8/27/17 Diamond Creek Fire Morning Update

Diamond Creek Fire Update

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Fire Information: (503)765-5724 - 8 am – 6 pm
Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail.com
Websites: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondcreekfire2017
Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com 

Location: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA 

Summary: Unburned islands within the fire perimeter burned actively on Saturday, bringing smoky conditions to the upper Methow Valley. There was some expansion of the northern perimeter into the 2002 Middle Quartz Fire area. Helicopter water drops were again used to hold the fire on the upper slope of Pat Creek and keep it from getting established in the bottom of Pat Creek. Chippers have finished clearing the Eightmile Road and are working on Ortell Creek Road. One road grader is working on the Goat Creek Road to repair road impacts caused by suppression efforts.

Fire behavior on Sunday will be continued movement to the north, and burning of interior islands.

Caution: Anyone using the Goat Creek 5225 Road is urged to exercise caution. While it has not been officially closed, be aware that heavy equipment is working on this road.

Closures: There has been no change in fire closures, which will continue until fall. Eightmile Creek 5130 Road is closed for its entire length, from West Chewuch 51 Road to Billy Goat Trailhead. This 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.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5409/ 

Weather: Sunday will be sunny, with haze and smoke. High temperature will be 94 degrees; relative humidity 8 – 18%. The outlook through Tuesday is for much warmer temperatures, with highs running over 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. The air mass will be very dry, with minimum relative humidity in the teens each day. By Tuesday the air mass could also become unstable, increasing burn intensity.

Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions remain in place. 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.

Visitors should check conditions before traveling in the area and register at trailheads.

Incident Statistics: 
Size – 32,257 acres 
Completed – 63% 
Structures Damaged – 1 
Structures Destroyed – 2 
Injuries – 1 
Date Detected – July 23, 2017 
Cause – Human 
Estimated Cost - $7.5 million 

Resources: 
Hand Crews – 1 
Engines – 2 
Helicopters – 2 
Chippers – 3 
Water Tenders – 3 
Graders - 1