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Greenhouse Daily Update 7/28/2020 Firefighters made excellent progress on all sides of the fire yesterday. Crews and engines performing mop up (searching for hotspots to extinguish) in the southern portion of the fire found numerous small hotspots which they extinguished. They reported that the only significant amount of smoke in the area was coming for the recycling center. Today, Colville Tribes EMS Fire and Rescue (CCT EMS) firefighters plan to work throughout the day, applying water to the large mounds of smoldering cardboard at the site. Firefighters will be patrolling and monitoring the area.  The fire continues to smolder and creep around in the heavy litter under pine and shrub dominated upper slopes on the northern portion of the fire. Crews and engines are focusing mop up efforts on these areas now.  A weak cold front moved in from the south this morning bringing warm, dry, windy conditions to the area for the next few days. Temperatures are expected to reach 100...

Evacuation Levels Reduced All homes and businesses that were in Evacuation Level 2 and Level 3 having been recommended to go to Evacuation Level 1. Basically, there are three evacuation levels, generally described as: Level 1 - “Get Ready,” Level 2 – “Get Set,” and Level 3 - “Go” immediately. Evacuation Level 1 means “Get Ready” – You should be prepared for wildfire impacts by creating defensible space around all buildings - clean up or relocate combustible materials, keep grass mowed short, and trim trees and shrubs to allow ample space between buildings and landscape vegetation. Additionally, stay alert to local wildfire conditions and consult local county and tribal emergency programs to ensure that you can receive alerts when emergencies occur within your area. In Okanogan County, including Colville Tribes, sign up for alerts at www.okanogandem.org or call (509) 422-7206. Road Closures ExpandedThe following roads are closed except for essential travel by...

 Greenhouse Fire Daily Update 7/27/2020Yesterday afternoon an unburned island along the southeastern edge of the fire, just west of the Nespelem Transfer Station, burned, putting up a lot of smoke for a short period of time. Crews and engines performing mop up near the area responded quickly and contained the flare-up. Otherwise, the fire continues to smolder and creep around in the heavy litter under pine and shrub dominated upper slopes on the northern portion of the fire. Winds are expected to be light and variable out of the northeast this morning. By early afternoon they will begin shifting to come out of the south with gusts possible to fifteen miles per hour (mph) today, increasing to twenty mph tomorrow. Temperatures are expected to reach the upper-90s today and become even a few degrees warmer tomorrow. Increased temperatures and winds are expected to increase fire behavior tomorrow, testing fire lines.  Today crews are working to complete fire lines on the north and east...

 Road Closures ExpandedThe following roads are closed except for essential travel by local residents and businesses, due to heavy fire traffic:-  The Columbia River Road from Omak, WA, to Nespelem, WA, (Hwy 155).-  All of Schoolhouse Loop Road.Closed Businesses/FacilitiesNespelem Transfer Station and the Recycling Center have been severely damaged by the Greenhouse Fire and are closed until further

 NEWS RELEASE (for immediate release) Evacuation Levels ReducedAll homes and businesses that were in Evacuation Level 2 and Level 3 having been recommended to go to Evacuation Level 1. Basically, there are three evacuation levels, generally described as: Level 1 - “Get Ready,” Level 2 – “Get Set,” and Level 3 - “Go” immediately.   Evacuation Level 1 means “Get Ready” – You should be prepared for wildfire impacts by creating defensible space around all buildings - clean up or relocate combustible materials, keep grass mowed short, and trim trees and shrubs to allow ample space between buildings and landscape vegetation. Additionally, stay alert to local wildfire conditions and consult local county and tribal emergency programs to ensure that you can receive alerts when emergencies occur within your area. In Okanogan County, including Colville Tribes, sign up for alerts at www.okanogandem.org or call (509) 422-7206.   Road Closures Expanded The following roads...

Greenhouse Fire Daily Update 7/26/2020Yesterday the west side of the fire was active on the upper portion of Mineral Ridge, burning down into Hudnut Canyon. Hotshot crews and helicopter rappelers constructed mid-slope fire lines where terrain allowed and began mopping up (searching for hotspots and extinguishing them). Fireline has been completed along the southern edge of the fire. Bulldozers and crews continue to construct new fire line and strengthen existing lines on the north and east sides. Crews and engines are beginning mop up within established lines, especially focusing on areas close to homes and businesses. Winds are expected to be light and variable for the next couple of days. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s today and become five to ten degrees warmer over the next two days. The Columbia River Road continues to be closed from Omak, WA, to the junction of Columbia River Road and Schoolhouse Loop Road at the Colville Indian Agency, Nespelem, WA. Level 2...

