Acres: Miriam Fire – 4,228 Clear Fork Fire -51
Percent Containment: 30%
Start Date: 07/30/18
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
Area Closures are issued and placed for the protection and safety of the public and firefighters. Area Closures have been in place on the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Gifford Pinchot National Forests for area, trails, and roads near the Miriam and Clear Fork Fires since August 8 and 15th. An interactive map on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest webpage, allows for determining if your favorite hunting or hiking area is within an Area Closure. See the following website for more information and interactive maphttps://tinyurl.com/yb67jobt Intrusions potentially have the effect of halting all fireline suppression activities. For your safety, please refrain from entering these closures.
Personnel/Resources: 3-Type 2 hand crews, 3 Type 2 IA hand crews, 1-camp crew, 1- heavy lift helicopter, 1-medium lift helicopter, 1-light lift helicopter, 8-engines, 1-dozer, 6-water tenders, 2-mastacators and 1-forwarder processor for 292 total personnel.
Location: Two miles east of White Pass Ski Area, within the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the Naches Ranger District, 13 miles east of Packwood, WA.
Cause: Lightning
Values at Risk: White Pass area and ski resort; homes and organizational camps at Clear and Rimrock Lakes; Wilderness; late successional reserve; northern spotted owl and other wildlife habitat; bull trout habitat; and state highway 12.
Estimated Incident Containment or completion: 9/30/2018
Current Situation on the Miriam Fire: The Miriam Fire remains a full suppression fire. Cooler weather moderated fire behavior of the Mariam Fire yesterday. The spot fire located on the east side of the Tieton River was held in place through multiple helicopter water drops. Firefighters scouted access and locations for placement of hose and sprinkler systems around the spot fire perimeter. A helispot was prepared and equipment, including hose, pumps, and sprinklers, were slung-in by helicopter. In other areas of the fire, intense heat remains in both Miriam and Hell Creeks, on the ridge below Shoe Lake, and along Tieton Meadows. These locations are burning within the containment lines and closely monitored. Firefighters continued to monitor the containment line extended from Forest Road (FR) 1207 to Tieton Meadows searching for additional spot fires and managing the fire as it burns down to the meadow’s edge. The FR 1207 road/containment line is in patrol status. Vegetative debris generated from preparing FR 1204 as contingency lines is on-going. The chipping activity is ongoing under the powerlines along FR 1200-540. Structure protection group continues to monitor the organizational camps. A large contingent of firefighters are prepared to defend the White Ski Pass lodges if the fire reaches the area. Foldable tanks of water and hoses with sprinklers have been laid out and prepared along High Camp Lodge. Fire managers have a high confidence these areas are secure. Firefighters are remaining vigilant and ready to respond to any increased fire threats and new fire starts.
Current Situation on the Clear Fork Fire: A low intensity ground fire continues to spread gradually due to the rolling of burning debris on steep slopes. This fire will continue to be monitored closely with aerial resources.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Cooler temperatures and gusty winds with a few light showers are forecasted for today. Temperatures are forecasted for 61 degrees with relative humidity of 48%. West/northwest winds of 5-10 mph with gusts to 15 mph. Fire activity in open timber will be low with pockets of moderate activity. Burning will be intense in areas of dense, large diameter fuels.
Evacuations: Evacuation levels remain the same. The need for these levels are evaluated daily. Please see the Yakima
Closures: Area Closures are in effect on the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Gifford Pinchot National Forests. Find maps and a list of affected sites at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6066/ Fire managers are aware of the upcoming hunting seasons and closures will be assessed frequently. Increased fire restrictions have been implemented on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Please seehttps://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/fire-restrictions for a full description. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed from Elk Pass to White Pass. A detour is available. Please see the Pacific Crest Trail Association website athttps://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures/ for current closure maps.
A Temporary Flight Restriction remains in place over the two fire areas as a safety precaution to aerial firefighting resources. Please consult the notice to airmen for specifics.
Please show your support to the community by shopping local.
In the Pacific Northwest alone, nearly 2,000 human caused fires have occurred already this fire season. Please do your part to avoid one fewer wildfire.
For Online Miriam Fire Updates visit:
Incident Management Team: Northwest Incident Management Team 8 (NWIMT8), Incident Command Doug Johnson. A new incident management team is planned to arrive today to prepare to replace NWIMT8 on Monday.
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