8/21/16 Buck Creek Fire

CONTACT:

District Ranger Jeff Rivera

Paul Laak, Fire Information 509-548-2558/ 509-679-9294

Cary Stock, Fire Management Officer 509-548-2581/ 509-679-9294 cell

DATE — August 21, 2016  1:00 pm

Buck Creek Fire growth minimal, smoke more noticeable 

NOTICE: Fire closures remain in effect for the Buck Creek Fire, which include the Buck Creek Trail No. 1513, Chiwawa River Trail No. 1550, Phelps Creek Trail No. 1511 and the Carne Mountain Trail No. 1508. Also closed are the Phelps Creek Campground and Forest Road 6200 immediately north of Alpine Meadows Campground.

Leavenworth, WA –The Buck Creek Fire did not see substantial growth yesterday, but smoke lingering in the local valleys did make more people notice that there is an active fire in the area.

A Type 3 team has come in to the Chiwawa River Valley today with a joint command being taken over by Dave Nalle from the Wenatchee River Ranger District and trainee Jon Tepley from the Chelan Ranger District.

A Red Flag Warning goes into effect today from 1pm until 11 pm with hot and dry conditions continuing and winds expected to increase in the strength through the day. A Red Flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are occurring.    

As of Sunday morning, the Buck Creek Fire’s southern-most perimeter was about a mile north of the historic mining site of Trinity. Crews have already been at work there for days in preparation to protect structures and resources at that site. That work will intensify with additional personnel on the grounds today. Fire activity has been noted to be most intense in the late afternoon.

The Buck Creek Fire was started by lightning on July 22, 2016 and has since then burned entirely within the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The Wenatchee River Ranger District has been managing the fire to maintain wilderness values, which includes the fact that this area has not seen fire activity for centuries. When, and if, the fire does move out of the Glacier Peak Wilderness, it will then be managed to maintain the resource benefits of multiple objectives. Those objectives will include, but not be limited to, protecting endangered fish habitat, National Forest campgrounds and trailheads and old-growth timber.

For information on air quality reports check on-line with the State of Washington Department of Ecology.         https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/