9/5/2017 Jolly Mountain Fire Update

Location:  Cle Elum Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 11 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA.

Team Transition:  Pacific Northwest Team 2 (PNW2) a National Type 1 Incident Management Team, assumed command of the fire today. The transition to a Type 1 team happens when incidents become larger, more complex, and with values at risk. The Jolly Mountain Fire is currently one of the top priorities in the northwest.

Summary:  Another smoke inversion Monday kept heating and fire activity on the Jolly Mountain Fire isolated to ridges and terrain exposed to east winds at higher elevations. The southern and western flanks were the most active. Air operations with helicopters and scooper planes used strategic water drops to moderate fire growth. A couple of spot fires were located and contained along the southern fire perimeter. The fire advanced overnight toward the Morgan Creek area above Cle Elum Lake. Structure protection crews were actively engaged most of the night in that area.  A full night shift is in place, and firefighters continue to successfully burnout on contingency lines along the southern edge of fire to create a more secure fire line. The lines will be tested again today due to high temperatures, low humidity, and forest fuels that are at record dry levels.

While fire crews have been successful thus far in protecting values at risk, there are over 20 miles of active fire perimeter currently uncontained on the fire, and large areas of beetle-killed forest with large quantities of dead and down fuel for the fire.

The state has mobilized 45 fire engine structure protection groups to assist in protecting homes and communities threatened by the fire.

Evacuations:  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 shows fire perimeter, and also allows a homeowner to enter an address and see its evacuation status, is available at https://tinyurl.com/yb2wfelg

Closures:   Area closures are in effect to ensure the safety of firefighters, residents, and the public.  Forest Service lands in the 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 the Cle Elum Ranger District due to the high fire danger.

Start Date	Cause	Approximate Acreage	Percent  Containment	Crews	Helicopters	Engines	Total Personnel
8/11	Lightning	23,106	0%	15	5	82	711