8/16/2017 Jolly Mountain Fire Update

Minimal Growth Observed Yesterday 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017, 10:00 a.m.

Location: Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA

Start Date: August 11, 2017   Cause: Lightning   Size: 378 Acres   Percent Contained:  0%

Vegetation: Timber between rock stringers and ridge tops

Resources Assigned: 197 personnel

Incident Commander: Alan Sinclair with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3

Summary:

Fire activity has increased slightly, with movement towards the beetle kill timber area on the southwest corner of the fire. Firefighters are scouting an opportunity to go more direct with the fire on its northern perimeter. Heavy helicopter bucket work was utilized yesterday to slow fire spread on the southwest perimeter.

Crews will continue scouting fire line locations to plan protection for property and values at risk and assess conditions for additional control line locations. Efforts continue to tie in contingency lines on the southwest side of the fire.

“We are looking for the best areas to engage fire with the highest probability of success, ensuring the consideration of firefighter safety is at the forefront of all decisions.” stated Incident Commander Alan Sinclair.

Weather: A weak dry front is passing through this afternoon.  The forecast is calling for an increase n winds with gusts up to 20 miles per hour.  Although no precipitation is expected through the week, relative humidity recovery will increase as the cold fronts move through the fire area.

Closures:

Road: Forest Road 4315

Trails: A number of trails are signed closed due to fire activity, in the Teanaway drainage these include; Boulder Deroux (#1392), Johnson Medra (#1383), Way Creek (#1235), Jungle Creek (#1383.1), West Fork (#1353), Middle Fork (#1393) and Yellow Hill (#1222). In the Cle Elum Valley they are: Corral Creek (#1340.1), Sasse Mtn. (#1340), Howson Creek (#1349), Jolly Mtn. (#1307, access from Cayuse CG), Paris Creek (#1393) and Boulder Creek (#1392).

Fire Restrictions:  All campfires are banned on Cle Elum Ranger District, as the resources to handle additional human fires are in short supply.

For more information on how you can create a defensible space around your home go to www.firewise.org

Jolly Mountain Fire Information: (505) 303-0057 (Phones staffed 8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/5496/

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