August 27, 2015
8:00 am
Current Situation:
A Red Flag Warning is in effect today for winds, low humidity and high
temperatures. We expect an increase in fire activity to challenge
firefighters on the Okanogan Complex. Those southerly winds are also
likely to help clear the smoke and allow the use of aircraft, both
helicopters and heavy air tankers, to make water and retardant drops.
Crews
will be focused today on the four corners where the fire has been most
active and where terrain and fuels present challenges to containment.
Increased fire activity is expected in the afternoon, so there may be
torching and short-range spotting of fire in some areas. If you see a
flare-up in the fire area, please do not call 911 unless it is
threatening a home or other structure.
Residents
in the fire area are likely to see increased activity by air tankers,
helicopters and other aviation resources today and should stay aware and
steer clear of that activity if at all possible. Motorists on Hwy 20
and 97 are asked to slow down in the fire vicinity for their own safety
and the safety of fire crews exiting and entering the highway.
More
than 1,774 fire personnel from 33 states are fighting the Okanogan fire
or working to support the firefighting effort. Crews working last night
had a relatively quiet night. One area on the northwest corner of the
Lime Belt/Blue Lake/Beaver Lake Fire was active and engine crews
responded to minimize the fire’s advance.
Twisp River Fire:
Line construction is completed around the entire fire and crews are
mopping up to further secure firelines. Crews have been moved to assist
with other fires in the complex.
Tunk Block Fire:
Indirect line construction is continuing along the northeast side of
the fire and crews are working to construct contingency lines to the
east and reinforcing dozer line. The southeast corner of the fire has
been actively spotting in heavy timber and crews are working to
re-establish a line around the fire in that area.
Lime Belt/Blue Lake/Beaver Lake Fires:
On the northwest corner of the fire, crews are working to establish
line in the Sinlahekin Valley area, where the fire remained active all
day northward to the community of Loomis. The southwest corner of the
fire saw increased activity and strong growth yesterday afternoon. Mop
up and line strengthening work was done in other areas of the perimeter.
Structure protection continued in all areas of the complex.
Nine Mile Fire: The fire is in patrol-and-monitor status.
Evacuations and Closures: The
public is encouraged to contact the Okanogan Emergency Operations
Center to learn how to register for automated phone messages in the
event of evacuation notices being issued for particular neighborhoods.
Contact emergency staff at 509-422-7348 or the Colville Tribal Emergency
Management Center at 507-634-2105.
Media Briefings: Media briefings are held at 11 am daily at Okanogan County Fairgrounds.
Okanogan Complex Fire Statistics:
Location: Eleven miles northwest of Omak, WA Start Date: August 14, 2015
Complex Size: 287,704 acres Complex Percent Contained: 17
Twisp River: 11,130 acres, 85% containment
Tunk Block: 149,649 acres, 15%
Lime Belt/Blue Lake and Beaver Lake: 122,205 acres, 20%
Nine Mile: 4,720 acres, 95%, in patrol status.
Total Personnel: 1,774
Places to Get Additional Information:
Fire updates are posted daily on the following information boards:
Safeway, Omak
Walmart, Omak
Pine Creek Area
Conconully Fire Station, Conconully
Tonasket Visitor Center, Tonaskett
Frontier Foods, Winthrop
Carlton General Store, Carlton
Twisp General Store, Twisp
Twisp Mayor’s Office
Sun Mountain Lodge, Omak
Spike Camp, Winthrop
Winthrop Market
Winthrop Mini Gas
Farmer’s Board, Omak
Library, Omak
City Hall, Omak
Twitter: #OkanoganComplex
The
Rocky Mountain IMT has a Facebook page dedicated to “Thank You’s to the
firefighters working on the fire line. Visit the page at https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs
Spanish Language Information: (509) 422-2422
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