InciWeb Articles WA

As of 7:00 a.m. on Friday September 1, State Route 410 east of Chinook Pass will be open for daytime through-travel, under the guidance of a pilot car between Morse Creek (milepost 74.5) and Union Creek (milepost 79). Eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate, and drivers should expect at least 30 to 40-minute delays depending on traffic volumes. At 7:00 p.m. both lanes of travel will be available and the road will be open, as normal, through the night. Each day, until further notice, from 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m., the pilot car system will be reinstated so firefighters can work safely over one of the lanes. A full closure could happen again with little notice, as fire conditions can change rapidly. Access to campsites and trailheads between Morse Creek and Hells Crossing is strictly prohibited due to fire danger and local Closure by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Drivers should be cautious, follow posted speed limits, and expect potential distractions such as smoke,...

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE OKANOGAN WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST CLE ELUM RANGER DISTRICT ORDER NO. 06-17-03-17-1012 JOLLY MOUNTAIN FIRE CLOSURE Pursuant to 16 USC§ 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System (NFS) Lands, Roads, and Trails within the Cle Elum Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit A.. This Order is effective beginning August 31, 2017 until October 15, 2017, unless rescinded. PROHIBITION: 1. Entering into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Closure Area which are closed for public health and safety as described below, and displayed in Exhibit A. [36 CFR § 261.53(e)] 2. Being on any National Forest System road, as described below, and displayed in Exhibit A. [36 CFR § 261.54(e)] 3. Being on any National Forest System Trail, as described below, and displayed...

Actualización sobre los incendios en Norse Peak Jueves, 31 de agosto de 2017 – 9:00 a.m. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5509/ CONTACTO: Información del incendio 509-658-2475 NorsePeakFireINFO@gmail.com www.facebook.com/NorsePeakFire/ Luego de una minuciosa consideración sobre la seguridad pública, los directores de incendio propusieron el cierre de la carretera Forest Road 1900 (denominada: “Carretera 19” y “Little Naches”). Se ha solicitado una orden forestal oficial. El cierre se debe al calor constante, las condiciones de sequía, la posibilidad considerable de que se propague el incendio, y la falta de rutas de evacuación seguras para los visitantes del bosque. Los líderes del Servicio Forestal y el personal de desastres trabajarán para reabrir esta popular área de recreación y caza tan pronto como sea segura su reapertura. El campamento Crow Creek se encuentra cerrado. Los campamentos de Kaner Flat y Little Naches permanecen abiertos, al...

The Bridge Creek Fire is located 13 miles north of Keller, Washington on the Colville Indian Reservation. The fire is burning within the primary containment lines built by firefighters. Secondary contingency firelines are being completed in the northwest portion. Fire behavior has been moderate over the last few days with occasional flare-ups and torching in areas with heavier surface fuels. The Bridge Creek Fire is currently burning in tall grass, timber, dead and downed debris. Yesterday, a single tree torching resulted in four spot fires outside the western perimeter. Firefighter lookouts, strategically placed in a narrow canyon, located the spot fires. All four fires were contained, mopped up and are now in patrol status. Good progress continues on the Bridge Creek Fire with the western portion of the perimeter now complete. Fire crews working to open up roads and build trails in the interior of the fire off the Upper Bridge Creek Road are staging hose and porta-tanks which...

DIAMOND CREEK FIRE INFORMATIONThursday, August 31Information: (503)765-5724 - 8 am – 6 pm Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail.com Websites: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondcreekfire2017 Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com Location: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA Summary: On Wednesday the fire continued to move north, burning over Whistler Basin and the west side of Sheep Mountain, and further into British Columbia. Cathedral Provincial Park has been closed. Coordination with the British Columbia Ministry of Forest Land and Natural Resource Operations is ongoing. Helicopter water drops are still being used to hold the fire in Drake Creek and keep it from moving into Pat Creek, with a large Type 1 helicopter in addition to a Type 2 and a Type 3. Chippers are continuing to treat slash created as part of the preparation work on the indirect fire line. Work on...

