9/11/2015 Okanogan and Chelan Complex Fire Update

Okanogan Complex Fire Update Fire Information: 877-568-0458 or 877-574-5148, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Size: 132,634 acres Estimated Cost to Date: 33.3 million Containment: 85 percent Injuries: 7 Total Personnel: 982 Residences Damaged or Destroyed: 120 Committed Resources: 19 crews, 41 engines, 5 helicopters, 7 dozers, 19 water tenders, 2 skidgines, 13 masticators Today will be even warmer and drier than yesterday. The temperature in the Okanogan Valley could reach 90 degrees and the minimum relative humidity could be as low as 17 percent. At higher elevations on the west side of the fire area, the temperature is expected to be in the high 70s and the minimum relative humidity in the mid-20s. Winds will be light all day, about 5 mph from the north in the morning and 3 mph from the south in the afternoon. Fire-behavior specialists expect moderate fire activity today as unburned fuels within the established fireline burn, resulting in smoke that might be observed from communities surrounding the fire. About 4 miles west of Oliver, British Columbia, Canadian firefighters are conducting firing operations, which are generating smoke that will continue to be visible in the Okanogan Valley. Crews on the west side of the fire along Forest Road (FR) 42 constructed direct fireline yesterday. At this time, firefighters are no longer planning to conduct defensive firing operations off FR 42 in the Cabin Creek area. They will continue to mop up and secure firelines on the northwest and north sides of the fire. Aircraft will be available for bucket drops if needed. Elsewhere, crews are patrolling and mopping up as needed. Suppression-repair crews are working in the Conconully area and on the south side of the fire. Complex Fire Update Fire Information (new number): 206-276-9126, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Size: 88,505 acres Estimated Cost to Date: $19.1 million Containment: 78 percent Injuries: 9 Total Personnel: 387 Residences Damaged or Destroyed: 23 Committed Resources: 7 crews, 28 engines, 1 dozers, 24 water tenders There was more smoke in the area yesterday since there were very weak transport winds to move that smoke out. Islands of unburned fuels on the interior of the fire are slowly burning adding to the smoke in the area. Those burning interior islands are not a threat to the fire lines. Warmer temperatures, lower humidity, and increased winds could cause the fire activity to spread to the northwest over the next couple of days. The reduction in acreage is due to more accurate mapping yesterday. Due to steep and rugged terrain, the northwest side of the fire is proving difficult to access and establish anchor points. The fire will continue to be monitored in the Saint Luise Creek area. Crews will continue to patrol on the south and southeast side of the fire today. Crews will also hold and improve control lines on the north and northeast side of the fire. The objective is to hold the fire north of Sawtooth ridge. EVACUATIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES ·    The Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest issued an area closure, effective September 4, 2015, for federal lands in the fire area:  http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4534/29367/ or http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices ·    Okanogan County Emergency Operations Center provides information on evacuations and road closures: 509-422-7348, Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/Okanogan.County.Emergency.Management