8/18/2018 Crescent Mountain Fire Update

CRESCENT MOUNTAIN FIRE Level 2 Evacuations

Crescent Mountain Fire August 18, 2018 @ 8:00 a.m. Crescent Mountain Fire: 19,747 acres; 34 percent contained ●   Personnel: 387 ●   Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp ●   Start Date: July 29, 2018 ●   Cause: Lightning McLeod Fire: 10,040 acres; no containment ●   Personnel: 392 ●   Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama ●   Start Date: August 11, 2018 ●   Cause: Lightning Current Activity: Crescent Mountain Fire: Yesterday, the southern edge of the fire advanced on the south side of Snowshoe Ridge toward Eagle Creek. The fire continued to burn upslope in the Wilderness along Snowshoe and Black Ridges. Control lines north of Poplar Flat and west of the Twisp River held. Today, firefighters and aerial resources will work to limit the fire spreading south of War Creek and hold and maintain constructed fireline from Poplar Flats to Slate Lake. McLeod Fire: The fire burned actively and grew on all edges of the fire, especially to the north in the Pasayten Wilderness. Firefighters are working to reopen fire breaks from the Diamond Fire and prepare protection around Forest Service facilities. Crews are constructing firelines and will initiate tactical firing operations where appropriate. Doe Fire: This fire is in monitoring status. No further updates will be provided unless significant activity occurs. Evacuations: A Level 3 evacuation was implemented for West Buttermilk Creek Road and Twisp River Road, west of the Buttermilk Creek intersection. Level 3 means all residents in the affected area need to evacuate NOW.  No evacuations are in effect for the McLeod or Doe Fires. Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has issued closure orders for the fire areas. Maps and information on area, road, and trail closures can be found on the fire’s InciWeb page. A temporary flight restriction is in place over the combined fire area. For details, see the Federal Avaition Administration’s website. Road closure information can be found at the WA Dept. of Transportation’s website. Smoke: Numerous fires in the area, and from Canada, continue to generate smoke in the area. For information on smoke and public health: http:wasmoke.blogspot.com. Smoke information in Spanish can be found on the WA Dept. of Health’s website. Areas businesses are open. Please consider showing your support by shopping in the local communities. Fire Information: Inciweb: Crescent Mountain: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6093/  McLeod: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6130/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrescentMTNFire/ Fire Information Center: (480) 744-9318 Email: gilbertfireinfo2018@gmail.com Incident Management Team: The Southern Area Blue Type 1 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fires at midnight.