9/02/2015 Wolverine/Blankenship/First Creek Fires Update

Community Meeting: A public meeting will be held tonight at 7pm at the Plain Community Church, 12565 Chapel Drive, 20 miles north of Leavenworth.    

First Creek: Fire crews continue to make progress in mopping-up (extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines) and are beginning to focus on rehabilitation of containment lines on the First Creek Fire.  All containment lines continue to hold strong.  Because of the progress made on this fire, all night operations have ended on the First Creek. 

Wolverine: There has been minimal spread on the Wolverine Fire although it continues to smoke throughout and heat is evident along the fire perimeter.  It is important to note that although the fire has not been very active, crews continue to work long, hard hours in preparation for the warming and drying trend that is predicted next week.  The lined spot fire near Big Hill continues to hold with little active fire.  Crews will continue to work this spot fire until it is considered secure.  Structure protection, including brush removal and clearing around structures continues to be successful.  Some structures have been wrapped and sprinklers have been strategically placed, in case of a fire push, along the Entiat River in the area around Pope Creek Summer Homes.  Work on the community protection line progressed approximately 3-4 miles in the Tyee Creek area.  This community protection line is a shaded fuel break or a contingency line should the Wolverine Fire make a run.  The majority of it is a vegetated fuel break that is being thinned and brushed, leaving mature trees in place.  It will meet the needs of this firefighting effort as well as long term objectives as a possible option in future fire containment efforts.  Crews continue to scout for potential line construction opportunities (if needed) in the Chiwawa drainage and are preparing for structure protection.  A spike camp remains in this area to facilitate operations.    

Weather:  A slight cold front moving in today is expected to push the lingering clouds out.  This may cause slightly more active fire behavior in the afternoon.  Smoke may become more visible at that point.  Today’s weather is expected to be very similar to what we saw yesterday with a slight chance of rain remaining 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 1 areas: First Creek Rd. and South Shore from Morning Sun Dr. to Shady Pass. Entiat River Rd. from Potato Creek to Brief.  LEVEL 2 areas: Entiat River Rd from approx. milepost 21.5 “Brief” north.

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