Norse Peak Fires Update Thursday, August 31, 2017 – 9:00 a.m. After painstaking consideration for public safety, fire managers have proposed closing Forest Road 1900 (aka: “Road 19” and “Little Naches”). An official forest order has been requested. Continued hot, dry conditions, significant fire spread potential, and lack of safe extraction routes for Forest visitors is prompting the proposed closure. Forest Service leaders and incident personnel will work to re-open this popular hunting and recreation area as soon as it is safe to do so. Crow Creek Campground is closed. Kaner Flat and Little Naches campgrounds remain open, as is the Little Naches Cabin Tract. There is no dispersed camping allowed in the area. An area closure south and west of Road 19 is also proposed. Law enforcement will be enforcing the closure. A Level 1 evacuation notice is being recommended to the Yakima County Sheriff for the Little Naches area. A Level 1 evacuation means you need to “BE READY”...

On August 31, the Pacific Crest Trail has reopened for hiking between White Pass and Chinook Pass. Rapid spread of the Norse Peak Fires and persistent fire weather caused it to be closed from White Pass to Government Meadow on Tuesday, August 29. The portion from Chinook Pass to Government Meadow remains closed. The Norse Peak Fire is burning near the Trail and has crossed it in places. Through-hikers avoiding the closed area should consider planning how to rejoin the trail north of Government Meadow when they reach White Pass, as there is little cell phone connectivity at Chinook Pass, Hwy 410 is intermittently closed, and the eastern access to Government Meadow (Forest Road 19, “Little Naches Road”) is also closed.

Start Date 8/11 Cause Lightning Size 9,386 acres Percent Containment 0% Crews 6 Helicopters 4 Engines 24 Total Personnel 379 Fire Progression Map More photos: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/photographs/5496/Fire Perimeter Map Fire Information Phone: (509)596-2423 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Pre-recorded line: (505)585-5048 Email: JollyMountainFireInfo@gmail.com Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/5496/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jollymountainfireinfo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jolly_mountain Location: Cle Elum Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WASummary: Fire activity increased significantly on the Jolly Mountain Fire yesterday as westerly winds were stronger than predicted. Firefighters are preparing for another busy day with potential for more fire growth. On the western perimeter, in places along Sasse Ridge, the fire will continue to...

News Release August 31, 2017 Area around fire remains closed; Thirty Mile Road, Hall Creek, Lynx Creek remain open KELLER, WA The Northwest Incident Management Team 11 (NW IMT 11) fighting the Bridge Creek Fire has asked community members and travelers passing by the Bridge Creek Fire to travel safe over the Labor Day weekend. With potential for increased traffic due to the holiday weekend, a start to the Colville Tribes’ archery elk season, and the Ferry County Fair, NW IMT anticipates increased traffic. Fire traffic, which includes large equipment, water tenders, hand crew buggies, and other vehicles will be traveling to and from the incident command post at the Keller Community Center. While the Colville Tribes lowered the Industrial Fire Protection Level and lifted a closure of roads on the reservation, the tribe has announced the area around the fire is closed and roads around the fire are closed to motorized vehicles. Road closure signs have been installed at the following...

Start Date 8/11 Cause Lightning Size estimated 8,000 acres Percent Containment 0% Crews 7 Helicopters 4 Engines 4 Total 22Personnel 372 Summary: Fire activity increased significantly on the Jolly Mountain Fire today as westerly winds were stronger than predicted. On the northeast portion of the fire, activity was minimal. On the western perimeter, along Sasse Ridge, the fire continued to slowly back down the slope in places towards the Cle Elum River. On the southern edge, the fire flanked across the face of the mountains. The southeastern corner, where spot fires have been slowly growing together for the past week, was the most active. The fire moved approximately 3 miles to the east, prompting the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office to issue Level 3 evacuation notices for residents and recreationalists in the Teanaway River corridor. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest extended its closure area all the way to Highway 97 to the east.The fire will be visible from area...

