US Forest Service — Nez Perce - Clearwater National Forests
Current Weather
Fire Growth Potential
Fire Weather Forecast
Incident Overview
Inciweb information was updated: 1 year, 1 month ago
Due to weather conditions, an IR flight was not able to get updated acreage of the fire today. Current estimates place the fire at approximately 1,646 acres, with 200 to 300 acres of new growth occurring yesterday. The fire is still burning downhill and cleaning up dead, down logs that have fallen since the Freezeout Fire that burned in 2012. The Little Bear Fire was detected on July 3rd in steep and rugged terrain, with high density of snags from the 2012 fire. Structure protection measures and fuel reductions have been taken around Bear Mountain Lookout, the upper Warm Springs pack-bridge, and the lower Warm Springs pack-bridge. Fire managers and personnel continue to assess the area for further protection measures.
Basic Incident Details
Daren Turner- ICT3
Cody Crismore- ICT3(t)
Current Situation
Primarily burning in dead and down remnants from 2012 Freezeout Fire. Minimal growth or activity is currently being reported, but fire behavior and intensity is expected to increase, as live fuel moisture decreases due to hotter and drier conditions.
Structure protection measures and fuel reductions have been taken around Bear Mountain Lookout, the upper Warm Springs pack-bridge, and the lower Warm Springs pack-bridge. Fire managers and personnel continue to assess the area for further protection measures.
Planned Outlook
48 hours: Thunderstorms expected to arrive Friday with the potential for gusty outflow winds and lightning.
12 hours: Fire activity expected to increase throughout the day as warm temps and low RH, along with northerly winds a concern. Single tree torching with spot fire development is likely.
12 hours: Low relative humidity and moderate temperatures will result in active fire behavior. With fine dead fuel moistures at 3
24 hours: Increased cloud cover and cooler temperatures will reduce the potential for fire spread on Friday. Northwest winds will limit most fire spread to backing along the western flank. Single tree torching may occur, but spotting should be minimal.
48 hours: Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity will significantly limit fire movement in fine dead fuels. Heavy fuels will continue to burn and will be the most likely source of fire spread. Spotting should be minimal. Winds will shift to out of the east shifting the primary direction of fire spread.
72 hours: Sunday will be the peak of the cooling trend with lower maximum temperatures and high relative humidity. This will suppress fire behavior substantially, though expect burning to persist in heavy fuels. Surface fire spread should be limited to creeping and smoldering activity. Expect wind to shift to out of the south changing the primary direction of fire spread.
72 hours: Fire growth will remain minimal through the weekend but will begin to increase Monday. Fire behavior will remain low and slow in surface fuels, but more heat will be present in heavy fuels. Winds will shift back out of the west.
Please be aware that the northeastern part of the fire may be visible from portions of Highway 12, and inversion-related smoke may impact Highway 12.
