National fire activity holds at Preparedness Level 5 with 94 uncontained large fires and more than 30,000 personnel committed, led by extreme fire growth in Oregon and Washington. Utah’s Rocky Canyon Fire forces evacuations in Morgan and Summit counties, the Bug Fire prompts evacuations on the Nevada and California line, and Sunday storms flood the Chicago area with ground stops at O’Hare and Midway. Extreme Heat Warnings cover the Desert Southwest and the St. Louis region, Williamson County, Tennessee responds to flash flood evacuations, and the National Hurricane Center watches three low chance Atlantic disturbances. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.
Key Takeaways
• National fire activity: The nation remains at Preparedness Level 5 with 94 uncontained large fires, 30,419 personnel committed, and international crews plus four MAFFS airtankers supporting the Northwest.
• Utah: The Rocky Canyon Fire grows to an estimated 13,000 acres with no containment, forcing evacuations in Morgan and Summit counties and closing State Routes 65 and 66.
• Nevada and California: The Bug Fire north of Reno tops 6,500 acres with no containment, with evacuation orders in Washoe County and parts of Lassen County.
• Pacific Northwest: Oregon’s Wrights Spring Fire gains more than 14,000 acres in a day, and Washington’s Little Giant Fire holds at 2 percent containment with evacuations in effect.
• Illinois: Sunday storms flood the Chicago area, cut power to tens of thousands, and trigger ground stops at O’Hare and Midway, with more storms expected through Tuesday.
• Extreme heat: Warnings cover Phoenix, Las Vegas, and the southeast California deserts through Monday and the St. Louis region through Wednesday, with heat index values up to 110.
• Tennessee: Williamson County agencies evacuate families along Five Mile Creek after rainfall rates of 3 to 5 inches per hour.
• Tropics: The National Hurricane Center monitors three Atlantic disturbances, all with low development chances and no direct threat to land.
Sunday morning Situation Report, eight new large fires were reported.
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The Northwest remains the busiest geographic area with 44 uncontained large fires and more than 18,000 personnel assigned.
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International support continues.
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An incident management team and 59 fireline personnel from Australia and New Zealand are working in The Northwest and four MAV F C130 air tankers are staged at Klamath Falls, Oregon and Redding, California Dangerous heat continues in two regions.
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Extreme heat warnings cover the desert Southwest, including the Phoenix, Yuma and Las Vegas areas with afternoon highs of 107 to 112 degrees expected through Monday evening.
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A separate extreme heat warning covers the St. Louis region, Central and east central Missouri and parts of southwest Illinois through Wednesday evening with heat index values up to 110.
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In the Midwest, Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain continue from the Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley through Tuesday after Sunday storms flooded parts of the Chicago area.
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In the tropics, the National Hurricane center is monitoring three Atlantic disturbances, one north of Bermuda and two in the central and eastern Atlantic.
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All three carry low development chances of about 10% over the next seven days and none poses a direct threat to land.
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Let's run through the states Arizona an extreme heat warning remains in effect for south central and southwest Arizona and including the Phoenix metro, Parker Valley and Yuma through 8pm Monday afternoon.
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Temperatures of 107 to 112 degrees are expected with apparent temperatures as high as 120.
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Heat related illnesses increase significantly during events like this and overexposure can progress from heat cramps to heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
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California the Gan Fire in the Sierra foothills southeast of Valley springs holds at 10,374 acres and and 60% containment with 2,439 personnel assigned and 33 structures lost.
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Fire behavior is minimal, though area road and trail closures remain in effect.
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Extreme heat warnings also cover the southeastern deserts including the Imperial Valley, the Palo Verde and Chuckwalla valleys, and Death Valley through Monday evening.
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Colorado the Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Pueblo stands at 101,965 acres and 72% containment with minimal fire behavior.
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The fire has destroyed 915 structures.
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The Gold Mountain Fire north of Orreay is 90% contained at 39,532 acres.
