Local News

Carlton Complex Fire Update for Aug 1


Aug 01, 2014

August 1, 2014

8 a.m.             

 

Special Message:  Support our Methow Valley residents impacted by fire by visiting and recreating in the Valley (http://www.okanogancountry.com/calendar/). All businesses are open and welcome visitors. Highway 20 is open.

 

Current Situation:

 

North Zone

Yesterday, significant gains in completing containment line and mop up activities occurred. High temperatures (101F) and low relative humidity (5%) continued to support fire spread in pockets of unburned fuel due to drying fuel conditions. Multiple smoke plumes from interior burning and a very large plume from the Lone Mountain 1 Fire was visible in the Methow Valley. 

 

Today’s fire suppression priority areas include: north of Highway 20 and south of the southfork of Beaver Creek (northwest of the ski area), Upper Gold Creek/Foggy Dew, the Leecher Mountain Lookout,, and the north end of the fire near Pearrygin. Crews are aggressively extinguishing pockets of burning fuel within the fire perimeter and working towards mop-up and containment.  Air resources continue to play a significant role in extinguishing smoking pockets on inaccessible steep terrain. Helicopters will be using Pearrygin Lake and Campbell Lake for water.  Good progress occurred yesterday on the western portions of the fire. On the westside of Highway 153 from Carlton to Winthrop the fire is in patrol status. There is a focused effort by fire crews to prevent the spread of fire north of Hunter Creek in the Upper Gold Creek/Foggy Dew area. Good progress was made yesterday in the Gold Creek/Libby Creek area. In the north, the fire has not crossed to the northside of Pearrygin Creek.

 

East Zone

The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team assumed command of the East Zone on the evening of July 31, 2014. The Incident Command Post for the East Zone has moved from the Stampede grounds to the Fairgrounds to make way for the Omak Stampede on August 7-10, 2014. A tree came down across Highway 20 overnight and temporarily closed Highway 20. The tree has been removed and Highway 20 is open. Today’s activities include extinguishing isolated pockets of burning fuel within the fire perimeter, mop up, and reinforcing the 22 miles of fire line. Mop up activities continue around residences. Fire crews are patrolling for new fires at night.

 

Weather:  RED FLAG WARNING! Dry thunderstorms are predicted for after 1p.m. Gusty erratic winds to 40mph could develop under thunder cells affecting fire spread.  A flash flood watch is also in effect for the fire area. Isolated rain could cause flooding in burned areas.

 

 

 

 

Evacuations and Closures:  For information on evacuations please checkwith the Okanogan Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Service Center (509) 846-2122.  For information on highway closures: Washington Department of Transportation, www.wsdot.wa.gov. Information on trail, road and campground closures visit Inciweb (http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/3967/) or call Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest (509) 996-4000 or on the web: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices.

 

Fire Statistics:          

Location: 5 Miles SW of Okanogan, 7 Miles south of Twisp            Start Date: 07/14/2014        

Complex Size:  252,761 acres                                                           Percent Contained: 71%

Cause:  Lightning                                                                              Total Personnel: 3,030

Resources Include:  13 Type 1 hand crews, 42 Type 2 hand crews,  22 Type 2 initial attack crews, 156 engines, 48 water tenders, and 808 overhead personnel

Air Resources:  6 Type 1 helicopters,  11 Type 2 helicopters, and  7 Type 3 helicopters, 1 air support

 

Places to get information:

Blog: carltoncomplex.blogspot.com

Website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3967/

Twitter:  #carltoncomplex

Facebook:  Carlton Complex Fire;  

Firefighter thank-yous: https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs

 

 

 


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