The North
Boulder 2 is located 3 ½ miles southwest of the town of Orient, Washington. The
fire is burning in heavy mixed conifer with a large amount of standing dead
trees and heavy surface fuels. Washington Incident Management Team 2 (WAIMT2)
is managing the North Boulder 2 fire, working closely with the Colville
National Forest fire managers.
With limited
road access, firefighter safety is of utmost concern. Yesterday, firefighters
had good success in continuing to brush out roads and open old trails to
provide an indirect fireline around all sides of the fire, using dozers and
excavators to remove dead and down trees, logs, and other debris. Additionally, hand crews began building
direct fireline around two sides of the fire and have scouted locations for
additional fireline around the rest of the fire. Cooler more humid weather has allowed them to
work closer to the fire.
An inventory
of structures is complete and a Structure Protection Plan is in place, if the
fire were to threaten any structures in the area. This plan includes actions by the local
County Fire Districts.
Last night
the fire received between 8 and 16/100ths of an inch or rain. While this amount of rain will soak down only
the smaller fuels, it does bring up the humidity in the area in general and allow
firefighters to work more safely, closer to the fire.
Today, the
focus will be to continue the work on the indirect and direct fire lines. Hotshot crews will be constructing hand line
adjacent to the burned edge on the east and south flanks. Fire crews and machinery will also continue
working on the indirect fire line around the fire, brushing roads and clearing
debris.
The fire is
now 175 acres and 360 firefighters are assigned to the fire. The fire is in the municipal water supply of
the town of Orient. Firefighter and
public safety is the top priority on the North Boulder 2 fire.
A low
pressure system will linger over the fire area today and slowly move east. Warmer and drier weather is forecast
beginning Wednesday.
Visitors and residents are urged to
use caution and reduce their speed on the Boulder Creek Road (Ferry County 602)
in the fire area, and along Hwy 395, as fire traffic has increased congestion
in the area.
Washington
Interagency Incident Management Team 2 (WA IMT2) would like to thank the public
for their support during the North Boulder 2 fire. Fire danger remains
extremely high across the state. Be sure to check with your local fire agencies
for restrictions and for forest and state closures.
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