8/8/2015 Wolverine Fire Update

The Wolverine fire grew to approximately 28,659 acres with expansion yesterday to the west up Railroad Creek towards Holden. The southern edge of the fire is at the Graham Harbor and Pyramid Creek divide while the northern edge is in the Castle Creek drainage. The fire is about two miles east of Holden Village and a mile and a half southwest of Stehekin. The fire remains 20% contained, with the active fire controlled along a portion of Lake Chelan, and crews working to expand containment on the northern and southern ends of the fire.

Fire crews continue to hold the containment line in Castle Creek with the use of their hose lay and support from helicopter water drops. Completed burnout operations in Castle Creek will reduce likelihood of the fire spreading northward despite potential spotting due to forecasted southerly winds this morning. Crews are working to offensively fight the fire with strategic firing operations to slow the spread of the fire in the Railroad Creek (west) drainage. As visibility allows, helicopters will continue dropping aerial ignition devices in targeted locations within these areas to burn out fuels. Firing operations in Railroad Creek combined with ongoing actions to prepare and secure Holden Village are increasing confidence that the village will remain protected.

Firefighters secured a four-mile contingency fuel break along the Stehekin River Trail from Weaver Point to the airstrip and continue to extend and strengthen the break northward, including hose lay. This break is a contingency intended to prevent the fire from spreading into Stehekin from the west should the fire move past the break created at Castle Creek drainage. Firefighters are also continuing to work on structure protection in Stehekin. All businesses and travel to and from Stehekin remain open.

Efforts to limit movement of the fire to the south are ongoing. Fire growth in this direction remains minimal, largely due to natural geographic features such as rocky outcroppings, as well as less continuous fuels. Risk of southward expansion of the fire today is further reduced given predicted southerly winds. Fire crews, bulldozers, and other heavy equipment continue to remove fuels along the Shady Pass Road which will be used as a contingency line if the fire continues to move south.

Firefighting efforts in Lucerne and nearby campgrounds remain focused on mop up and patrol to protect structures and are increasingly effective at protecting those areas.

Blankenship Fire: Monitoring continues to show minimal fire activity. The fire is in the south fork of Agnes Creek and upslope along the sides of avalanche chutes. High rocky ridges surrounding the fire are serving as good barriers to fire growth. Fire management will continue to look for opportunities to contain the portion of the fire threatening the Pacific Crest Trail in order to facilitate its reopening in that area. 

Goode Fire: The fire continues to back into Park Creek drainage within North Cascades National Park. Helicopter water drops yesterday slowed fire spread, while smokejumpers worked to pinch the fire off on its south to southeast flank. Fire lines on the north, east, and west sides have been tied into rocky ridgetops and a glacier. 

Expected Fire Behavior: Little movement of the fire is likely in the area between Graham Harbor and Pyramid Creek due to uplake southerly winds expected in the morning and into the afternoon. The fire will continue burning west towards Holden. There is potential for spotting at the north end of the fire due to southerly winds. Blankenship Fire is expected to spread minimally along the Pacific Crest Trail and South Fork of Agnes Creek. The Goode Fire will slowly continue to burn south and down Park Creek. 

Weather: Continued warm and dry weather expected. Isolated high based thunderstorms with gusty outflow winds possible late afternoon through early evening Saturday. Downdrafts from thunderstorms can dramatically increase fire behavior. Scattered showers near the Goode fire in the afternoon and evening. 

Evacuations/Closure Information: Level 3 evacuations remain in effect for Holden Village, Lucerne, Domke Lake, Riddle, and Lightning Creek. Domke Lake, Lucerne and Refrigerator Harbor campgrounds are closed until further notice. Shady Pass Road (5900) remains closed due to heavy fire equipment traffic. The closure begins at the junction with Slide Ridge Road and continues over Shady Pass to the Entiat River Road. The Big Hill Road is closed from Shady Pass to the Big Hill Trailhead. Snowberry Campground remains open.

QUICK FACTS - INCIDENT SUMMARY
Approximate acreages: Wolverine Fire - 28,659 acres; Blankenship - 170 acres; Goode Fire - 601 acres
Fire Containment: 20%
Resources on the Fire: Crews - 10; Engines - 19; Water Tenders -10; Bulldozers - 4; Helicopters - 8
Total Personnel: 501
Structures lost: 1 residence and 3 minor structures
Jurisdiction: USDA-Forest Service; National Park Service; Washington State DNR; Chelan County Sheriff; Chelan County Fire Districts #7 and #10

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Twitter: @WolverineFire
Facebook: WolverineFire
Highway Information: Twitter @wsdot
http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/

SMOKE INFORMATION
http://wasmoke.blogspot.com

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, visit Okanogan_Wenatchee National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices