9/21/2015 Meeks Table Update

Smaller number of firefighters; back to the usual sources for Fire Information

     Nile, Wash. – Due to increases in fire containment and the reduction in threat to communities and natural resources, the number of firefighters working on the Meeks Table Fire is getting smaller.  Approximately 100 firefighters will continue to be engaged in mop up, patrol and repairing any damage caused by suppression activities, under the leadership of Jason Emhoff incident commander and Hayley Grant incident commander trainee.  The fire is not expected to grow.

The fire is 1,183 acres and 60% contained. The 6-acre drop in size since yesterday is due to a slight change in how one line was mapped. The southern edge (40% of the perimeter) will not be contained with constructed firelines.  It is north of Rattlesnake Creek below steep cliffs.  It continues to be patrolled.

Smoke will continue to rise from within the Meeks Table Fire containment area as interior fuels continue to be consumed.  This will likely be the case until significant rain or snowfall completely extinguishes the fire.

Because the threat of the fire spreading and the volume of fire fighter traffic have decreased, the road closures in the vicinity of the Meeks Table Fire have been reduced.  The immediate vicinity of the fire and roads that access it remain hazardous and are closed to everyone except firefighters and law enforcement:

• Forest Road (FR)1601 and all forest roads and motorized use trails connecting to it from the junction of the 232 spur road to the terminus of the 1601 are closed.
• FR1500 at the east Forest Boundary to the junction of FR1503 and to the terminus of FR1502, including all forest spur roads connecting to the 1500 and 1502 between these points are closed. 

The remainder of the FR1600 and FR 1500 systems are open. 

Campfire restrictions on the Naches Ranger District have not changed.

Meeks Table Fire Information will continue to be available from the Naches Ranger District 509 653-1401.  The fire situation is expected to remain stable, without significant changes. 

The inciweb site http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4609/ will remain active for several months and will be updated if the situation changes.