8/17/2014 Chiwaukum Complex Fire Update

Temperatures increased and relative humidity declined in the greater Chiwuakum Complex area yesterday, and fire activity is expected to increase over the next few days. Due to the warming trend, initial attack crews remain in place and on high alert for any holdover fires from last week's lightning. Crews assigned to structure assessment and mitigation are joining with the initial attack group and are staging in Leavenworth. The threat the fires once had on the nearby communities has reduced significantly due to the suppression efforts of the crews, with additional help from the past week's weather. There will continue to be a significant presence of crews in the area, although complexity of the incident has lessened.  All helicopters have been moved to the Fish Lake Air Strip and are now in a more central location within the complex. Today the Duncan Fire will show minimal fire activity with some creeping and little growth is expected.  Isolated smoldering fuels and some larger areas of heat within the fire will be worked on today. Last week's rains loosened rocks and logs and these remain a hazard to firefighters. The Hansel Creek Fire still has some heat on the western front.  Helicopters used bucket drops yesterday to help cool down areas of heat and will continue those operations today. Crews are close to completing all mop up and rehab efforts on the north side. Yesterday on the Shoofly Fire, hand crews worked on the contingency lines on the south and east flanks of the fire. Today, the crews will improve and complete those contingency lines. The Alpine Fire is 100% contained with a goal of being 100% mopped up today. The hose and pumps will be left on the fires edge for monitoring purposes until fire managers are comfortable with the containment status. The Chiwaukum Creek Fire continues to show heat on the northwest corner in the McCue Ridge and Chiwaukum Creek area. Crews will continue to suppress these hot spots where safety permits. They will monitor and mop up the northern edge of the fire with a goal of completing these objectives tomorrow. Evacuations/Closure Information:  Chelan County Emergency Services posts updated evacuations and closures 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/