Prescribed Burn Near Walla Walla, WA, Turns into Wildfire

Oct. 5—Officials fighting the prescribed fire-turned-wildfire 15 miles southeast of Walla Walla in the Mill Creek Municipal Watershed said the size of the fire was at 385 acres as of Friday evening, Oct. 4.

However, the fire grew in size overnight because of winds; officials on Saturday, Oct. 5, estimated the fire to be at 475 acres.

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials from the Umatilla National Forest hosted a public meeting at Walla Walla High School where they provided an update about the fire and introduced the complex incident management team — California Interagency Incident Management Team 15 — that planned to take command of firefighting efforts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.

Umatilla National Forest Walla Walla District Ranger Johnny Collin told those at the meeting the Tiger Creek Prescribed Fire was started to get rid of fallen fuel in the watershed that posed a wildfire risk.

"We began treatment so that the watershed would be protected from future wildfires," he said.

He said the weather forecast called for ideal conditions, including lower temperatures and raised humidity.

The fire was lit Monday, Sept. 30, during ideal weather. However, Tuesday threw a curve ball.

"On Tuesday, the weather was significantly different from what was forecasted," Collin said. "The fire spread ... and the crews tried to contain that but were unsuccessful."

The overnight relative humidity from Monday to Tuesday was forecasted to increase to 65%, but instead only went to 40%. The area also saw non-forecasted winds, Collin said.

The fire expanded to just under 400 acres and has stayed about that size. The weather, including some rainfall Friday, has cooperated.

Officials deemed the fire a wildfire, allowing for additional resources, and the assignment of a complex incident management team, which responds to wildfires.

Tom Clemo, commander of California Interagency Incident Management Team 15, who is also the deputy chief of the Santa Monica Fire Department, said his team has 77 firefighters who joined the firefighting efforts Saturday.

His team will take command of operations and will work with local teams that stay on scene, including teams from the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, the Umatilla National Forrest and other agencies.

"We'll keep (the other agencies) as long as they are willing to stay because they are exhausted, too," he said.

Clemo said this is the fourth wildfire his team has responded to this season. It last fought the Coffee Pot Fire in the Sequia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California. They were released from that fire on Sunday, Sept. 15, according to the team's Facebook page.

"For us this year, it has been, incident, one week off, incident, one week off, incident, two weeks off, incident," he said.

Clemo said assignments for complex incident management teams last 14 days.

If the fire they are fighting is not out by then, they are replaced by another team. He hopes another team will not be necessary for the Tiger Creek Fire.

"We haven't had boots on the ground yet," he said Friday," but it is Oct. 4. So, I'm hoping we can get into this and do some good and that the weather is favorable."

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