Wednesday, September 16, 2015

9/16/2015 Kettle Complex Fire Update

ncident 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. Acreage on the three fires remains the same.

Yesterday’s operations:  Crews made progress securing active fireline; however 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). Cool weather and minimal fire behavior was observed throughout the fire area, with a mixture of rain, freezing rain, and snow.

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. Chipping operations will continue along indirect lines to remove continuous fuels.

Weather Conditions:  The cool and moist weather pattern will continue today with a chance for light rain showers. There will be an increased chance for showers and thunderstorms tonight and Thursday as a strong upper level disturbance moves across the area.

Evacuation Information:  All of Ferry County Level 1 evacuation zones have been removed except for the following locations: Deadman Creek Rd and attached roadways (not including Murphy Road), and areas still affected by the North Star Fire (the south side of Highway 20, west of Republic to the County line; and the west side of Highway 21, south of Republic to the Reservation line).

Highway Safety:  Logging activity continues on private and state forestlands affected by the fire. Log trucks are using Deer 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 are 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 at509-684-7000 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.

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.

Kettle Complex Fire Information Office

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