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Idaho the Tartar Fire northwest of Weiser is 87% contained at 158,027 acres with fire behavior limited to flanking, torching and smoldering area.
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Road and trail closures remain in effect and the fire has destroyed 10 structures.
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Illinois Multiple rounds of severe storms hit the Chicago area Sunday, dropping 1 to 2 inches of rain, flooding streets in several suburbs and knocking out power to tens of thousands of ComEd customers.
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Ground stops were issued at O' Hare and Midway international airports.
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A flash flood watch covers most of northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana into Monday morning and additional storms are expected Monday and Tuesday.
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Southwest Illinois is also under an extreme heat warning through Wednesday evening.
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We have more to cover this morning, but first a quick word from the sponsors supporting today's episode.
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Now back to this morning's updates.
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Minnesota the Bear Trap Fire north of Ely is 40% contained at 30,022 acres with minimal fire behavior and area road and trail closures in effect.
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Five structures have been lost.
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The nearby Thumb Fire is 48% contained at 17,634 acres.
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An extreme heat warning is in effect for the St. Louis region and central and east central Missouri through 8pm Wednesday with heat index values up to 110.
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Residents are urged to limit afternoon exposure and check on heat sensitive neighbors.
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Montana 2 fires near Wisdom in the Beaverhead Deer Lodge National Forest are driving evacuations.
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The Sand Creek fire is at 8,890 acres and 1% containment with extreme fire behavior and the Bobcat Lakes fire is at 5,514 acres with no containment area.
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Road and trail closures are in effect for both.
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Nevada the Bug Fire burning along the US 395 corridor north of Reno near the California line has grown to more than 6,500 acres with no containment.
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Evacuation orders and warnings are in place for portions of Cold Springs, in nearby communities in Washoe county and for parts of Lassen County.
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California Separately, the Ward fire south of Ely is 35% contained at 8,775 acres and the Las Vegas Valley remains under an extreme heat warning through Monday evening.
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National Forest has grown to:
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East of Condio, the fire is producing short crown runs and spotting threatening residences and communication infrastructure.
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Area road and trail closures are in effect.
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Oregon the Wright Spring Fire near Sprague river grew to 23,394 acres, a one day gain of more than 14,000 acres with no containment and extreme fire behavior, including crowning and long range spotting.
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Numerous structures and critical infrastructure are threatened and area and road closures are in effect.
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The Big Grass Fire southwest of Jordan Valley is at 504,385 acres and 39% containment and the Row Creek complex south of fossil is 79% contained at 366,617 acres with 32 structures lost.
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Tennessee Heavy rain Saturday night flooded parts of Williamson county, where rainfall rates reached 3 to 5 inches per hour after Five Mile Creek left its banks.
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The county Sheriff's Office, Franklin Fire Department, County Fire and Rescue and the county Emergency Management Agency evacuated families in the Warrior Drive area and conducted welfare checks as floodwaters rose.
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Utah the Rocky Canyon Fire in Morgan and Summit counties grew to an estimated 13,000 acres Sunday with no containment.
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Evacuation orders cover homes from White's Crossing to East Canyon Dam and the West Hennifer area, with shelters open at Morgan High School and in Hennifer.
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State Routes 65 and 66 are closed in central Utah.
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The Widemouth 2 fire southwest of Kainosh is at 114,957 acres and 27% containment.
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Officials confirm crews recovered the bodies of the two helicopter crew members killed in the Aug. 7 crash near the fire.
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Washington the Little Giant Fire northwest of Leavenworth is at 97,539 acres and 2% containment with extreme fire behavior and evacuations remain in effect.
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The Sinlahaken Fire just west of tonasket is 34% contained at 137,611 acres, and the Modrite fire southwest of Inchelium is 57% contained at 56,860 acres after destroying 88 structures.
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All other states and territories have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
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That wraps today's EM Morning Brief.
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New episodes drop Monday through Friday in the 5am hour PT, so the day starts with clarity instead of catch up.
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