9/15/2015 Kettle Complex Update

Incident Summary: The Kettle Complex includes three fires – the Stickpin, Renner and Graves Mountain fires – 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 76,300 acres (slight acreage decrease due to improved mapping).

Yesterday’s operations: Crews continued making progress into the unsecured areas that remain, but much of the work being done involved mop-up (systematically checking, digging up, extinguishing and rechecking secured fireline), backhaul (removing pumps, hose and other no-longer-needed equipment) and suppression repair (fixing areas damaged by firefighting activities, including bulldozer lines, saw lines and safety zones). Notably cooler weather – along with significantly diminished fire behavior – was observed throughout the fire area, with many areas reporting light rain in the afternoon.

Today’s operations: Crews will continue securing active fireline on the east, northwest and north flanks of the Stickpin, Renner and Graves Mountain fires, respectively. Mop-up and repair work will occupy the remaining crews. Patrolling and monitoring will continue in secured but still critical areas near residences and roadways. Snagging – removing fire-weakened trees that pose a threat to firefighter and public safety – will continue throughout burned areas, especially near fireline still being worked, areas being repaired and roadways.

Weather Conditions: Cool temperatures and showers are expected over the next few days as the area settles into a more typical seasonal weather pattern (generally lower temps and precipitation interspersed by short warming, drying trends).

Highway Safety: Logging activity continues on private and state forestlands affected by the fire. Log trucks are using Dear Creek-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.

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 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.