supercell]

I am particularly surprised at how good the air quality is here considering the fires this year. 

If there's a good shot at the next plume I'll consider getting pictures.

[HoodCanalBridge]

Bootleg 1730

[TacomaWaWx]

Daily satellite imagery. Fires down in California certainly took off today. Bootleg fire looks ready to emit a pyro-CB. Lots of active fires in BC. 

[Cloud]

Great progress being made with the Red Apple Fire. Spreading has slowed down significantly with the fire now burning 11,000 acres at 50% containment.  Hopefully this one will be fully contained soon. Fire is also human-caused and charges could soon be filed for reckless burning. 

[TacomaWaWx]

[TacomaWaWx]

[Cloud]

Red Apple Fire is now very well under controlled at 78%. Check out this spectacular image though. 
 

 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

My brother said he went out to where the Bootleg fire is burning several years ago. He said it was mile after mile of beetle killed trees and dense unhealthy drought stricken forests. He compared it to being inside a fireplace before someone lit a match.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Saw some smoke up at the Bruler Fire today, from Albany, but it appears to be staying in check as of now. 

[ShawniganLake]

BCs current statistics are 1135 fires have burned 680,000 acres. 
 

Our cabin is still on evacuation alert.   The Flat lake fire has grown to nearly 40,000 acres but it’s movement towards hwy 97 has slowed, which is a major fire break between the fire and our family’s property.  Cooler temperatures have helped and the fire may receive some precip around mid week. 

[TacomaWaWx]

Clouds are obscuring things a bit but you can really see some explosive fire development down in  Northern California. 

[TacomaWaWx]

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Bootleg Fire is now over 343,000 acres. 

[Cloud]

Most likely will be last update for the Red Apple Fire from me as it seems like it’s now well under controlled.

As of 07/19:

- about 13,000 acres

- 83% contained

- all evacuation notifications have been removed.