8/27/2015 Chelan Complex Update

Community Meeting: A community meeting will be held tomorrow night (Friday, August 28) at    7:00 pm at Fire Station #1, 2200 Entiat Way, in Entiat.

Chelan Complex: Fire behavior was moderate yesterday, allowing firefighters to burnout and hold an area along Forest Service Road 8020 on Cooper Ridge. Crews were able to mop up and hold along Forest Service Road 600 on the north side of the fire. Today crews will continue to improve fireline along Cooper Ridge and conduct burnout operations in that area if conditions are favorable. Yesterday there was little movement of the fire in the Goat Ridge area. However, the communications site at Goat Ridge remains a concern. This area is being closely monitored and is a priority for air support.

First Creek: Crews conducted burnout operations along the western flank of the fire around Slide Ridge. Smoke cover from the Cougar Creek Fire near Mt. Adams created an inversion which helped moderate fire behavior. The north end of the fire remains south of 25 Mile Creek. Crews continue to  prepare line along the northwest flank of the fire. Structure protection continues along Lake Chelan, Field Points Landing and the 25 Mile Creek area.

Wolverine: The smoke inversion yesterday shaded the fire, allowing crews to continue work in the Tommy Creek area and evaluate previous firelines built in the Entiat River corridor. A Level 1 evacuation notice was given to residents of Entiat River Rd. from the community of Brief northward. Approximately 104 residents are affected. Fire progression is closely monitored as it moves into fire scars from the Klone and Duncan fires. Firefighters plan to continue work in Tommy Creek and continue to evaluate and implement structure protection throughout the Entiat drainage. As a precautionary measure, the Wenatchee River Ranger District has closed access to the Chiwawa Valley, west of the Entiat River. The fire is currently 14 miles north of Plain.

Weather:  A Red Flag warning has been issued for today. As a disturbance moves past the area, winds could gust up to 30 mph. An unstable atmosphere and dryer air have the potential to cause extreme fire behavior. Humidity is expected to drop into the teens in the valleys and temperatures could rise into the mid 90s.

Evacuation/Aid Information: Level 3 evacuations are in place for the South Lakeshore Road area north of the Yacht Club. Residents in the area of any of the fires are urged to remain vigilant. Evacuation information is available from Chelan and Okanogan County Emergency Management. Red Cross shelters have been relocated to the Lake Chelan United Methodist Church, 206 N. Emerson in Chelan.

Road Closures and Evacuations:

·          Douglas County Emergency Management: 509-888-6841 http://tinyurl.com/DouglasCtyEM

·          Chelan County Emergency Management: 509-667-6863, http:www.co.chelan.wa.us

·          Okanogan Emergency Management: 509-422-7207,  http://okanogandem.org/

·          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

·          Forest Service Closure Maps:  http://goo.gl/aTr8bU

Evacuation Shelters: Red Cross: 509-663-3907            

Power: Chelan County PUD:  877-783-8123, http://www.chelanpud.org/