9/11/2015 Kettle Complex Update

Stickpin 54,278 acres; 55% contained	Structures Lost: 2
Graves Mtn. 8,587 acres; 65% contained	Total Personnel: 971
Renner 13,524 acres; 70% contained	Committed Resources: 28 Crews, 36 Engines,
Total 76,389 acres; 60% contained	3 Helicopters, 8 Dozers, 16 Water Tenders

Incident Summary: The Kettle Complex includes three fires – the Stickpin, Renner, and Graves Mountain fires – all burning south of the Canadian border, west of Highway 395, north of State Route 20, and east of Highway 21. The fires remain at approximately 76,400 acres.

Planned Actions Today: Today firefighters are working to secure fireline on the east side of the Stickpin Fire; mop-up, patrol, and suppression repair continue on the north, west, and south flanks. Crews are prepping an area of the northwest flank of the Renner fire for a possible burnout operation by Sundayif weather conditions are favorable. Fire weakened trees and rough, steep terrain make direct fireline construction unsafe in parts of the northwest side of the Renner fire. Mop-up, patrol, and suppression repair continues on the Renner Fire. On the Graves Mountain Fire, crews continue to construct fireline on the north flank near Deadman Creek Road while strengthening existing fireline along the south end of the fire.

Closures/Restrictions: Deer Creek-Boulder Creek Road is open, but all connecting US Forest Service roads remain closed to non-fire traffic. Highway 21 is open. For firewood cutting, please call Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at 509-684-7474 or the Colville National Forest at 509-684-7000 to see if cutting is allowed in your area or for permitting. Regardless of whether cutting is allowed, burned areas in the Colville National Forest will remain closed to non-fire traffic until further notice.

Weather Outlook and Fire Behavior: Fire activity is expected to increase over the weekend as warm and dry conditions persist in the area. Smoke may be visible as fuels in the interior of the fires continue to burn. Winds from the southwest this afternoon and continuing into Saturday may bring smoke from the North Star Fire into the Kettle Complex fire area.

Highway Safety: Logging activity continues today on private and state forest lands affected by the fire. Log trucks will be using Boulder Creek Road and Highway 395. Drivers in the area should expect increased logging traffic as well as fire equipment and are urged to use caution.

Fire Prevention: Research and case studies show that it is not where a home is located that necessarily determines risk, but the landscape around it, often referred to as the “home ignition zone.” The home ignition zone is the home and its immediate surroundings up to 200 ft. It is common to have neighbors whose ignition zone overlaps yours. Buildings that are closer than 100 feet apart can ignite each other if they are in flames. To be most effective, neighbors need to work together and with their local fire service to increase wildfire safety. For more information, visit www.firewise.org.

Evacuation Information: All of Ferry County affected by the Kettle Complex remains at Evacuation Level 1.

Cooperating Agencies: USDA Forest Service Colville National Forest, Washington Department of Natural Resources Northeast Region, USDI Bureau of Land Management, Ferry County Fire District 3 and 13, Stevens County County Fire District 8, Curlew Fire Department, Ferry County Sheriff.