9/1/2015 Okanogan and Chelan Complex Fire Update

Okanogan Complex and Chelan Complex Fire Update

September 1, 2015,

Fire Information: 877-568-0458 or 877-574-5148, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

Okanogan Complex                                                          Chelan Complex

Size: 144,179 acres                                                                                    Size: 92,516 acres

Containment: 40 percent                                                                       Containment: 50 percent

Estimated Cost to Date: $13.74 million                                              Estimated Cost to Date: $11.9 million

Injuries: 6                                                                                                      Injuries: 8

Residences Burned: assessment in progress                                 Residences Burned: 21

Total Personnel: 1,244                                                                             Total Personnel: 682

Committed Resources: 22 crews, 99 engines,

16 dozers, 27 water tenders, 4 helicopters

CURRENT FIRE SITUATION

Committed Resources: 11 crews, 45 engines, 6 dozers,

23 water tenders, 8 helicopters

Last night, firefighters continued to protect structures and strengthen the perimeter by improving existing firelines on both the Okanogan and Chelan complexes. The relative humidity today across the fire area will be lower than yesterday, and southwest winds will be 10–15 mph, with winds gusting up to 25 mph. There is potential for light showers this afternoon.

OKANOGAN COMPLEX

Lime Belt Fire (128,237 acres, 15 percent contained): Due to the critically dry, isolated pockets of heat near the northern

and western perimeters, firefighters will continue to use dozers to construct fireline. Aircraft will assist crews on the ground as they work to limit the fire’s spread north toward Loomis. Crews are still working aggressively to ensure the fire is mopped up around structures.

Twisp River Fire (11,222 acres, 98 percent contained) and Nine Mile Fire (4,720 acres, 98 percent contained): Crews are starting suppression repair on the Twisp River Fire today: cutting down snags, knocking down berms and windrows, and starting to repair roads. Firefighters on the Nine Mile fire will remove equipment today.

CHELAN COMPLEX

Last night the fire spread slightly to the north. Today, firefighters will use helicopters to drop water on the north and northwest sides of the fire in the Hungry Mountain area where the fire is most active. They will continue constructing fireline, using a more direct approach when conditions are favorable and it is safe to do so. Firefighters will continue structure protection work in the Gold Creek and McFarland Creek areas. Most of the Chelan Complex is in mop-up and patrol status.

PUBLIC MEETING

California Team 5 will participate in a public meeting about the Chelan Fire this evening at 7:00 pm at the Brewster High

School.

EVACUATIONS

Information on evacuations is available from the Okanogan County Emergency Operations Center at

509-422-7348 and on its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Okanogan.County.Emergency.Management.

ROAD CLOSURES

Many firefighters and equipment are working along the roads. Please stay alert and slow down when driving through the fire area. Information on road closures is available from the Okanogan County Emergency Operations Center at 509-422-

7348 and on its Facebook page (link above). Additional information about closures is available from the Washington

State Department of Transportation at  www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts.