InciWeb Articles WA

Three fires actively burning in a mix of timber and brush on the Colville Indian Reservation comprise the Inchelium Complex: the Fry Fire, Inchelium Highway Fire, and Kewa Fields Fire.  All three fires are being managed for full suppression. The cause of the fires remains under investigation. Crews remain focused on point protection with an emphasis on structures and natural and cultural resources, and minimizing the footprint on all three fires.   A virtual community meeting was held yesterday to provide an overview of the fires and answer questions. A recording of it can be viewed at: www.facebook.com/ColvilleTribune, www.facebook.com/CCTBroadcasts Current Situation: With favorable conditions yesterday, firefighters were able to accomplish a lot of work in meeting objectives. On Inchelium Highway Fire crews completed a containment line directly against the burning perimeter along the northwest flank, and held it throughout the day. At Kewa Fields Fire firefighters completed...

The Big Hollow Fire is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Carson and 7 miles southeast of Cougar, Washington. Temperatures will cool by a few degrees from yesterday, with light winds out of the southwest. Yesterday’s Operations: The layer of smoke continued to reduce at higher elevations. This resulted in higher temperatures and drier weather at high elevations of the fire. Crews continued firing operations in the southwest area of the fire, moving east along the 57 and 58 roads to secure the fire edge. Containment lines along the 1000 road in the Siouxon block were near completion. Road systems along the eastern edge of the fire were scouted for potential containment opportunities. Crews continued installing sprinklers around the cabins at Government Mineral Springs and conducted some fuel reduction around the structures. The team held a virtual community meeting, which is available for viewing at https://www.facebook.com/GiffordPinchot.   Today’s Operations: In...

 Omak, WA – The northeast portion of the fire that has been the main priority has a good line in now and is holding. Firefighters had to go direct with line construction due to the steep terrain This progress has allowed the objectives of the fire to turn the corner and utilize some of those crews to be spread out and work containment lines farther into the charred area.  Repairs to the fencing and roads that were damaged during initial attack are being looked at for repair. The Old Mill area will need some additional mop up today with heavy equipment and water tenders. Smoke conditions from the fires in the south are expected to stay in the area today. Crews will continue assisting the power companies with hazard trees near the power lines to make their work areas safe. The public will continue to see smoke from smoldering trees in the area for several days. Crews are patrolling these areas to keep an eye on these hot spots.  The Cold Springs Fire started Sunday evening and is...

Lincoln Co. Sherriff's Department has changed the evacuation levels for the Whitney Fire area.  Changes to evacuation levels are:All areas within the fire perimeter are changed to Level 1 (Get Ready).All Level 1 areas outside the perimeter of the fire are removed.Safety Message:  Areas within the fire perimeter still continue to smolder and produce smoke.  If you see a fire that poses a direct threat please call 911. Be aware that firefighting and utility repair equipment remains in the area. Please take necessary

The Level 3 Evacuation Around Stray Dog Canyon Reduced to a Level

The Lincoln County Sherriff's Department changed the evacuation levels for the Whitney Fire area.  All Level 3 (Go!) areas north of HWY 2 are now Level 2 (Get set). Property owners in these areas can return to their properties, but should remain ready to go if conditions change.All other Level 2 areas within the fire perimeter remain at level 2.All Level 1 areas (Get ready) outside the perimeter of the fire area remain Level 1 at this time.Areas within the fire perimeter still continue to smolder and produce smoke.  If you see a fire that poses a direct threat, please call 911 or 360-481-7668. Returning residents should be aware that firefighting and utility repair equipment remains in the area. Please take necessary

The following trails, roads, and campgrounds are included in Closure Order Number 06-05-20-04 (September 11, 2020):Suiattle River Road (FR 26) from Buck Creek Campground to the east road terminusGreen Mountain Road (FR 2680)Green Mountain Trail (#782), including Green Mountain LookoutDowney Creek Trail (#768)Sulphur Creek Trail (#793)Sulphur Mountain Trail (#794)Bachelor Creek Trail #796)Sulphur Creek CampgroundBuck Creek CampgroundThis closure order will be effective from September 11, 2020, until October 31, 2020, unless rescinded sooner.

