8/31/2015 Chelan Complex Update

Community Meeting: There are no public meetings scheduled this evening.

Overview: The Incident Command Post at Chelan Falls Park has relocated today to Confluence State Park in Wenatchee to allow for the most efficient use of limited resources.  Some resources may remain staged at Chelan Falls.  The phone number for the fire information line was turned off in preparation for the move on Sunday evening.  A new phone number will become active mid-day on Monday. Information officers will post and circulate the new number as soon as possible.  The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 (IC Templin) will continue to manage the Wolverine and First Creek Fires.  California Incident Management Team 5 (IC Minton) will manage the Macfarland Creek, Antione Creek, Cagle, Black Canyon and Reach Fires, now known as the Chelan Complex. 

Chelan Complex: Minimal fire behavior was observed yesterday.  The rain received Saturday night andSunday morning gave firefighters the opportunity to work on containment lines in close proximity to the fire.  An additional hot shot crew has joined the firefighters working in this area, expanding the capacity of the crew to develop containment lines.  Structure protection continues in the Gold Creek and McFarland areas.   Crews will continue to patrol and mop up the fire in the south, west, and east sections today.  The spike camp at Alta Lake will remain in place in order to support operations in this area.  At6am today, the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 transferred operational control of the Chelan Complex fire to California Incident Management Team 5.  This transfer will allow each team to focus efforts and resources on their respective incidents.  Starting tomorrow, the California team will provide updates on this fire.  Their information number is XXX.

First Creek: Containment lines around the First Creek Fire continue to hold.  The increase of secured lines in this area is allowing fire managers to reassign some crews to the neighboring Wolverine Fire as necessary.

Wolverine: The spot fire in the Big Hill area east of the fire was fully secured on Sunday.  Structure protection, including wrapping and sprinklers, continues along the Entiat River in the area north of Brief.  Structure protection has been in place for the Pope Creek cabins for several days.  Work on the community protection line continues in the Tyee Creek area.  Crews continue to scout for line construction opportunities in the Chiwawa drainage and are preparing for structure protection.  A spike camp has been set up to facilitate operations in that area.  

Weather:  Slight chances of rain remain for the next few days.  For the next few days, temperatures are expected to be at or below normal with highs in the 60s to 70s, with normal to above normal humidity.

Evacuation/Aid Information: Level 3 evacuations are in place for the South Lakeshore Road area north of Morning Sun Drive in the First Creek Fire area, as well as on South Fork Gold Creek Road in the Chelan Complex area. 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 are available in Chelan, Pateros, and Omak.

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	·    Wenatchee River District: 509-548-2550
·       Chelan Ranger District: 509-682-4900	·    Forest Service Closure Maps:http://goo.gl/aTr8bU