Local News

Fire Updates for Thursday Aug 7

Aug 07, 2014

Carlton Complex Update

August 7, 2014 8:00 a.m.

Yesterday

Rising Eagle Road Fire: Crews continued to patrol and mop-up, focusing on the areas around residences. Containment is 100%.

Carlton Complex: Crews continue to strengthen line, patrol and mop-up areas near Pearrygin Lake, on the western portion of the interior island, and south of Loup Loup Ski Area. On the rest of the fire, crews patrolled, mopped-up, and assembled equipment for return to the Incident Command Post (ICP). Night crews patrolled various areas of the fire line; doing mop-up as needed.

Today

Rising Eagle Road Fire: Crews continued to patrol and mop-up, focusing on the areas around residences.

Carlton Complex: Operational priorities are: strengthen line along the northwest edge (near Pearrygin Lake) and improve interior lines on the western portion of the interior island. Along the rest of the fire's perimeter crews will patrol, mop-up, and gather equipment for return to the ICP. Suppression repair work will continue. Structural engines are in place to patrol and respond to initial attack in the Methow Valley wildland/urban interface. The Washington National Guard continues to support the incident by staffing road closures. Night crews will patrol various areas of the fire line; doing mop-up as needed.

The camp at Okanogan will be closed down today and remaining resources moved to the Incident Command Post near Winthrop. We thank the community for its support for the firefighters while we were part of their community.

Air resources continue to play a vital role in the successful containment of this complex and are also supporting suppression efforts on the Little Bridge Creek Fire, the Upper Falls Fire, and initial attack on new fires.

Resource Advisors are identifying needed fire suppression repair work. Repair of roads and of hand and dozer lines in contained areas continues. An Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is working to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands and will develop plans to implement emergency stabilization measures. If your property is in or below a burned area, you may be at risk for a flood or debris flow during a rain event. Please go to http://centralwashingtonfirerecovery.info/ for valuable information.

Anyone who believes they have a new start is encouraged to call 911. Local fire departments continue to respond to 911 calls reporting new starts.

Evacuations (including all evacuations in the Methow Valley area)

Level 1: Pine Forest, Sun Mountain Resort, East Chewuch Road to Boulder Creek, and Pearrygin Lake State Park. No areas are in Level 2 or 3.

Weather: high temperatures around 80 with west to northwest winds 10-12 with gusts up to 23 mph; inversion dispersing after 10:00a.m.

Closures

Forest closures: call the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (509) 996-4000 or go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices

Highway closures: Washington Department of Transportation at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/

Fire Statistics

Location: 5 Miles SW of Okanogan, WA; 7 Miles south of Twisp, WA

Start Date: 07/14/2014

Complex Size: 256,108 acres (including the 504 Rising Eagle Road Fire)

Air Resources: 6 Type 1 helicopters, 6 Type 2 helicopters, and 5 Type 3 helicopters, 1 air support

Resources Include: 1 Type 1 hand crews, 17 Type 2 hand crews, 9 Type 2 Initial Attack crews,

75 engines, 9 Dozers, 25 water tenders

Total Personnel: 1,295

Percent Contained: 91%

Upper Falls Fire Update

August 7, 2014 8:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team- Pete Blume, Incident Commander

Information Center: 509-996-9971 Hours of operation: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Email: upperfallsfire@gmail.com

Yesterday

The fire continued to burn actively all day and into the night. Overnight, the fire backed down to the Falls Creek Road providing a good anchor point for containment lines. Helicopters dropped water to check and delay movement to the west and south and to keep the fire on the ground (prevent crowning). Fire personnel scouted the fire area and identified areas to build indirect containment lines.

Today

Crews will establish safety zones and burn out between the main fire and Falls Creek Road. Dozer and hand line will be constructed between Falls Creek Road and the Farewell Fire burn scar. Dozer and hand line will be constructed up to Eight Mile Ridge and west into Eight Mile Creek. Aerial burnout operations and ground firing will be used to defend and control as necessary. Helicopters will continue to drop water to check and delay movement to the west and south.

Air resources are playing a vital role in the successful containment of this fire and are supporting other fires and initial attack on new fires.

Anyone who believes they have a new start is encouraged to call 911. Local fire departments continue to respond to 911 calls reporting new starts.

Evacuations (including all evacuations in the Methow Valley area)

Level 1: Pine Forest, Sun Mountain Resort, East Chewuch Road to Boulder Creek, and Pearrygin Lake State Park. No areas are in Level 2 or 3.

Weather: Sunny, Highs 79-78; wind from the west at 7-12 mph with gusts to 20

Fire Statistics

Start Date: 08/03/2014 Size: 4,300 acres

Location: 17 miles north of Winthrop, WA; 37 miles northwest of Omak, WA

Resources Assigned: 1 Type 1 hand crews, 1 Type 2 Initial Attack crew, 9 engines, 2 dozers

Total Personnel: 66 Percent Contained: 0%

Closures

Forest closures: call the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (509) 996-4000 or go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices

Highway closures: Washington Department of Transportation at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/