Oregon Smoke Helps Slow Washington Fires Smoke from Oregon’s fires along the western slope of the Cascade Mountains is helping to slow at least one large fire on Washington’s east side. Meteorologist Stephen Bodnar explained yesterday that winds from the south were pushing western Oregon smoke to the north, and then westerly winds in Washington were pushing it to the east. At the Pearl Hill Fire in eastern Washington, the heavy blanket of smoke shaded the fire enough that the fire crews were able to establish a defensible edge around the most aggressive front of the fire. “The thick smoke layer kept temperatures cool and humidities higher,” said Division Zulu Supervisor Jeremy Delack, “allowing our firefighters time to complete critical containment lines.”   Burnout operations on the active northwest corner of the Pearl Hill Fire (Division Zulu) were completed on Saturday. The east side of the fire is in patrol status. Crews will be mopping up hot spots closest to the...

 The Babb-Malden, Manning and Colfax Fires started on Monday, September 7, 2020. Babb-Malden Fire - Approximately 15,266 acres have been burned and the fire is at 50% percent containment. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 121 primary residence structures have been destroyed. 8 Commercial and 94 other structures have also been destroyed. Crews continue to patrol the town of Malden and Pine City.  Today's  fire operations focused on suppression activities, putting out hot spots within the fire perimeter. Crews have made good progress on this fire. Pine City-Malden Road is currently closed to the public from the west side of Pine City to the east side of Malden. The communities of St. Johns, Sunset, Thorton and Ewan are at a Level 1 Evacuation. Please be sure to refer to the Whitman County Sheriff's Facebook page for more information on closures and evacuations. With the additional weekend crews that are here, they have made good progress on this fire. Crews are working...

  Oregon Smoke Helps Slow Washington Fires Smoke from Oregon’s fires along the western slope of the Cascade Mountains is helping to slow at least one large fire on Washington’s east side.   Meteorologist Stephen Bodnar explained yesterday that winds from the south were pushing western Oregon smoke to the north, and then westerly winds in Washington were pushing it to the east. At the Pearl Hill Fire in eastern Washington, the heavy blanket of smoke shaded the fire enough that the fire crews were able to establish a defensible edge around the most aggressive front of the fire. “The thick smoke layer kept temperatures cool and humidities higher,” said Division Zulu Supervisor Jeremy Delack, “allowing our firefighters time to complete critical containment lines.”   Burnout operations on the active northwest corner of the Pearl Hill Fire (Division Zulu) were completed on Saturday. The east side of the fire is in patrol status. Crews will be mopping up hot spots closest...

PNW Incident Management Team #12 will be holding a virtual community meeting on the Gifford Pinchot Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GiffordPinchot on Sunday September 13 at 5:00 PM. The meeting will be streamed via Facebook Live on the Gifford Pinchot Facebook page.The team will be giving an update to the current situation of the fire, as well as the current and predicted weather, fire behavior, and the leader’s intent from the incident commanders. Questions can be left on this post as well as during the virtual meeting, and staff will try to answer them to the best of our ability at the end of the presentations. The video will be saved and able to be viewed and shared for those that can’t attend during the live broadcast. Please share this message with all of those that would be interested in attending this

A virtual community meeting will be held at 7:30PM tonight via Facebook Live on the Colville Tribal Broadcasts, News and Information Facebook page. The event will feature updates from Colville Business Council member Joel Boyd, Incident Commander Eric Knerr, fire operations leadership, and fire weather and behavior

Los incendios Babb-Malden Fire, Manning Fire, y Whitney Fire comenzaron el lunes 7 de septiembre, cuando un frente frío creó ráfagas de más de 50 mph, lo que resultó en un comportamiento de fuego extremo y un rápido crecimiento del fuego. Los bomberos continúan avanzando en los tres incendios, reforzando las líneas de contención y limitando la propagación del fuego. La calidad del aire seguirá siendo peligrosa durante el fin de semana a medida que el borde de ataque de la columna de humo de los incendios en Oregon y California se mueva por el área. Es posible que llegue un frente frío el lunes, lo que podría traer lluvias dispersas y algo de alivio del humo. Los fuertes vientos del lunes serán la primera prueba de las líneas de contención.   Whitney Fire Ayer: Los equipos retiraron los árboles muertos que quedaban en Hawks Creek Canyon, lo que hizo que sea seguro continuar funcionar en esa área. También extinguidon puntos calientes a 300 pies de las...

