8/29/2017 Jolly Mountain Fire Update

Jolly Mountain Fire Update   Tuesday, August 29, 2017   Start Date Cause Size Percent  Containment Crews Helicopters Engines Total Personnel 8/11 Lightning 4,682 acres 0% 6 4 21 332 Location:  Cle Elum Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA Summary:  Fire activity did increase on the Jolly Mountain Fire yesterday, especially on the western perimeter, between Sasse Mountain and the northwestern corner of the fire.  However, the smoke that inundated the valleys and caused ash to fall in and around Cle Elum was from the Norse Peak Fire.  Smoke was thick enough to limit the use of aircraft in the midafternoon.  Nevertheless, helicopters dropped nearly 100,000 gallons of water on the fire yesterday.  Information on the Norse Peak Fire, located west of Cliffdale, WA, and southwest of the Jolly Mountain Fire, is available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5509/. Businesses in the communities of Roland and Roslyn are open.  Recreationalists are encouraged to check local conditions, area and road closures, and fire status before heading out this Labor Day weekend.  With several fires burning across the Pacific Northwest, travel routes may be impacted, campgrounds may be closed, and alternative plans are encouraged.  If you are near a fire area, stay alert, as conditions can change quickly during a wildland fire.  Be prepared to change plans or even evacuate from your location. Weather:  Today will be very similar to yesterday, with temperatures in the low-90s and relative humidity in the low-teens.  While tomorrow will be cooler, temperatures will still be nearly 10 degrees above normal. Community Meeting:  Local officials and representatives from the Incident Management Team will be on hand to discuss the current fire situation and answer questions. WHERE:        Walter Strom Middle School, Cle Elum WHEN:         Thursday, 8/31, 6:00 PM Evacuations:  Don’t be scared; be prepared by remembering the five P’s for evacuations:  people (and pets), prescriptions, personal computers, photos, and papers.  Visit the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office webpage for complete descriptions of the Level 1 (Ready), Level 2 (Set), and Level 3 (Go) evacuation notices.  An interactive map, which allows a homeowner to enter an address and see its evacuation status, is available at https://tinyurl.com/yb2wfelg. Closures:  In response to firefighting efforts and to ensure the safety of firefighters, residents, and the public, area closures have been enacted by the local land management agencies.  All Forest Service lands in the upper Cle Elum Valley are closed, including all roads, trails and campgrounds north of the Last Resort Restaurant located on State Route 903.  The Nature Conservancy has closed all TNC-managed lands east of Cle Elum Lake.  Washington Department of Natural Resources has closed lands north of the West Fork and west of North Fork of the Teanaway River.  Please consult detailed maps, available on fire information boards as well as posted online, prior to making recreational plans. Fire Restrictions:  All campfires are banned on Cle Elum Ranger District due to the high fire danger .