9/12/2015 Kettle Complex Update

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 find and extinguish hot spots in the burned area, and monitor existing fireline on all fires. Burnout operations will continue on the north side of the Renner fire and smoke may be visible from this operation. Crews will work to secure fireline on the west side of the Renner fire. Firefighters will continue 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. 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.

Critical Fire Weather Conditions: Fire activity is expected to increase over the next two days as warm and dry conditions persist in the area. Temperatures today will climb into the 80s and 90s. Smoke may be visible as fuels in the interior of the fires continue to burn. Southwest winds may bring smoke from the North Star Fire into the Kettle Complex fire area. Sunday the wind is predicted to shift and come from the west at 6-10 mph.

Highway Safety: Logging activity continues today on private and state forest lands affected by the fire. Log trucks are 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. Keep an eye out for wildlife displaced from the fires and for cows grazing on the roadside.

Fire Prevention: Roadside fires are extremely common this time of year. Be particularly cautious any time you pull a trailer; ensure your tires are inflated to the proper level and check the grease on your wheel bearings to avoid a blown tire. A safety chain dragging too low will bounce off the road surface and produce sparks that are difficult to see as you drive and start fires without you being aware of the ignition. Avoid driving your vehicle off of road surfaces and into tall grasses. Catalytic converters and exhaust systems heat up to very high temperatures, easily igniting dry grasses and shrubs.

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.

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.

SUMMARY
Stickpin 54,278 acres; 55% contained
Graves Mtn. 8,587 acres; 65% contained
Renner 13,524 acres; 70% contained
Total 76,389 acres; 60% contained

Total Personnel: 973