Three fires actively burning in a mix of timber and brush on the Colville Indian Reservation comprise the Inchelium Complex: the Fry Fire, Inchelium Highway Fire, and Kewa Fields Fire.  All three fires are being managed for full suppression. The cause of the fires remains under investigation. Crews remain focused on point protection with an emphasis on structures and natural and cultural resources, and minimizing the footprint on all three fires.  A virtual community meeting will be held at 7:30PM tonight via Facebook Live on the Colville Tribal Broadcasts, News and Information Facebook page. The event will feature updates from Colville Business Council member Joel Boyd, Incident Commander Eric Knerr, fire operations leadership, and fire weather and behavior specialists.  Current Situation: Aviation resources were unable to fly yesterday due poor visibility under an inversion.  The inversion lifted late last night increasing fire behavior, resulting in spotting in some areas. On...

The Babb-Malden Fire, the Manning Fire, and the Whitney Fire all began on Mon., Sept. 7, when a cold front created gusts in excess of 50 mph, resulting in extreme fire behavior and rapid fire growth.  Firefighters continue making progress on all three fires, reinforcing containment lines and limiting fire spread. Air quality will remain hazardous through the weekend as the leading edge of the smoke plume from the fires in Oregon and California moves through the area. A cold front may arrive on Monday, which could bring scattered showers and some relief from the smoke. Gusty winds on Monday will be the first test of the containment lines. Another chance of rain is predicted on Friday. Whitney Fire Yesterday: Crews removed standing dead trees that were remaining in Hawks Creek Canyon making it safe to continue mopping-up that area. They also mopped-up within 300 feet of structures south of Hwy 2. Firefighters along with Washington National Guard soldiers and airmen...

The Big Hollow Fire is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Carson and 7 miles southeast of Cougar, Washington. Temperatures will be similar or slightly cooler than yesterday. Winds will shift to the southwest and help to alleviate smoke at high elevations. Yesterday’s Operations: Thick smoke diminished fire behavior but also decreased visibility. There was some reduction in smoke at higher elevations, resulting higher temperatures. In the southwest, crews conducted firing operations along the 57 road to secure the fire edge. In the Siouxon block, crews made progress constructing control lines using heavy equipment. The fire grew in the east, burning down the ridge west of Wind River Hwy and Middle Butte. Crews continued to prep the cabins at Government Mineral Springs for fire protection. Residents of the cabins were escorted in to retrieve belongings. Today’s Operations: Acreage has incrementally increased over the past three days while updated maps were...

 Omak, WA – Today: The area like most of Eastern Washington is dealing with smoke from the south.   These conditions will stick around through the day while crews are on the line. Firefighters today will continue their focus on the northeast portion of the fire which is the Omak Lake and Haley Creek area where they will work on direct attack and constructing primary and secondary line. Dozers and tenders will work the old mill area by pulling apart the large wood piles that are still smoldering.  Firefighters will continue to strengthen containment lines and patrol areas that have good containment. Crews are still assisting the power companies with burned trees near the power lines to make their work areas safe. Omak Lake and Haley Creek area are still under level 2 and 3 evacuation levels.   Power and cell phone coverage will continue to be a challenge in some areas due to hundreds of power poles destroyed and cell phone towers damaged or destroyed during initial attack....

 Omak, WA – Smokey conditions hindered efforts on the Cold Springs fire today. Aircraft were only able to fly for a short period of time due to limited visibility. The northeast portion of the fire which consists of Omak Lake and Haley Creek areas continue to be the main objective but is difficult due to the steep terrain. Other crews on the fire focused on the mill area and strengthening containment lines by working from the perimeter in. Firefighters are still assisting the power companies with burned trees near the power lines to make their work areas safe. Omak Lake and Haley Creek area are still under level 2 and 3 evacuation levels.   Power and cell phone coverage will continue to be a challenge in some areas due to hundreds of power poles destroyed and cell phone towers damaged or destroyed during initial attack. Residents will see smoke from the interior of the fire for several days. Crews are patrolling these areas to keep an eye on these hot spots.  The Cold Springs...

A new Level 2 Evac is in effect in the vicinity of the southwest flank of Kewa Fields Fire in the proximity of Wilmont Creek