9/9/2017 Diamond Creek Fire Update

Cooler weather slows fire spread; additional firefighters arrive

Location:  12 miles N of Mazama, WA                                
Total Personnel:  85
Acres:  91,500 U.S; 14,000 Canada                                            
Cause:  Believed to be Human
Containment:  30%                                                                    
Start Date:  July 23, 2017
 Yesterday:  Operations Section Chief Ian Morgan took a reconnaissance flight on Friday over the Diamond Creek Fire and saw active fire in the head of Monument Creek with continuous fuels to the south.  Fortunately, the weather moderated overnight with increased humidity and lower temperatures and the fire did not progress significantly to the south. The fire perimeter remains approximately two miles north of the line that would trigger an elevation to a Level 2 evacuation for the Mazama area.  Crews continued to extend a hand-line well in front of the fire in the Yellowjacket Creek area as well as construct heli-spots that can be used in case of injury or to deliver supplies. Helicopters used bucket drops to cool spots at the top end of Pat Creek and provided reconnaissance opportunities to plan strategy.  The fire area continues to burn into steep, rugged terrain in the Pasaytan Wilderness and is being managed using a confine strategy that combines containment 
by natural features and full suppression to control the spread toward the town of Mazama.

Today:  Firefighting resources continue to arrive on the incident allowing fire managers greater flexibility in their suppression efforts.  Crews will continue to extend the hand-line near Yellowjacket Creek.  Operations personnel continue to scout structure protection and suppression opportunities in the Mazama area in case the fire makes a move in that direction.  A decision will be made today on whether to wrap the Goat Peak Lookout with fire resistant material to protect it. 
 
Weather: A cold front will push through the fire area on Saturday bringing increasing cloud cover and the chance of showers.  The frontal passage will be accompanied by wind gusts from the northwest that may approach 35 mph.  The lower temperatures and higher humidity will be welcomed by firefighters as they inhibit fire behavior but increased winds can transport embers and increase spot fire potential. 
 
Smoke:  Saturday dawned notably clearer than previous days as a cooler Pacific weather system provided more pleasant air.  For smoke conditions and more information, visit wasmoke.blogspot.com.
 
Closures: The public should be aware that the fire situation is fluid and that new closures could occur with little advance warning.  The Forest Service requests that people respect any road closure signs or barricades so the firefighters can safely perform their jobs.  There are currently more than 60 roads or trails closed for public safety including Monument Trail #484 and Andrews Creek #504. Complete closure details and maps are available at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/.
 
Evacuation Alert Level: Mazama, Rendezvous and Lost River are under a Level 1 evacuation. A Level 1 notifies residents and visitors to be aware of the danger that may exist in their areas. Monitor emergency services information for updates. The Okanogan County alert system will provide automated alerts to the public. To sign up for this service, visit okanogandem.org or call (509) 422-7206.