8/3/2015 Blue Creek Fire AM Update

Over the weekend fire personnel continued to mop up, rehab control lines, patrol, and monitor. With the hot and dry weather over the weekend some of the interior islands of unburned fuel have burned out reducing the amount of visible smoke. Smoke will continue to be visible and possibly even open flame during the night within the interior of the fire until significant rainfall occurs. Motorists travelling in the greater Walla Walla area are asked to drive cautiously and watch for firefighters and apparatus both day and night. One helicopter remains available as needed; all others have been released to assist other incidents. http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4401/ will be updated until the Type 3 team departs.

During this coming week hand crews and engine crews will start to time out, meaning they have spent 14 long, hard shifts on the fire lines and earned a few days off at home before their next assignment. This will result in a slow decrease in staffing. By the coming weekend the staffing level will be reduced to about 40 people and 10 engines.

A Washington State Department of Natural Resources investigation has determined the cause of the fire was a result of equipement use during a wheat harvest.

Smoke lingering in the area is coming from other fires to the north in Washington and from fires to the south in Oregon. Additional information is available at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ and http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ .

Evacuation Information: Blue Creek Road, Klicker Mountain Road and Blacksnake Ridge Road were lowered to Level 1, meaning residents can return with caution. 

Closures: Blue Creek Road and Klicker Mountain Road remain closed. Only local traffic will be allowed past the traffic control point.

Cooperating Agencies: Department of Natural Resources Southeast Region, Walla Walla County Fire District 4, Washington State Patrol, Washington State Fire Marshal, Walla Walla Emergency Management Department, Walla Walla County Sheriff, Walla Walla City Fire Department, USDA Forest Service Umatilla National Forest

FIRE STATUS

Acres Burned: 6,004 acres
Cause: Equipment being used during a wheat harvest
Structures Destroyed: 1 primary, 11 outbuildings
Closures: Local roads
Evacuations: Level 1
Containment: 95%

RESOURCES

Crews: 5
Engines: 15
Dozers: 3
Water Tenders: 9
Helicopters: 1
Total personnel: 200
Injuries: 11