UPDATED CLOSURES IN EFFECT AS OF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30Road Closures: Eightmile Creek Road #5130 is closed one mile past Honeymoon Campground. The Ortell Road #5220 is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with the Sweetgrass Butte 5220-100 Road, to the Eightmile Road #5130. Sweetgrass Butte Road #5220-100 is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with Ortell Road #5220, to Sweetgrass Butte. The entire Falls Creek 5140 Road is closed. Trails Closed - FS trail 511 - Goat Creek FS trail 518 - Falls Creek FS trail 519 - Copper Glance FS trail 523 - Eightmile Ridge FS trail 477 – Ptarmigan Creek beyond the Dot Creek crossing FS trail 500 – Lake Creek beyond Black Lake FS trail 502 – Sand Ridge FS trail 533 – Boundary Trail, between Andrews Creek Trail #504 and Robinson Creek Trail #478.Monument Creek Trail #484Tatoosh Buttes Trail #485Eureka Creek Trail #474Ferguson Lake Trail #474A

UNITED STATES OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE OKANOGAN WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST CLE ELUM RANGER DISTRICT ORDER NO. 06-17-03-17-1011 JOLLY MOUNTAIN FIRE CLOSURE Pursuant to 16 USC § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System (NFS) Lands, Roads, and Trails within the Cle Elum Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest as described below and shown in Exhibit A.. This Order is effective beginning August 25, 2017 until October 15 , 2017 , unless rescinded. PROHIBITION: 1. Entering into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Closure Area which are closed for public health and safety as described below, and displayed in Exhibit A. [36 CFR § 261.53(e)] 2. Being on any National Forest System road, as described below , and displayed in Exhibit A. [36 CFR § 261.54(e)] 3. Being on any National Forest System Trail, as described below, and displayed in...

Jolly Mountain Fire Information Phone: (509)596-2423 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Pre-recorded line: (505)585-5048 Email: JollyMountainFireInfo@gmail.com Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/5496/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jollymountainfireinfo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jolly_mountain Start Date: 8/11Cause: LightningSize: 5,164 acresPercent Containment: 0%Crews: 7Helicopters: 4Engines: 22Total Personnel: 372Location: Cle Elum Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA Summary: Smoke from regional fires heavily impacted the area again yesterday. The Jolly Mountain Fire was most active in the northwest and southwest corners but did not experience significant growth. It has now burned onto the western side of Sasse Ridge. The fire is very visible from the Cle Elum River. Trees are likely to torch, but western winds should blow most embers back into the burned fire area. The fire is expected to back slowly down the...

Actualización sobre los incendios en Norse Peak Miércoles, 30 de agosto de 2017 – 9:00 a.m. Los datos infrarrojos del vuelo nocturno de anoche confirmaron un evidente contraste entre el comportamiento del incendio y la expansión entre las secciones norte y sur de los incendios de Norse Peak. El incendio American (301 acres), que arde del lado sur de la Carretera 410, no se ha expandido de manera significativa en los últimos dos días. Continúa retrocediendo lentamente cuesta abajo, en sentido norte hacia las líneas de mangueras instaladas sobre el Río American. No se desplazó en sentido sur hacia la Carretera de Bumping River, Bumping Lake Marina, Camp Fife o Goose Prairie, donde los negocios se encuentran abiertos y los campistas disfrutan del clima seco y caluroso. En cambio, más al norte de la Carretera 410, la zona desértica de Norse Peak ha experimentado un comportamiento extremo del incendio y una expansión significativa. El incendio de Norse Peak, el incendio...

Information: (503)765-5724 - 8 am – 6 pm Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail.com Websites: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondcreekfire2017 Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com Location: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA Summary: Tuesday was a second day of substantial fire growth at the north and northwest ends. The fire increased by 16,196 acres, and produced significant smoke and some ash fall in the Methow Valley. The fire has burned across the border with Canada in the Peevee Creek drainage, where it has burned an estimated 300 acres. Coordination with the British Columbia Ministry of Forest Land and Natural Resource Operations is ongoing.Helicopter water drops are still being used to hold the fire in Drake Creek and keep it from moving into Pat Creek, with a large Type 1 helicopter in addition to the Type 2.Chippers are continuing to treat slash created as...

