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Williams Creek & Twin Lakes Fires Update 9/10/22
Williams Creek Fire
Publication Type: News 09/10/2022
NORTHERN ROCKIES TEAM 5
INCIDENT COMMANDER: JOE SAMPSON
Williams Creek & Twin Lakes Fires
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
Fire Information 208-274-9674
September 10, 2022
WILLIAMS CREEK FIRE (5 miles west of Orogrande)
Start Date: 8/29/2022
Cause: Lightning
Size: 12,447 acres
Completion: 0 %
Total Personnel: 184
Engines: 5
Helicopters: 2
Hand Crews: 4
The community of Orogrande remains under a "Level 3-GO" evacuation notice, issued by the Idaho County Sheriff's Office.
“Hotshot” crews completed small-scale burnout operations behind structures on the west side of Orogrande, eliminating unburned fuels and securing the properties, and to the east of the community, creating a solid area of “black” void of burnable fuels. Helicopters assisted ground crews with water bucket drops to cool the hot spots on the north flank. Crews were able to remove trees that had fallen over the 233 and 311 Roads, but numerous standing dead trees (“snags”) remain a dangerous hazard. Resources will continue to engage the fire in Orogrande and the Crooked River corridor, extinguishing hot spots.
The fire did impact structures and outbuildings; one primary structure (cabin) and eight minor structures (sheds, outbuildings, barns, lean-to) burned during the fire push on Wednesday.
An overnight infrared flight mapped the fire at 12,447 acres. Much of the heat is scattered and spotty along the east perimeter, and pockets of intense heat continue to burn and fill in. Isolated heat is also showing on both sides of East Fork Crooked River.
TWIN LAKES FIRE (east of Twin Lakes and Hagen Creek)
Start Date: 8/25/2022
Cause: Lightning
Size: 934 acres
Completion: 0 %
Total Personnel: 9
Wildfire Fire Module: 1
An overnight infrared flight mapped the fire at 934 acres. The fire was moderately active yesterday, mainly on the northern flank and on a hot spot to the west of the main fire. Firefighters have completed structure protection measures at Square Mountain Lookout. A structure protection module will implement structure protection measures at Moore’s Station.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Fire Behavior was fairly "inert" with not much perimeter growth. On the Williams Creek Fire, interior unburned islands of fuel will continue to grow together and fill in the perimeter. The fire has potential to spot up to ¼ mile, but it has to punch through the inversion first. Existing roads and timber harvest units are helping to limit and slow the fire spread on the east side of Orogrande. On the Twin Lakes Fire, a spot fire to the west of the main fire showed moderate intensity but limited growth as the fire has to push into the wind to progress further.
Cold early morning temperatures will keep the air mass stable through mid-day, with the overnight inversion remaining in place until the early afternoon. As the inversion lefts, strengthening high pressure will bring a warming trend of close to 10 degrees and a slight drying trend. The air mass will become unstable this afternoon, and light south winds will remain terrain driven. The warming and drying trend will persist through the weekend. Greater chances for moisture and measurable precipitation are expected next week. The combination of dry air and steep slopes map result in active fire behavior.
CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES
Closures surrounding both fire areas are necessary to protect the safety and welfare of the public and provide for safe firefighting efforts and access. An updated closure for the Williams Creek fire area is forthcoming, given the fire movement and progression earlier this week. Additional roads and trails will be closed for public safety. Specific closure information and maps are posted in Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8372/ as they are implemented.