9/08/2015 Kettle Complex Update

Crews continue to use calm weather, cooler temperatures, and good overnight moisture recovery to their advantage by securing and reinforcing fireline around critical parts of the fire.

The Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 1 – who managed the fire prior to the outgoing Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 2 – will resume control of the Kettle Complex this evening. Efforts to continue suppressing the fires and repairing areas damaged by firefighting activity will remain uninterrupted while the management teams make their transition.

Deer Creek-Boulder Creek Road was opened to the public yesterday, however all U.S. Forest Service Roads off the main road remain closed. Please use caution while driving to aviod the risk of falling trees, debris in the roadway, fire traffic, smoke impacts, and wildlife.

Minimal fire activity is expected for the next 24 hours but conditions could change if a predicted warming and drying trend sets in by midweek. Predicted warmer and drier weather could allow firefighters to continue burnout operations – securing fireline by burning pockets of unburnt fuel – that were put on hold following last weekend’s rain.

With school starting today, firefighters and the public are asked to please be mindful of increased traffic during the morning and afternoon commute, particularly on roads used to access the fires.

Stickpin Fire: Crews are working to secure fireline on the east side of the fire with mop-up, patrol, and suppression repair being done on the north, west, and south flanks.

Renner Fire:Firefighters continue to prep an area of the northwest flank for a possible burnout operation while mop-up, patrol, and suppression repair continues on the rest of the fire.

Graves Mountain Fire:Fireline construction will continue on the north flank near Deadman Creek Road while crews continue to strengthen existing fireline along the south end of the fire and mop-up near the Bonneville power line.

Weather and Fire Behavior:Skies will be mostly cloudy today with possible light showers into the afternoon. Winds are expected to shift from southwest to west during the late afternoon or early evening as a weak weather front moves into the area, bringing a chance of gusty winds on ridges. Mostly sunny skies are expected for Wednesday with temperatures increasing as a warming and drying trend sets in.

Closure Information:Deer Creek-Boulder Creek County Road 602 is now open to the public, however all connecting access roads will remain closed. More information on Colville National Forest road closures can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/colville. All of Ferry County remains in a Level 1 Evacuation status except for the west side of Highway 21 from McCann Creek south to Bridge Creek Road, which remains at Evacuation Level 3.