9/4/2017 Jolly Mountain Fire Update

Start Date Cause Size Percent  Containment Crews Helicopters Engines Total Personnel 8/11 Lightning 20,975 acres 0% 12 5 77 677 Location:  Cle Elum Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA. Summary:  Heavy smoke settled into the valleys again yesterday morning but did not lift until nearly 4 o’clock in some areas of the fire.  Once it did, fire behavior increased but not as significantly as it did on Saturday.  Moderated fire activity allowed firefighters to make good progress in the Teanaway Valley.  Crews continued burnouts in the night to further secure the communities and values at risk in the Teanaway and Wagon Wheel.  Aerial resources were successful in slowing the fire’s progress along Sasse Ridge and Hex Mountain.  Structural assessments and protection measures, including fireline construction, sprinkler and hose preparation, and improvements to access roads, continues in communities affected by the Jolly Mountain Fire.  Additional contingency lines have been identified along Cle Elum Ridge, and construction on the lines is beginning.  There are numerous contingency lines in the fire vicinity that may or may not be used in fire suppression depending on the direction of the fire’s approach, the wind conditions, and other dynamic factors.  Firefighters will use the best resources and tactics at the time to meet the challenge of the fire. For today, eastern winds are forecast.  This will shift the primary area of concern more to the western end of Cle Elum Ridge.  Resources will be focused on the southwestern corner of the fire area in response to the changes in wind condition.  Firefighters continue to work around the clock on all areas of the fire.  Planning and indirect line construction has been in progress since the fire began, in anticipation that it would grow to the south.  Tomorrow, a Type 1 Incident Management Team will take command of the fire.  They will continue to implement the plans that have been in progress since the fire began, nearly four weeks ago.  The Great Basin Team will return home, as fire resources do after two-week assignments, to rest in anticipation of their next assignment. Weather:  Today’s weather conditions will be dry and hot, although they will not reach the critical levels observed this weekend.  A wind shift will occur, with winds forecast from the east.  This change in pattern is a concern to fire managers, as it presents a new set of conditions not yet witnessed on this fire by firefighters. 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:  To ensure the safety of firefighters, residents, and the public, area closures are in effect.  Forest Service lands in upper Cle Elum Valley are closed beyond the Last Resort Restaurant on State Route 903 and east to Highway 97.  The Nature Conservancy lands east of Cle Elum Lake are closed.  All Washington Department of Natural Resources lands in the Teanaway River Corridor west of Route 97 including all campgrounds in the Teanaway Community Forest are closed.  Please consult detailed maps, available on fire information boards as well as posted online, prior to making plans. Fire Restrictions:  All campfires are banned on Cle Elum Ranger District due to the high fire danger .

Jolly Mountain Fire Information: (505) 303-0057 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) Jolly Mountain Fire Information recorded line: (505) 585-5048 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5496/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jollymountainfireinfo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jolly_mountain Email: jollymountainfireinfo@gmail.com