9/6/2017 Jolly Mountain Fire Update

Community Briefing Tomorrow: 6:00 PM, Thursday September 7, at Walter Strom Middle School Gymnasium, 2694 State Route 903, Cle Elum, WA 98922.

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

Yesterday:  A smoke inversion on Tuesday kept fire activity moderate on the Jolly Mountain Fire, allowing firefighters to continue burnout operations and prepping containment line on the south and western fire perimeters. Helicopters, using strategic water drops, moderated fire spread. Night operations were successful in securing the southern perimeter. Fire personnel detected and quickly contained a spot fire and will monitor the spot throughout the day. Structure protection crews are actively engaged both day and night, assessing structures, and prepping and brushing dozer line.

Today’s Activities:  Morning northeasterly winds will test fire lines, switching to southwesterly in the afternoon. Crews will continue structure assessment and protection while further preparing containment and contingency lines along Cle Elum Ridge, above the communities of Roslyn and Ronald, and communities east of Cle Elum Lake.

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

The Washington National Guard arrive today with 128 soldiers and 50 vehicles to assist firefighters, bringing with them mobile day-sleeping barracks for the night shift crews, security personnel, and two Type 2 firefighting handcrews. 45 State-mobilized fire engine structure protection groups continue 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 that shows fire perimeter and allows a homeowner to enter an address to 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,  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.