Tuesday, August 21, 2018

8/21/2018 Crescent Mountain Update

CRESCENT MOUNTAIN FIRE
Level 3 Evacuations
Community Meeting: Methow Valley Community Center, in Twisp, Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

August 21, 2018 @ 8:00 a.m.

Crescent Mountain Fire: 26,181 acres; 34 percent contained
   Personnel: 260
   Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp
   Start Date: July 29, 2018
   Cause: Lightning

McLeod Fire: 15,313 acres; five percent contained
   Personnel: 569
   Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama
   Start Date: August 11, 2018
   Cause: Lightning

Holman Fire: 110 acres, no containment
·        Point of Origin: Holman Peak
·        Start Date: August 17, 2018
·        Cause: Unknown
 
Current Activity:
Crescent Mountain Fire: The fire is at the North Cascades National Park boundary at Splawn Mountain. The team has been in constant contact with Park staff and will assess needs. Work in Eagle Creek was completed from the fire edge of Eagle Creek Trail out to the Twisp River as a check line. A mobile retardant station was set up and will be used if visibility allows for air attack to strengthen lines along Scaffold Ridge. Six twenty person hand crews arrive this morning. Two will be placed on night operations and the rest will assist during the day.
 
McLeod Fire: Firefighters worked to contain and suppress slop overs and over 30 small spot fires from the previous night. The line is being secured in Long Creek, at the head of Goat Creek, in the Sweetgrass area to minimize acres burned and crews continue to work slop overs. The fire continues to burn along Eightmile north toward the Honeymoon Campground and efforts are continuing to secure that area.    
 
Holman Fire: The fire is in the Pasayten Wilderness and will be flown today with infrared. We are working with the Methow Valley Ranger District staff on public and private infrastructure. The Holman fire is currently monitored by the Blue Team and Pacific Crest Trail closures are in effect.
 
Evacuations: A Level 3 evacuation is in place 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. There is a Level 2 evacuation in place for residents west of Little Bridge Creek Road. No evacuations are in effect for the McLeod or Holman Fires.
 
Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has issued several closure orders. Trail closures are in effect for the North Cascades National Park near Lake Chelan National Recreation Area see North Cascades National Park map. Maps and information on the closures can be found on the fire’s InciWeb page. See temporary flight restriction details at the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.
 
Smoke/Weather: Temperatures will climb to 85 degrees over low elevations and near 75 degrees around 5000 feet. Winds from the NE at 5 mph. TheWashington Smoke Information’s webpage has information on smoke and public health. 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/
Fire Information Center: (480) 744-9318

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.