8/11/2016 Kewa Fire Update

Kewa Fire Information:  August 11, 2016, 10am

NW Incident Management Team 9, Brian Goff, Incident Commander

Start date:  Aug. 2, 2016      Current Size:  1,889 acres   Percent Containment: 75%                       

Location:  15 miles south of Inchelium, WA on the Colville Indian Reservation

This will be the last Daily Update from NW Incident Management Team 9.

Management of the fire will transfer Friday, August 12, 2016 at 6am from NW Team 9 (Type 2)                           to a local Type 3 organization, led by incident commander Brandon Sutton.

Road Closures Lifted

·         All Road closures in the Kewa Fire area have been lifted as of today.

Today’s plan

·         Crews will continue to mop up from firelines toward the fire’s interior on all sides today.

Burned area safety

·         Please use extra caution if traveling through burned areas.

·         Even after heat and flames are gone, burned areas can be hazardous to firefighters and the public. Hazards include snags, stump holes and rolling material.

·         Snags, standing dead trees, are left in various stages of stability, decay and damage.  Some are nearly burned through on their trunks and can give way under the slightest wind. Firefighters are trained to steer clear of snag patches and to always be aware of overhead hazards.

·         Stump holes remain after fire has consumed a tree stump. Below ground portions and the root system smolder slowly, often for weeks after a fire. These holes can be completely hidden by ash and can cause leg and ankle injuries, as well as severe burns.

·         Rolling material can be a significant hazard in areas with steep slopes. As fire burns through an area, it consumes leaves, needles, branches and logs. Boulders and logs once supported by this material become unstable and can be easily dislodged by rain or other disturbances, even people walking. This can be especially dangerous to fire crews. Firefighters moving along a slope may cause these large hazards to roll toward crew members below.

·         Members of the public should be mindful of hazards when travelling through burned areas.