Suppression of these fires is an interagency effort, including Chelan County Fire Districts 1, 3, 4, 8 and 9; Washington DNR; Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Guard.
The Type 1 Southern Area Incident Management Team (Dueitt) is managing the Chiwaukum Complex.
The weather forecast for Tuesday favors fire spread. The Haines Index, which is a measurement of the stability and dryness of air over a fire and an indication of the potential for fire growth, is projected to be 5 on Tuesday on a scale of 2 (very low fire growth potential) to 6 (high fire growth potential).
Highway 2 from Coles Corner to Mile Post 99 (just west of Leavenworth, WA) remains closed due to increasing fire activity and to provide for public and firefighter safety.
Chiwaukum Creek Fire: The fire continued to move slowly down the slope north of Thomson Creek toward Route 2 via creeping and individual tree torching. The fire in this area is eliminating unburned fuel along Highway 2 in a controlled fashion. Crews are building handline on McCue Ridge using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics along the north line into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness which reduces disturbance on the land while still creating an effective fire-line. With the increase in fire growth potential, crews and National Guard personnel stationed along Route 2 will remain vigilant in catching any spot fires that try to establish on the east side of the highway. Helicopters are dropping water on hot spots along the fire perimeter as needed.
Kelly Mountain Fire: The Entiat and LaGrange Hotshot crews did excellent work in mopping up the remaining identified areas of heat and were flown off the fire on Monday afternoon. This fire will be unstaffed and monitored by aerial resources for the foreseeable future.
Duncan Fire: Heavy equipment, including timber harvesters and masticators, in combination with hand crews are thinning trees and brush along the Shady Pass Road (FR5900) and the Entiat River Road to decrease fuel loading adjacent to these roads. This fuel break will give managers a range of suppression options if the fire moves to the south and east. There was increased activity on the north end of the fire on Monday where it is constrained by a lack of fuel. Activity also increased on the southeast flank above the North Branch of the Entiat River.
Mills Canyon Fire: 95% of this fire is contained and will continue to be monitored by three engine crews. Recent infra-red flights have shown little or no remaining heat.
Weather: Temperatures will be up a few degrees and humidity will remain low on Tuesday. Fortunately west and northwest winds will stay light. There is a chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Evacuations/Closure Information: Chelan County Emergency Services posts updated evacuations and closures on their Facebook and Twitter sites at facebook.com/pages/Chelan-County-Emergency-Management/188543097925415 or follow them on twitter @ChelanCountyEM.
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices
Smoke Information: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ and Leavenworth webcam at: http://www.leavenworth.org/news-weather
Highway Information: http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/ or follow twitter: @wsdot
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