Fire Information Center: (480) 744-9318
Community Meeting at 6 p.m. tonight in Stehekin at the Community Center
August 23, 2018 @ 8:00 a.m.
Crescent Mountain Fire: 36,963 acres; 34 percent contained
● Personnel: 342
● Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp
● Start Date: July 29, 2018
● Cause: Lightning
McLeod Fire: 17,978 acres; five percent contained
● Personnel: 538
● Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama
● Start Date: August 11, 2018
● Cause: Lightning
Holman Fire: 100 acres, no containment
● Point of Origin: Holman Peak
● Start Date: August 17, 2018
● Cause: Unknown
Current Activity: Due to the heavy smoke in the air yesterday, all aircraft assigned to the Crescent Mountain and McLeod fires were grounded.
Crescent Mountain Fire: Yesterday, the fire progressed southeast towards Duffy Lake, east onto Scaffold Ridge and southwest into North Cascades National Park on Splawn Ridge. Crews continued improving the Buttermilk and Newby Ridge contingency lines. Fire managers are working with the National Park Service to assess protection needs for infrastructure near Lake Chelan. Today will bring critical fire weather so crews are focused on structure protection and holding the fire on Scaffold Ridge, which was treated with fire retardant on Tuesday.
McLeod Fire: Yesterday, the fire spotted across the Sunset Creek so fire crews focused on containing those spots. Crews conducted tactical burning operations around Long Creek and on the west side of Eight Mile road. Today crews will patrol and monitor fire lines while suppressing any spot fires that have breached containment lines.
Holman Fire: This fire is located in the Pasayten Wilderness of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. There is a forest closure in effect, which includes the Pacific Crest Trail, closed from Hart’s Pass to the Canadian border.
Evacuations: Crescent Mountain Fire: A Level 3 evacuation is in effect for all persons living west of the Little Bridge Creek Intersection in the Twisp River Valley. A Level 3 evacuation means that person should evacuate NOW, do not wait. A LEVEL 2 (BE READY) has been issued for persons living WEST of Newby Creek Road to Little Bridge Creek Road in the Twisp River Valley. The Red Cross has a shelter available at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp. No evacuations are in effect for the McLeod or Holman Fires.
Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has issued several closure orders and a Stage II Fire Restriction. Trail closures are in effect for the North Cascades National Park near Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. See North Cascades National Park website for details. Maps and information on the closures can be found on InciWeb.Temporary flight restriction information is available at the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.
Smoke/Weather: Unstable atmospheric conditions will persist through today, resulting in high fire behavior potential. Smoke impacts should lessen with west winds at 5 mph in the valley and 11 mph on the ridges. The Washington 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.
Area businesses are open. Please consider showing your support by shopping in the local communities.
Fire Information:
Fire Information Center: (480) 744-9318
Incident Management Team: The Southern Area Blue Type 1 Incident Management Team.
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