9/21/2015 North Star and Tunk Block Update

Tunk Block Fire: Suppression repair is progressing and is the primary focus of activities on the Tunk Block Fire. These activities seek to mitigate resource concerns caused by fireline construction and the use of roads to access the fire. As much as possible, fire and land managers want to restore the roads and areas where firelines were constructed to pre-fire conditions. This work is specifically designed to minimize sediment delivery into streams and rivers and minimize gully and surface erosion. Approximately 150 miles of suppression repair have been completed on the Tunk Block Fire. The fire was “tested” with strong winds yesterday but no spots have been found.  

North Star Fire: Like the Tunk Block Fire, crews are focusing their activities on suppression repair. The suppression repair is in full swing and good progress has been made over the last several days. Approximately 230 miles of suppression repair have been completed on the North Star Fire. There was blowing dust in the fire area yesterday. The fire was “tested” with strong winds yesterday but no spots have been found.

Weather: The weather is predicted to be cooler and drier today and then return to seasonal norms for this time of year tomorrow.

Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National
Forests have closures encompassing the entire fire areas and adjacent forested areas. Other areas outside of the burned areas remain open to recreation, hunting and woodcutting. Colville Indian Reservation forest and recreational areas within the fires are closed. See the maps at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3854418.pdf and http://tinyurl.com/OkaWen-Closure-Map for more specific information.

Donation Information: The Long Term Recovery Group is accepting donations to benefit anyone affected by the Eastern Washington fires. They are located at 41 Apple Way in Okanogan (the formal Tribal Bingo Hall) http://www.cfncw.org/fire/.The Red Cross also accepts donations (1-800-Red-Cross).
California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the Okanogan Complex today at 6 am and is expected to complete suppression repair on the fire over the next several days.