9/1/2015 Wolverine and First Creek Update

Community Meeting: There are no public meetings scheduled this evening.  A meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, at the Plain Community Church (12565 Chapel Dr.) at 7 p.m.   

Overview: The Incident Command Post for the Wolverine, Blankenship and First Creek Fires is now located at Confluence State Park in Wenatchee.  The new telephone number for the fire information line is now 509-662-0145.  The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 (IC Templin) will continue to manage the Wolverine and First Creek Fires.  California Incident Management Team 5 (IC Minton) is managing the Macfarland Creek, Antione Creek, Cagle, Black Canyon and Reach Fires, known as the Chelan Complex.  For information on the Chelan Complex or Okanogan Complex, please call 877-574-5148. 

First Creek: The First Creek Fire containment lines have now held for three days.  Crews continue with holding operations as well as mop –up (extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines).  Barring any significant changes in fire status, last night was the last night there was night shift working on the fire.

Wolverine: High temperatures on the spot fire in the Big Hill area never rose above 40 degrees on Sunday allowing crews to get a spot fire in this area fully secured.  On Monday crews continued with line checks and mop-up of this area.  Structure protection, including brush removal and clearing around structures continues to be successful.  Some structures have also 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 continues 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 has been set up to facilitate operations in that area.  

Weather:  Today’s weather is expected to be very similar to what we saw yesterday with slight chances of rain remaining for the next few days.  Temperatures are expected to be at or below normal expecting 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, 8 cabins below Cottonwood Campground (Up the Entiat River Rd.) LEVEL 2 areas: Entiat River Rd starting at approx. milepost 21.5 “Brief” up to the end of Entiat River Rd.

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