Greenhouse Fire Update, Saturday, July 25, 2020Northwest Incident Management Team 6 with Incident Commander Shawn Sheldon assumed control of the fire at 6:00 AM this morning. Bulldozers will continue working today on completing fire lines around the east and north sides of the fire. Hotshot crews began constructing fire lines on the west side of the fire where steep terrain prohibits bulldozer work.  Overall, winds are expected to be light and variable for the next couple of days. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-80s today and become ten to fifteen degrees warmer over the next two days.  Fire officials want to remind everyone that the current fire danger rating remains HIGH and recreational fires are only allowed in firepits maintained by the Colville Tribes.  Our highest priority is the safety of the public and all wildland fire personnel. To keep firefighters and communities healthy and safe during the Greenhouse Fire, all fire personnel are expected to follow...

A Level 2 Evacuation remains in place from the Catholic Cemetery to the Jackson Ranch west of Highway 155 and north from Nespelem, WA. A Level 2 Evacuation means “GET SET” – be ready to leave the minute that you receive notice to leave the

 Due to fire activity, Columbia River Road is closed from Omak to Colville Indian Agency in Nespelem until further

The Bertschi Road Fire, located south of the town of Glenwood, WA., started on July 16 and its cause remains under investigation.  The fire organization managing the fire is “right-sizing” and excess resources are being made available for other fires. Approximately 224 personnel are currently assigned to the incident, which is now 90% contained. Resources remaining include hand crews, engines, dozers, and water tenders, most of which will be demobbed by end of shift today.                                                                                                                           Northwest Incident Management Team 10 (NWT10) will be transitioning the Bertschi Road Fire to a Type 4 Incident Management Team (IMT) today at 4:00 pm. A small contingent of resources, including one task force leader, one strike team leader, one strike team of engines, and one twenty person crew will remain with the Type 4 IMT....

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The Bertschi Road Fire, located south of the town of Glenwood, WA., started on July 16 and its cause remains under investigation.  As crews continue to make progress on the fire, the number of personnel needed for the incident is evaluated. The fire organization managing the fire is rightsizing and excess resources are being made available for other fires. Approximately 304 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, which is 85% contained. Resources remaining include hand crews, engines, dozers, and water tenders. Air resources were released yesterday at the end of shift. Other resources will be demobilized as containment nears 100%. The Bertschi Road Fire night division searched for hot spots, and continued with mop up and patrolling the fire perimeter. Containment lines have been completed but mop-up to remove areas of remaining heat continues today; in some cases that work has been completed up to 300’ inside the fire line. Crews will begin back hauling unneeded equipment,...

The Bertschi Road Fire is burning south of Conboy Wildlife Refuge and north of Snowden Road, south of the town of Glenwood, WA. The fire started on July 16 and its cause remains under investigation.  As  crews begin to make better progress on the fire, the number of personnel needed for the incident is evaluated. The fire organization managing the fire is rightsizing and excess resources are being made available for other fires. Approximately 312 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, which is nearly 80% contained. Resources include hand crews, helicopters, engines, dozers, and water tenders. Hand held infra-red devices, used to detect heat, continue to be utilized within the perimeter of the fire footprint. Today, crews will focus on mopping up any areas of remaining heat near the edge of the fire. In some areas around the perimeter, up to 300 feet of mop up has been achieved.Yesterday, fire managers welcomed researchers from the University of Washington in Partnership with...

The Bertschi Road Fire is burning south of Conboy Wildlife Refuge and north of Snowden Road, south of the town of Glenwood, WA. The fire started on July 16 and remains under investigation. Approximately 338 personnel are assigned to the fire which is nearly 75% contained. Resources include hand crews, helicopters, engines, dozers, and water tenders.  A thermal flight was conducted overnight to delineate the fire perimeter and identify potential hot spots. With minimal activity seen on the fire yesterday, crews were able to remove remaining areas of heat near the perimeters while increasing levels of containment. Crews have placed hose lines around the perimeter of the fire and a handheld heat sensing tool is being used to search for heat sources within the containment lines where crews will focus on mopping up. Eight water tenders are located on site to support hose lines as crews are tasked to achieve 100% mop up along and within the fire perimeter. These operations ensure the...

The Bertschi Road Fire is burning south of Conboy Wildlife Refuge and north of Snowden Road, south of the town of Glenwood, WA. A control line, consisting of dozer line, hand line, and a system of forest roads, completely encircles the fire. Given the complexity of the terrain, prevalence of variable ridgetop winds, the abundance of woody fuels, and how early we are in the wildfire season, crews are working hard to suppress all hot spots within the fire perimeter. The fire started on July 16 and remains under investigation. Approximately 70% of the fire has been contained. 342 total personnel are currently resourced to the Bertschi Road Fire.  Today, crews will scout assigned divisions to validate and reinforce constructed control lines. Crews are continuing to use infrared data, collected during an overnight flight, to locate and extinguish hotspots  within the fire perimeter. This work – known as “mop up” – is hot, dirty and difficult, but is critical to ensuring that the...

July 19, 2020The Bertschi Road Fire is burning south of Conboy Wildlife Refuge and north of Snowden Road, south of the town of Glenwood, WA. Ground reconnaissance and more accurate mapping has placed the total acres burned at 250. While fire lines have been established around most of the perimeter of the fire, not all fire lines are secure enough to contain the fire should they be tested by strong winds and advancing flames. Given the complexity of the terrain and swirly ridgetop winds, lines around the fires perimeter will need to meet a higher standard before considered contained. The fire remains at 65% containment. Total personnel currently resourced to the fire is 295.Crews today will focus on completing direct line construction and improving established control lines, using dozers and hand crews. Also, crews will scout and develop drop points on the fire for hose and pump delivery. In some areas of the fire, mop up operations will begin. The fire has burned through heavy logging...

Williams Flats Fire Update - FINAL RELEASE - News Release August 25th, 2019 Keller, WA – Full containment has been achieved and the focus of work now shifts to general rehabilitation of the site of the fire. Local authorities will continue to monitor and patrol the fire for the next several days. The final shift under the Type 3 Incident Management Team is scheduled to end and the fire management transition to the local district for patrol of the area is scheduled to occur at 6 p.m. today. All evacuation orders have been lifted. Traffic on roads within the perimeter of the fire will continue to be limited to residents only and motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution when driving in the area of the fire and be mindful of firefighters still working in the area. The Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 2 wishes to express sincere appreciation for the support given to our efforts by the residents of the Colville Reservation and surrounding areas....

Williams Flats Fire Update News Release August 25th, 2019 Keller, WA – Firefighters have made excellent progress bringing containment to 97%. Today, crews will continue to strengthen lines and mop up in the northeastern section of the fire. The other sections are in patrol status. Today will be the heaviest day for resources being demobilized off the fire lines making them available to be reassigned to another incident and or return to their home unit. Fire managers expect to be able to turn the Williams Flats Fire back to the local jurisdictions this evening at 6:00 p.m. Weather: Dry and breezy conditions are expected on the fire area today as a dry cold front builds over the region from today onward through the middle of next week. Today’s weather is expected to be sunny in the morning becoming partly cloudy with a maximum high of 80° at lower elevations and 74° at elevations above 3,000 feet. Humidity will range between 26-32% with northwest winds 5-10 mph with gusts...

Williams Flats Fire Update News Release August 24th, 2019 Keller, WA – Today crews will continue to strengthen containment around the fire. This will include the construction of waterbars, gridding, and mop up. A waterbar is a feature used to prevent erosion on sloping roads or dozer lines. Gridding is the systematic and deliberate process of checking for hot spots using infrared devices and mop up. Fire managers are continuing the process of right sizing and demobilizing some resources, making them available for assignment to different incidents or returning them to their home unit. Weather: Dry and breezy conditions are expected on the fire area today as a dry cold front builds over the region from Sunday onward through the middle of next week. Today’s weather is expected to be mostly sunny with a maximum high of 84° at lower elevations and 76° at elevations above 3,000 feet. Humidity will range between 18-25% with west winds 9-14 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

Williams Flats Fire Update News Release August 23rd, 2019 Keller, WA – Crews have continued to map the footprint of the fire and sized it at 44,446 acres. To put this into perspective, the total perimeter of the Williams Flats Fire is approximately 50 miles. Crews will be back on the line today continuing detection and mop up of small hot spots and fire line rehabilitation. The southern and western sections of the fire remain in patrol status. Some crews have begun the process of being demobilized off the fire line and are now available to be reassigned to other incidents and/or returned to their home unit. Weather: Today’s weather is expected to be sunny early, then becoming partly sunny with a maximum high of 86° at lower elevations and 79° at elevations above 3,000 feet. Humidity will range between 25 - 31% with South winds 2 -5 mph in the morning trending to Southwest winds 3 – 7 mph in the afternoon with ridgetop gusts to 12 mph. Quick Facts Incident...