7/04/2015 Twenty-One Mile Grade Fire AM Update

Keller, WA – The Twenty-One Mile Grade Fire began on the afternoon of July 1 and has grown to approximately 2,000 acres. It is located approximately 25 miles north of Keller, WA and east of Hwy 21.

Safety concerns for today:

• A Red Flag Warning will be in effect from noon – 10 pm for the area as winds from the north are expected to range from 10 – 17 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. The winds are expected to be strongest at approximately 6 pm
• Increased traffic due to the 4th of July Holiday
•  Fireworks will be a major concern and new fire starts are anticipated. Fireworks are ONLY allowed in designated areas from noon – midnight.

Yesterday, firefighters dealt with active fire behavior. The fire crossed the line along the southwest corner of the fire at 21 Mile Road, requiring immediate suppression actions by ground crews. Along the eastern perimeter the fire crossed the line burning to an old logging road where dozer containment lines help hold the fire. Night shift objective was to burn unburned fuels directly along new containment line between the old logging road and the fire. The northeast perimeter was most active as the fire burned onto a steep ridge. Fixed-wing aircraft dropped retardant north, east and south of the fire and helicopters continued to drop water cooling down hotspots. No injuries or accidents have occurred on this incident.

The fire is expected to continue to grow today due to hot, dry, windy conditions. Winds gust are expected to reach 30 mph, and are highly variable due to canyon and cliff topography along the San Poil River. Firefighters will be looking for opportunities for direct and indirect attack. They will be improving containment lines that protect the valley floor and anchor the southern perimeter of the fire.

Travelers are advised to drive defensively on Hwy 21 due to heavy volume of holiday traffic and emergency vehicles. One lane traffic controlled by flaggers will be experienced at an oil spill recovery site between Keller and the fire with an anticipated 20-minute wait time.