8/22/2015 North Star Fire Update

NORTH STAR FIRE UPDATE

Saturday 08/22/2015 –11:00PM

                                      

Acres: 132,000                                    Start Date: August 13, 2015                                                                         

Cause: Under investigation                 Location: Approximately 12 miles north of Nespelem, WA.

Containment: 2%                               Fuels/Topography: Timber, grass and understory

Structures Threatened: 2000 +         Total personnel: 466

                                                                       

Community Meeting Tomorrow, Sunday, August 23, 2015, 4:00 PM

Republic Elementary School, 30306 East Hwy 20 Republic, WA 99166.

Today’s Actions: Fire behavior was moderate today, with backing, flanking and group torching.  No new evacuation orders were issued today.  The Washington National Guard is here to help with the firefighting efforts, providing medical support and courtesy patrols. Crews evaluated opportunities to build direct and indirect lines using natural barriers and roads around the fire perimeter. Burn-out operations around structures and infrastructures will continue throughout the night.  Over a 150 people attended a community meeting held in Coulee Dam today at the Lake Roosevelt High School. Smoke is still impacting local communities. Smoke senitive indiviuals should take precautionary measures and stay inside when possible. Please visithttp://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&stateid=49 for more air quality information. Though many structures are still threatened, no structures have been lost in the North Star Fire.

Tomorrow’s Actions: Red flag conditions are projected from noon till 9PM Monday evening. An anchor point will be established on the southeast edge of the fire using direct line tactics to protect communities to the south.      Constuction of direct and indirect dozer lines north of Nespelem will continue. Fire managers will assess road systems and conduct burnout operations where feasible. Crews will continue protection of critical communications sites and reinforce firelines to enhance community protection. Structure assessment continues in the surrounding areas.

EVACUATIONS:

Stage 3 evacuations are still in effect for all of Aeneas Valley.

The area northeast of Nespelem is still under Level 3 evacuations.

Colville Indian Reservation forest and recreational areas are closed to the public due to extreme fire danger.

CLOSURES:

Highway 21 from Bridge Creek Road north to the Reservation boundary is closed; Highway 155 is closed from Nespelem west to Omak. 

FIRE INFORMATION:

Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4524/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Star-Fire/719347344836918

Phone: 509-634-2194

Email: Northstarfire2015@gmail.com