8/25/2014 Upper Falls-Little Bridge Creek Fire Update

Today, a Type 3 Team led by Incident Commander Aaron Thompson took over all three fires from Beth Lund’s Type 1 National Incident Team. IC Thompson will oversee all crews still assigned to the incident. Suppression repair work will continue on all three fire burn areas. Partly cloudy skies and warmer temperatures with a slight chance of showers should allow for crews to be very productive today. A warming and drying trend is expected to begin on Tuesday.

Fire activity on the Upper Falls Fire is limited to smoldering in the heavy dead and down fuels. Containment is now at 100%. Resources will continue to complete suppression repair work today.

The Little Bridge Creek Fire is now at 100% containment. Fire activity is limited to smoldering. Much of the Forest closures associated within the Little Bridge Creek Fire have been lifted.

Fire suppression repair will remain the focus on the Carlton Complex. Containment for the complex is at 100%.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest assembled a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment team to analyze post-fire conditions of burned watersheds and to plan emergency stabilization treatments for the Carlton Complex and other Central Washington Wildfires. For more information and to stay updated on efforts regarding post-fire efforts, please go to http://centralwashingtonfirerecovery.info/

The Methow Valley Ranger District has re-opened the entire West Chewuch Road. FS Road #51 is re-opened from Eight Mile Ranch to the end of the road at the 30 Mile Trailhead. The Eight Mile #5130 is now open from the intersection at West Chewuch Road to the intersection at Ortell Creek Road #5220. The remainder of the Eight Mile Road north of the intersection will remain closed. The Billygoat Trailheads are not accessible. The portion of FS Road #4410 that goes over Thompson Ridge from Thompson Pass to Twisp River is now open. FS Road #4415, Little Bridge Creek, remains closed. See the forest website for details of closures: http://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen

There is a Forest Closure back in place for areas surrounding the Carlton Complex. This order closes Road 41 from Hwy 20 to the intersection at FS Road #4150. FS Road #4150 is also closed from Benson Creek on National Forest Lands to Road 41. See the forest website for details of closures: http://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen

Approximately 317 fire personnel still remain assigned to the three fires. Demobilization will continue and crews will be heading back to their home units.

Email Address:          upperfallslittlebridgefire@gmail.com

Facebook:                  Great Basin National Incident Management Team 1

Wildfire blog:            upperfallslittlebridgefire.blogspot.com