Late yesterday, three spot fires jumped the western line late in the afternoon. Firefighter lookouts, who were strategically placed in the narrow canyon to mitigate safety concerns, located the fires outside the perimeter around 4:30 p.m. Hand crews were assisted by air resources, including four helicopters and a fixed-wing airplane that dipped out of North Twin Lakes, to quickly line the three fires, with the largest growing less than 5 acres. Additional crews utilized newly opened interior roads to put in place a water point that will assist in securing portions of the line difficult to access from perimeter roads. Elsewhere, crews continued to mop-up, hold, and secure the perimeter of the fire, completing small burnout operations to clean up unburned fuels along the lines. Sawyers worked to mitigate hazardous trees along the fireline and interior roads. Today, crews will work to lock up the eastern line along Summit Trail and continue work on a direct line on the west side of...

Contact Fire Information: 775-455-5316 Hours: 7a.m. – 8 p.m. http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ Date of Detection: August 11, 2017, 4:50 pm Current Size: 130 (size may increase or decrease with more accurate mapping) Location: Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, 30 miles northwest of North Bend, WA Legal Description: 47.65771N/121.583W Completed: 10% Incident Cost: $210,000.00 Incident Cause: Human Resources on Fire: There are approximately 70 personnel on this incident: Hot Shot CREWS Type 2 IA CREWS TYPE 1 HELICOPTERS (HEAVY) TYPE 2 HELICOPTERS (MED.) TYPE 3 HELICOPTERS (LIGHTS) ENGINES WATER TENDERS Excavators DOZERS 0 1 0 0 0 7 1 1 1 Remarks: Fire fighter and public safety is the most important objective. The terrain is steep and presents a challenge for the fire fighters. The fire had...

Infrared data from a flight last night confirmed stark contrast in fire behavior and expansion between south and north sections of the Norse Peak Fires. The American Fire (301 acres), burning on the south side of Hwy 410, has not spread significantly in the last two days. It continues backing slowly downhill, north toward the hose lines installed above the American River. It did not move south toward the Bumping River Road, Bumping Lake Marina, Camp Fife or Goose Prairie, where businesses are open and campers are enjoying hot dry weather. In contrast, well north of Hwy 410 in the Norse Peak Wilderness, there has been extreme fire behavior and significant fire spread. The Norse Peak Fire, Union Creek Fire, and Fire 367 (now 12,904 acres) have grown together and expanded through much of the north side of Gold Hill, Union Creek, the North Fork of Union Creek, Crow Creek, and Falls Creek. Fire crossed the Pacific Crest Trail west of Crow Lake. Flames hundreds of feet high were observed...

Diamond Creek Fire UpdateTuesday, August 29NEW TRAIL CLOSURES IN EFFECTInformation: (503)765-5724 - 8 am – 6 pm Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail.com Websites: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondcreekfire2017 Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com Location: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA Summary: On Monday the fire grew substantially at the north end in East Fork Pasayten Creek into Whistler Basin and around Deception Pass, bringing more smoke into the upper Methow Valley. The Diamond Creek Fire Incident Commander is coordinating with the British Columbia Ministry of Forest Land and Natural Resource Operations, which is doing additional reconnaissance flights in the area.Helicopter water drops are still being used to hold the fire in Drake Creek and keep it from moving into Pat Creek.Chippers are continuing to treat slash created as part of the preparation work...

Due to heightened activity of the Norse Peak Fire, the Pacific Crest Trail has now been closed from White Pass north to Government Meadow. Government Meadow is near the northern boundary of the Norse Peak Wilderness Area. Road 1902 from the Forest Road 19, along the Little Naches River, to "Raven's Roost" is also closed. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is updating and expanding its closure area.Thank you for respecting this closure in order to support public and firefighter