InciWeb Articles WA

Cedar Creek and Delancy FiresMorning UpdateJuly 24, 2021 Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestNorthwest Incident Management Team 8 is managing the Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires. California Incident Management Team 1 has assumed management of the Cub Creek 2 Fire.Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)  Winthrop, WA — Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in very steep and rocky terrain in heavy down fuels.Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is estimated at 22,415 acres and 11% contained. West winds are expected to moderate slightly today but the fire is expected to continue down Virginian Ridge and into the Wolf Creek drainage. Today, firefighters will be working to decrease fire activity and spread, however, smoke could impact the use of aerial resources. Firefighters have begun mop-up operations along portions of the fireline at the base of the foothills west of State Route 20 from Early Winters...

Yesterday: Fire activity was moderate as the temperatures warmed up and the fire backed into drainages with pockets of heavier fuels.  A heavy helicopter was used for water drops to cool a few mid-day flare ups near the perimeter.  Firefighters made progress in further securing the perimeter constructing line using both dozers and handcrew on the north and east sides of the fire. Mop-up and cold trailing operations continued requiring crews to feel for areas of heat and extinguish smoldering materials.   Operations for Today: Another 20-person handcrew arrived on the incident.  This is integral for getting firefighters on the ground to check the entire perimeter for smoke and heat.  Their objective will be to seek out and extinguish smoldering debris that pose a threat to containment.  Dozer and handline improvements will be made in the northwest corner of the fire for reinforcement.  Anticipated fire activity is low to moderate and smoke may be visible as interior pockets of...

Smoke Outlook for 7/24 - 7/25 North Central Washington Cedar Ck, Delancy, Cub Creek 2   Smoke West winds over the fire areas will shift to upslope/upvalley in the late morning. As upslope/upvalley winds set up, smoke in communities further from the fires may start to lift. But, with the upvalley flow expect more smoke to persist in the upper Methow Valley through much of the day. Smoke from Canada will impact communities in the Okanogan Valley in the morning as downvalley winds prevail primarily in Oroville and Tonasket. Air quality improvements from Pateros north through the Okanogan Valley should start mid morning. Upper Methow Valley smoke impacts could decrease Sunday with W/SW winds. Health Utilize N95 masks in heavy smoke if you need to be outside. Avoid vigorous outdoor activities when air quality is unhealthy. Consider setting up a clean room in your house, or even better - taking that vacation you’ve been planning to a part of the country with clean

CHUWEAH CREEK FIRE UPDATE NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12 Incident Commander: Bobby Shindelar July 24, 2021 8:00 AM Operations Today: Hot shots hit the fire hard today, focusing on the northern end and the mid-section of the east side, where unburned fuels posed a potential barrier to completing containment lines. They were able to burn some of the green islands, pulling the line down toward Keller Butte Road. Helicopters flew for 14 hours, dropping 69,600 gallons of water on hot spots. The fire continues to creep and smolder, but containment lines are secure on the south, west and north edges. Crews continue to mop up, monitor and patrol the fire perimeter.  Northwest Team 12 is implementing additional COVID 19 mitigation measures in order to ensure the health and safety of our firefighters and the communities we serve. To that end, all future briefings will be broadcast virtually via Zoom, in addition to being conducted in-person. The Incident Command Post will be...

Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires Evening UpdateJuly 23, 2021 Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestFire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)Winthrop, WA — Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in very steep and rocky terrain in heavy down fuels.Cedar Creek Fire The fire has extended east of Lucky Jim Bluff and continues to move to the southeast along Virginian Ridge. The fire was active along State Route 20 today. Firefighters will continue preparations of dozer line along the base of the foothills to the west of State Route 20 working south of Wolf Creek towards Thompson Ridge area to the north and west. Contingency lines are being prepared along the valley bottom to the south. An additional strike team of engines (5 engines) arrived today to assist   with structure protection along State Route 20.In the northeast corner, crews patrolled the burnout operation conducted the day before and tied...

Cub Creek 2 FireEvening Update July 23, 2021  Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm) The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Winthrop, WA — Cub Creek 2 – The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 40,877 acres with 10% containment.  Today’s clear air and higher temperatures brought an increase in activity to some areas of the fire but also allowed firefighters to get a better look at the fire from above and utilize aircraft to aid in suppression efforts.   The fire is split into east and west flanks, both of which are moving in the northern section toward previously burned areas from the Mcleod and Tripod fires and away from homes and structures. There are also additional areas of heat on both the southeastern and southwestern flanks. West winds and low humidity will persist as well as clear skies, leading...

