9/19/2015 Wolverine and First Creek Fire Update

This will be the FINAL UPDATE for the Wolverine, First Creek and Blankenship fires.  Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 2 would like to thank all of the communities in Central Washington for supporting Team 2 in our firefighting effort.

A post-fire recovery meeting will be held 7 p.m. Saturday, September 19 at Chelan High School on 215 Webster Avenue. Representatives from Washington State University, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Cascadia Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will be present to discuss post-fire effects.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to drive with caution as fire traffic will be present in both the Wolverine and First Creek fire areas.

Wolverine Fire:  Fire activity has been minimal and the fire perimeter has not changed for several days.  Smokes may still be seen within the burn area.  The removal of pumps, hose and other equipment used for structure protection along the upper shores of Lake Chelan is expected to be complete by the end of shift today.  Firefighters continue clean up work on contingency lines by scattering and removing woody debris, and should finish sometime early next week.

First Creek Fire:  Fire personnel are implementing erosion control measures and repairing firelines.  The threat of mudslides with any significant rain over the burn scar is present.  For more information, please attend tonight’s meeting or log onto www.centralwashingtonfirerecovery.info/floodwatch.

Blankenship:  Some smokes may be visible as the fire continues to smolder in fuels under tree canopies.  The Pacific Crest Trail remains open.

Weather:  Warm, dry weather is forecast for today.  A prolonged warming and drying trend could elevate fire activity, however fire weather forecasters predict fire season to end sometime around the beginning of October, which means the potential for large fires or growth on existing fires is extremely low.

Closures:  Some roads and areas will remain closed for public safety and fire restrictions remain in effect. Check the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest webpage for updates on forest closures.

National Forest area closures: http://goo.gl/aTr8bU  

National Park Service closures: www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm