Chelan Complex (includes Reach, Black Canyon, and McFarland Creek): Yesterday, crews continued to secure the western edge of the fire along Forest Road 8020 and bulldozer lines on Cooper Ridge by conducting firing operations to reduce the fuel load near them. Today we will continue to extend fire lines to the northwest along Cooper Ridge using a network of roads and bulldozer lines. Firing operations will be supported by helicopter water drops as needed. Firefighters are constructing fire line immediately adjacent to the fire in the upper reaches of Squaw and McFarland Creeks. Portions of the Chelan Complex within three miles of Chelan and all areas east of the Columbia River are completely contained. Firefighters continue to patrol these areas, monitoring or extinguishing flare-ups in areas of unburned fuels inside the fire perimeter.
First Creek: The fire was very active again yesterday and throughout last night, continuing to spread to the north and west. Air tankers dropped fire retardant yesterday morning to slow the fire’s advance on the north end between the Yacht Club and Kelly’s Resort. Firefighters used firing operations, dozer contingency lines, and helicopter water drops to protect structures along South Lakeshore Road, north of the Yacht Club. Southwest winds are expected to increase fire activity on the north end of First Creek Fire today. Helicopters will be dropping water on the area today as weather conditions allow. Firefighters will continue to search for opportunities to limit the fire’s spread to the north along the lake.
Wolverine: Firefighters, supported by helicopter water drops, continued to hold the fire on the north side of Castle Creek, the northern end of the fire. On the fire’s west side, a large run occurred yesterday further south into the Upper Entiat River, into the Larch Lake area. The smoke column from that activity was visible from Lake Wenatchee and the Entiat Valley yesterday. On the south end of the Wolverine Fire, the ridge between Pyramid Creek and Graham Harbor is still holding. Level 3 evacuations remain for Holden Village, Lucerne, Domke Lake, Riddle, and Lightning Creek. Helicopters will continue to be used to hold the fire on the south and north ends today. As resources become available, strategies will be implemented to slow fire spread along the Entiat River.
Weather: A high pressure system is setting up over north central Washington bringing warmer and drier weather starting today. Temperatures in the valley will be in the mid-80s and in the mid-70s on the ridges. Humidity will be 15 to 18%. Winds will generally be out of the northeast 10 to 15 mph in the morning, becoming east to southeast winds 7 to 9 mph this afternoon. The high pressure system will strengthen through Saturday. An inversion will cause smoke to hang in the valleys until 10:00 pm. Heavy smoke may inhibit helicopter and air tanker operations over many of the fires today.
Community Meeting: There will be a 7:00 pm community meeting in Methow. Location to be determined.
Evacuation/Aid Information: Level 3 evacuations are in place for approximately 1,000 residents in the greater Chelan area. Evacuation information available from Chelan County Emergency Management. Red Cross shelters are established at MOE Elementary, 407 East Woodin Ave, Chelan; Sterling Middle School, 600 North James Street, East Wenatchee; and Brewster High School, 503 S 7th St, Brewster.
Road Closures and Evacuations:
- Douglas County Emergency Management: 509-888-6841,http://tinyurl.
com/DouglasCtyEM - Chelan County Emergency Management: 509-667-6863, http://tinyurl.com/ChelanCtyEM
- Okanogan Emergency Management: 509-422-7207, http://goo.gl/nXrciP
- Road & Hwy Info: wsdot.com Twitter: @wsdot
- Washington State Patrol: 509-682-8090
National Forest area closures:
- Methow Ranger District: 509-996-4003
- Chelan Ranger District: 509-682-4900
Evacuation Shelters: Red Cross: 509-663-3907
Approximate Acreages:
Chelan Complex: 86,412
First Creek: 2,293
Wolverine: 45,929
Blankenship: 180
Total: 134,814 acres
Fire Containment:
Chelan Complex: 35%
First Creek: 2%
Wolverine: 30%
Blankenship: 0%
Resources on the Fires:
Crews: 24
Engines: 74
Water Tenders: 17
Bulldozers: 12
Helicopters: 5
Fixed Wing: 2
Total
Personnel:
929
Approximate Structures Lost:
Chelan County: 67
Douglas County: 17
(residences, businesses, and outbuildings)
INTERNET LINKS
InciWeb:
Reach, Black Canyon, and First Creek: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Wolverine and Blankenship: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Twitter: @WolverineFire
Facebook: Reach Complex/Wolverine/Black Canyon Fires
Smoke Info: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
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