 Summary: At about 5:00 p.m. yesterday, fire resources responded to a call for a brush fire along Highway 155, near milepost 18 and Northrup Canyon Road. Firefighters and resources from Grand Coulee, Electric City, Coulee Dam, Coulee City, Grant County, Lincoln County, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) responded, along with five helicopters, four air bosses, two air tankers, and air attack. The fire pushed to the north and east. Firefighters worked through the night, conducting a burnout operation and making significant progress on establishing and defending containment lines. Southeast Washington Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the fire at 8:00 p.m. this evening, collaborating with the Washington State Patrol-Fire Marshal’s office for a state mobilization response. Tomorrow: Assigned resources will continue to construct containment lines and improve existing ones. Unburned islands of fuel within the perimeter of the fire are expected to...

Operations for Today: Dozers will continue to construct line from Field Road west toward the Snake River on the north perimeter. Handcrews and dozers will also construct line eastward from Field Road toward Steptoe Canyon Road.  Aircraft will continue to keep the south perimeter in check while handrews make progress in constructing hand line and cold trailing feeling for heat along the perimeter.    Incident priorities remain public and firefighter safety, as well as protection of residences, livestock, and haystacks.Weather:  Warm and dry with temperatures reaching 92 degrees.  Winds will be breezy, with gusts up to 18 mph out of the NW.  Humidity will be low with poor overnight recovery.Closures:  Steptoe Caynon Road from Rimrock Road to Snake River.Evacuations: 

    News Release  July 23rd, 2021 Wellpinit, WA - The Sherwood Fire is located about 2 miles Northeast of Wellpinit, WA. It started on Wednesday, July 21st and has burned approximately 441 acres of forested land. Fire crews worked to continue to get a containment line around the fire.   Dozer line was completed around the south side of the fire.  The north and east side of the fire is where the fire grew reaching Sheep Creek.  Fire spread is expected to continue to the NE toward Wilkinson road.  The fire is currently approximately 2 miles west of Wilkinson road.  Air resource including 5 fixed wing aircraft and 3 helicopters where on the fire all afternoon into the evening.  Air resources were focused on the north and east side of the fire. Challenges for fire fighters have been several steep canyons in the area.     Today: Crews will continue to extend containment line on the north side of the fire.     Social Media:...

  Cedar Creek and Delancy FiresMorning UpdateJuly 23, 2021Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Northwest Incident Management Team 8 will continue to manage the Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires. California Incident Management Team 1 has assumed management of the Cub Creek 2 Fire this morning. Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Winthrop, WA — Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in very steep and rocky terrain in heavy down fuels. Cedar Creek Fire is estimated at 20,806 acres and 11% contained. Yesterday, the fire had backed down for approximately two miles to the prepared dozer line along the base of the mountain. Burnout operations were conducted in locations where fuels remained to bring the fire from Lucky Jim Bluff to the dozer line. Firefighters will focus on mopping up hot spots to secure the eastern line.  Once the inversion lifts, aerial resources will drop water to decrease...

CHUWEAH CREEK FIRE UPDATE  NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12 Incident Commander: Bobby Shindelar July 23, 2021 8:00 AM Operations Today:  Firefighters worked along the eastern flank of the Chuweah Creek fire yesterday, securing the line along Keller Butte Road. Crews were successful in minimizing fire growth even with gusty, unpredictable winds and extremely dry conditions across the fire area. The fire crept over the line in a few hard-to-reach areas but these “slop-overs” were successfully caught using dozers, water and retardant drops. Crews quickly established new containment lines, which held through the night.  Additional crews have arrived and will contribute to the completion of line on Keller Butte Ridge and in rough terrain on the northeast and southeast corners. If conditions permit, crews may attempt to burn out a pocket of fuel mid-way down the eastern flank in order to tie up that edge. Some smoke is expected as a result. Air resources will continue...

July 23, 2021 The Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest has updated the fire emergency closure order around the Cedar Creek Fire area. Please see the pdf attachments below for a full copy of the closure and map.  UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST WINTHROP, WA Cedar Creek, Varden, and Delancy Fires Closure Order: 06-17-04-21-11 Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This Order supersedes Order # 06-17-04-21-08, dated July 15, 2021, signed by Kristin Bail. This Order is effective July 23, 2021, through December 31, 2021, unless rescinded sooner. PROHIBITIONS: 1. Entering into or being upon National Forest System Lands, as described below and displayed on the attached map, Exhibit A [36 CFR § 261.53(e)].   2. Being on any National Forest System...

Cub Creek 2 FireMorning UpdateJuly 23, 2021 Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm) The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Winthrop, WA — Cub Creek 2 – California Incident Management Team 1 has assumed management of the Cub Creek 2 Fire as of 0600 this morning.  Northwest Incident Management Team 8 will continue to manage the Cedar Creek. The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 38,671 acres with 5% containment. Overnight the fire burned actively actively because of poor relative humidity recoveries in the upper elevations and low fuel moistures. The fire remains split into east and west arms and backing downslope towards the Chewuch River.  Firefighting efforts are focused on using terrain features and reinforcing existing containment lines. Conditions and fuels remain dry, with 25 – 30% recoveries, which will affect fire...

