9/03/2015 Wolverine/First Creek Fires Update

Community Meeting: There are no public meetings planned for this evening.    

Note:  Both the Pacific Crest Trail and the Forest Closure are being closely evaluated to determine if there is an opportunity to re-open and/or decrease the closure areas.  A decision will be forthcoming. 

First Creek:  Mop-up (extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines) is nearly complete on the First Creek Fire.  Crews are now beginning to focus on a rehabilitation plan for the fire area. 

Wolverine: Fire activity and spread continued to be minimal yesterday on the Wolverine Fire.  Hot spots linger in many areas of the fire perimeter.  Although fire behavior remains fairly quiet, long hours and hard work continue with mop-up, fireline construction and the Community Protection Line.  Although firefighters may be observed departing certain areas, the public is advised that all areas, including Blankenship, Pyramid, Castle Creek, Fourth of July, Fifth of July and Big Hill continue to be closely monitored.  Should activity increase, firefighters and others resources will respond. Structure protection in the Entiant Drainage from Pope Creek down to Brief continues, including brush removal and clearing around structures.  Some structures have been wrapped and sprinklers have been strategically placed, in case of a fire push, along the Entiat Drainage.   Crews have developed a plan and will begin work on indirect line (suppressing a wildfire a considerable distance away from the fire’s edge) with 2 hotshot crews west of the Entiat drainage along the southwest flank of the fire.  The community protection line is a shaded fuel break or a contingency line that will be in place should the Wolverine Fire make a run.    The work occurring from the Tyee Creek area south toward Sugarloaf Mountain and the Big Meadow creek area east (also toward of Sugarloaf Mountain) is expected to be complete in approximately 5 days.  Unconventional firefighting equipment has been mobilized to assist in this extensive effort.  Some of the equipment includes: feller bunchers, skidders, excavators, masticators and chippers.  The majority of the break is a vegetated fuel break that is being thinned and brushed, leaving mature trees in place with proper spacing between them.  This line will assist in this firefighting effort as well as meeting long term objectives as a possible option in future fire containment options.  A spike camp remains in the Entiat 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

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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