8/3/2017 Suiattle Fire Update

Size: 180 acres 

Containment: 10% 

Personnel: 213

Start Date: July 30 

Cause: Unknown 

Location: 9 miles NE of Darrington

Fuel Type: Timber, brush and light logging slash

Incident personnel will take a 10 minute tactical pause at 10:00 a.m. this morning to reflect on a firefighter fatality that occurred Wednesday on the Lolo Peak Fire in Montana.

YESTERDAY’S OPERATIONS: A lingering smoke layer continued to inhibit fire behavior by reducing sun drying of fuels and keeping relative humidity higher. Crews used hose-lays and constructed dozer lines along the south end of the fire as they pushed toward the steep terrain near the Tenas Creek drainage. Firefighters on the west and north ends of the fire mopped-up hot spots and dropped potentially dangerous snags. A night shift of engines was assigned to monitor and patrol the fire perimeter. A well-attended Community Briefing was held at the Darrington Community Center where residents listened to fire updates and asked questions of fire managers and representatives of cooperating agencies.

TODAY’S OPERATIONS: “In terms of fire weather, it’s a day of potential” said Fire Behavior Analyst Colin Robertson at the 6:00 a.m. briefing on Thursday. An unstable air-mass combined with hot air temperatures and dry relative humidity will provide the conditions for active fire growth. Crews and equipment will continue to construct lines on the east and south ends of the fire while mopping-up hot spots near the lines. The deep canyon along Tenas Creek on the east side of the fire remains an area of concern for fire managers. The night shift will continue to monitor fire behavior.

CLOSURES: The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest issued a closure order for an area around the fire, details of the closure area can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5447/. The Suiattle River Road (FS26) remains open but drivers are urged to reduce speeds and be aware of fire equipment operating in the area. Boulder Lake Trail (#740) and Huckleberry Ridge Trail (#780) are affected by the closure.