 INCHELIUM, WASHINGTON – The Summit Trail Fire was ignited by lightning on July 12th approximately 17 miles west of Inchelium. A VIRTUAL public meeting will be held on Saturday, July 24 at 11am. It will be hosted on the Colville Tribal Broadcasts, News and Information Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/CCTBroadcasts A recording of the meeting will be available as well. Fire activity was reduced somewhat yesterday due to lighter winds, and crews were able to make some good progress. They continued to hold the southern and western edges. The priority today will be to continue to build line ahead of the active fire to stop fire spread toward Twin Lakes as the fire backs into the Beaver Dam Creek drainage. The fire is expected to be active in the Lynx Creek drainage as well and crews continue to prepare the road for containment actions. The fire is currently just a few hundred feet south of the road. They will also look for places to build contingency line north of the road. Starting...

Smoke Outlook for 7/23 - 7/24 North Central Washington Cedar Ck, Delancy, Cub Creek 2   Smoke Mazama may have periods of unhealthy air in the afternoon. Unhealthy to hazardous conditions will prevail in Winthrop with periods of clearing in the late morning. Twisp may have unhealthy air to mid morning, then clearing. Communities further down valley will clear earlier. Omak may experience unhealthy air primarily in the afternoon. Smoke from Canada will result in unhealthy air in Oroville and Tonasket in the early morning. Smoke may intrude into the Chelan airshed this afternoon. Health Stay indoors as much as possible while air quality is unhealthy. If you don’t have an air purifier or an HVAC system, create a clean room in your house with a box fan and filter. Monitor the Purple Air Website, or the Fire and Smoke website to find areas with cleaner air in your vicinity. Consider travelling down valley for some fresh air.

 News Release  - July 23rd, 2021 Rice, WA: The fire had a significantly reduction in fire behavior yesterday due to cooler temperatures and lighter winds.  This allowed crews to make further progress into mop-up operations and gaining on reducing hotspots to the 25-50 foot interior.  Crews will continue to work over the next few days to ensure hot spots are out to 150 feet or where necessary to contain the fire line and 500 feet around structures. A Palm IR unit (which utilizing infrared technology to identify heat or hotspots along the fire edge) is progressing around the fire edge, identifying hotspots for crews to extinguish. Today, crews will continue to work along the fire edge, identifying hotspots (burning stump holes, burning forest litter debris, and other pockets of burning material) and extinguishing them.  Hose lays have been set up around the fire where necessary to help facilitate the removal of the hotspots.  All level 3 evacuations have been dropped to a level...

Cub Creek 2 Fire Evening Update July 22, 2021California Incident Management Team 1 will assume management of the Cub Creek 2 Fire tomorrow at 0600.  A new telephone number for information will published.  Northwest Incident Management Team 8 will continue to manage the Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires. Fire Information Line – (541)-670-0812 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) (NEW NUMBER TOMORROW MORNING)The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.   Winthrop, WA — Cub Creek 2 – The fire is estimated at 38,671 acres with 5% containment. The fire is burning northward with lateral growth to the west and to a lesser degree to the east. Low intensity backing fire is moving downslope towards the Chewuch River on both east and west sides.  Fire growth has been consistent for several operational periods with short runs creating increased fire activity especially on the west side of...

Cedar Creek and Delancy FiresEvening UpdateJuly 22, 2021  Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestNorthwest Incident Management Team 8 will continue to manage the Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires. California Incident Management Team 1 will assume command of the Cub Creek 2 Fire on Friday at 0600.   Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)Winthrop, WA — Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in very steep and rocky terrain in heavy down fuels. Cedar Creek Fire The Cedar Creek Fire is estimated at 18,634 acres and 11% contained. Winds today were out of the west flowing down valley. Today, firefighters used Type 1 (heavy) helicopters and other aerial resources to decrease fire activity and spread on the southern portion of the fire; however, heavy smoke in the morning hours caused a delay in the start of air operations. Firefighters continued to prepare and open up additional dozer and hand line along...

Evacuation levels surrounding the Goddard Road Fire have been reduced to a level

   News Release  July 22nd, 2021 Wellpinit, WA - The Sherwood Fire is located about 2 miles Northeast of Wellpinit, WA. It started on Wednesday, July 21st and has burned approximately 375 acres of forest land. Northeast Washington Incident Management Team 3 was dispatched to assist the initial suppression efforts by Spokane Tribe of Indians, and Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Fire camp is established at the Spokane Tribal Pow Wow grounds.  Last night fire crews worked on getting fire line around the fire and were able to get 30% of the fire lined. Today, Crews are working on establishing a fire line around the fire.    Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/The-Rawhide-Press-129267947115446