8/15/2017 Diamaond Creek Fire Update

Diamond Creek Fire Update August 15, 2017 diamondcreekfire@gmail.com    ph(503)765-5725   https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Fire Location: Diamond Creek Fire is burning within the Pasayten Wilderness approximately 12 air miles north of Mazama, Washington and 5.5 miles (8.9 kilometers) south of the Canadian border. Fire History and Activity:  Firing operations were completed from handlines in the Eightmile drainage, south of Billy Goat Trailhead, reducing heavy fuels in the path of the fire. Crews have been holding the blackened handlines associated with the firing operation and are beginning to mop up along portions of handline in the Eightmile drainage. Current Status and Projected Operations:  The current acreage and map are from yesterday morning’s infrared mapping. Helicopter reconnaissance late in the day showed little change in the fire perimeter.  Additional crews and resources have been arriving over the last fews days. Today, crews will continue with holding and mopping up operations in Eightmile drainage. Contingency handlines and dozer lines in the Eightmile, Falls Creek, Cub Creek, Ortell, and Goat Creek areas will continue to be scouted and constructed. Helicopters will be using bucket drops on hot areas of the fire inaccessible to crews. Transfer of command for the fire shifts from the Nevada Type 3 Team to the Southwest Incident Management Team 5, effective tonight, August 15, 2017. Weather, Fire Behavior, and Air Quality: Temperatures are predicted to be in the 70’s, with light winds from the northwest. Temperatures are continuing to increase and humidity drop, after the previous cooling trend.  Though fire behavior remains moderate, activity could increase with the drier conditions. Air quality will be moderate to good throughout the Methow and Okanogan Valleys today, with some areas of smoke and haze. Closures and Restrictions: A large fire area closure is in effect. Eightmile Creek 5130 Road is now closed from West Chewuch 51 Road to Billy Goat Trailhead. The closure includes the Ruffed Grouse, Honeymoon, Nice, Flat, and Buck Lake campgrounds. The Ortell 5220 Road is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with the Sweetgrass Butte 5220-100 Road, to the Eightmile 5130 Road. Sweetgrass Butte 5220-100 Road is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with Ortell 5220 Road, to Sweetgrass Butte. The entire Falls Creek 5140 Road is closed. Maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, and use of charcoal briquette barbecues, or other devices that use solid fuel is prohibited across most of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. An Industrial Fire Precaution Level III is in effect which does not allow any firewood cutting with a power saw for commercial or personal use.