Incident Summary: The Blue Creek Fire, located ten miles east of Walla Walla, started on Monday, July 20 around 12:30 PM. The fire was human-caused
and is under investigation. The fire is burning
in grass, brush and timber on state-protected
private land.
Current Situation: All efforts are being made to minimize acres
burned
and
keep the fire out of the Mill
Creek Watershed. The fire
has not burned into the watershed. Fire managers are
cautiously optimistic
that
the
tremendous work completed by the firefighters will keep the fire north and
west of the Klicker Mountain Road and the Mill
Creek Watershed. Fuel continues to burn in the interior and smoke will
be visible. Motorists in the area are
asked to
drive
cautiously and
watch for firefighters and apparatus both
day
and night. The Army Corps of Engineers has reopened Bennington Lake
to boats.
State mobilization has ended and
structure protection resources have returned to their home units.
Planned Actions
Today:
Firefighters continue to strengthen firelines lines, complete mop-up and begin rehabilitation activities. Mop-up means that crews will locate
and extinguish any pockets of heat around the fire perimeter ensuring the lines will
hold. Crews continue
to
solidify firelines along the
Mill
Creek Watershed boundary
and strengthen the fuel break
that has been constructed. Aviation
resources are available to provide support to the ground resources.
Crews continue patrolling
the
fire with
hand held infrared devices
(Palm
IR)
to locate pockets of heat not visible
to the human eye. They work within
500 feet of all structures and 200 feet around the fire perimeter. Palm
IR
crews work in pairs and travel on foot. Teams work around the clock if conditions allow, but
the devices are
most effective
in cooler overnight temperatures. When a
pocket of heat is located, it is marked
with a ribbon or
flag. Hand
crews follow behind Palm IR teams to fully extinguish detected heat pockets. Residents are
asked not to remove any ribbons or flags on their property.
Weather Outlook: The upper low will move through the region today. This will
bring a chance of
showers and
isolated thunderstorms. High
pressure will
return Tuesday bringing warmer and drier conditions through
Friday.
Evacuation Information: Level 3: Blue
Creek Road, Klicker Mountain
Road because of firefighters and apparatus in the
immediate vicinity. It
is
requested that people leave these areas so that firefighters may
work safely. There are no Level
2 or Level 1 evacuation orders.
Closures: Traffic control points remain at 5
Points and at Blue
Creek Road.
Only local traffic will
be allowed past the traffic
control point. The
Umatilla National
Forest has lifted the forest closure. Blacksnake Ridge Road from Five
Points to
Klicker Mountain Road is
closed to vehicle
traffic at the
request
of firefighters and
the
Sheriff.
Cooperating Agencies: Department of Natural
Resources Southeast Region, Walla Walla
County Fire
District 4, Washington State Patrol, Washington State Fire
Marshal, Walla Walla
Emergency Management Department, Walla Walla County Sheriff, Columbia County EMD, USDA Forest Service
Umatilla National Forest
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