8/9/2015 Wolverine Fire Update

Wolverine Fire: Firefighters continue to hold the fire at the southern and northern edges. Firefighting efforts continue to secure protection for Holden and Stehekin, two communities in close proximity to the fire. 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.

On the north end, the fire remains at around a mile and a half across the lake from Stehekin. Firefighters are successfully holding the fire to the north at Castle Creek. Firefighters are continuing to secure a four-mile contingency fuel break and move in hose lay along the Stehekin River Trail from Weaver Point to the airstrip. 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. All businesses and travel to and from Stehekin remain open.

The southern edge of the fire remains at the Graham Harbor and Pyramid Creek ridge. There has been little movement of the fire at the south end, largely due to natural geological features and limited or patchy fuels. Efforts to prevent the fire from spreading farther south are ongoing. The fire is currently 12 miles uplake from 25-Mile Campground and 30 miles from Chelan. Fire crews, bulldozers, and other heavy equipment are nearing completion of a contingency line along Shady Pass Road (Forest Road 5900) west of 25-Mile Campground.

The fire is currently about two miles from Holden and fire managers expect continued expansion of the fire up the Railroad Creek drainage towards the village. Firefighters observed significant spotting in the drainage yesterday, with additional spotting expected today. Steep slopes with some heavy fuels, combined with a high risk of spotting, make holding the fire in the drainage unlikely. In response, firefighters continue to offensively fight the fire in the Railroad Creek area with strategic firing operations to control fire spread up the drainage. Crews are also planning proactively for a controlled low-intensity burn around the village that protects homes and other infrastructure. As visibility allows, helicopters will continue dropping aerial ignition devices to burn out fuels. Expect to see smoke from the Holden area due to ongoing firing operations.

Expected Fire Behavior: Reversal to northwesterly winds will increase potential spotting threat at the south end of the fire between Graham Depot and Pyramid Creek.

The fire will continue to steadily move to the west in Railroad Creek towards Holden. Fire spread will increase as the smoke clears due to increasing temperatures and lower humidity. Intense flare-ups in heavy concentrations of fuels will increase spotting. Spotting distances up to one half mile are possible in this area. Spotting is also the main contributor to fire spread distance and direction.
Northwest winds in Castle Creek at the northern end will be favorable for holding and mop-up.
Blankenship Fire: Fire management personnel monitored Blankenship by air yesterday and are evaluating how to proceed. They 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. The fire has shown minimal growth due to high rocky ridges and surrounding avalanche chutes serving as good natural barriers.

Goode Fire: Firefighters are using direct and indirect tactics with burnout operations to confine the fire at the southern end and prevent movement down the drainage. Fire lines on the north, east, and west sides have been tied into rocky ridgetops and a glacier. Not much change in fire behavior is expected today, however, northwest winds will increase the potential for the fire to move down Parks Creek. Firefighters will monitor for spot fires if flair-ups occur.

Weather: An upper level trough setting up along the coast will bring mid-level moisture up along the Cascade Mountains from the south and the threat for isolated showers and thunderstorm to the area each afternoon and evening through midweek. Onshore flow into western Washington will keep the general winds northwesterly. Temperatures and relative humidities will moderate somewhat Sunday and Monday before a warming and drying trend starts up Tuesday and Wednesday.

Closure Information: Shady Pass Road (5900) remains closed due to heavy fire equipment traffic. The closure begins at the junction with Slide Ridge Road (8410) and continues over Shady Pass to the Entiat River Road. Slide Ridge Road and Snowberry Campground are open. The Big Hill Road is closed from Shady Pass to the Big Hill Trailhead. Domke Lake, Lucerne and Refrigerator Harbor campgrounds are closed until further notice.