Fire Terms

Monday, August 27, 2018

8/27/2018 Cougar Creek, Lost & Bannock Lakes Fire Update


Cougar Creek, Lost and Bannock Lakes Fires
Monday, August 27, 2018

Acreage: 41,324
Containment: 45 percent
Personnel: 762

Evacuation Levels Decrease Around Plain
Incident Management Team Right Sizes Operation

Cougar Creek Fire:
Chelan County Fire District 9, the Chelan County Sheriff’s office and the Incident Management Team have evaluated the current evacuation levels in place for the Chiwawa Loop Road community near Plain. The fire threat to residents has diminished significantly over the past two days due to the construction of a solid fire line along much of the western edge of the fire. Effective Monday (08/27/2018) at 9:00am, the Level 2 evacuation status for all of the Chiwawa Loop Road area (including Shugart Flats and Chiwawa River Pines communities) will be lowered to a Level 1 “fire advisory” status. Areas in Plain and Lake Wenatchee which have been at a Level 1 status, will no longer be under any evacuation notification. Residents are asked to continue to monitor fire information daily, should conditions change.

Precipitation on the fire yesterday was light, with only a few hundredths of an inch of rain recorded. However relative humidity remained high throughout the day and greatly diminished fire behavior. Smoldering was observed as heavy fuels in the interior continue to be consumed.

Crews proceeded with mop up, working through the ash to locate and extinguish hot spots. Smoldering branches and logs were moved into the interior. On the eastern and southern flanks of the fire, firefighters cold-trailed the line. In this process, firefighters will search for concealed heat sources, sometimes removing one glove and holding their hand over the ash to feel for heat.

As containment increases and the risk to the surrounding communities lessens, incident management team begins “right sizing” the operation. Firefighters and equipment are being released from Cougar Creek to help with other incidents across the region. The remote base in Entiat has been closed and resources stationed there have either been released or relocated to the Leavenworth camp.  

Lost Fire:
The Lost Fire has been held at 80 acres. Containment lines are complete. The fire will continue to be monitored by air using Distributed Real-Time Infrared (DRTI) and air attack aircraft.

Bannock Lakes Fire:
Burning in a remote section of the Glacier Peaks Wilderness, the Bannock Lakes Fire is now 485 acres in size. The fire is burning among large rocky outcroppings and isolated clusters of timber in steep, inaccessible terrain. It is being monitored by air and satellite. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) is closed from Suiattle Pass to High Bridge. The PCT detour is from Suiattle Pass to Stehekin. More information is available at www.pcta.org.

Weather and Fire Behavior:
Today skies will be partly cloudy, with gusty ridge top winds in the morning, becoming light in the afternoon. High temperatures will be in the upper 70s at 1,500 feet and will reach only 60 at higher elevations. Relative humidity will range for 30 percent at lower elevations to 45 percent at ridge tops. These conditions will help to keep fire behavior low and provide opportunities for firefighters to secure and improve containment lines.

Traffic Safety:
Fire equipment will be on the roads in and around the fire area. These vehicles may stop in unexpected locations. Please use caution when fire apparatus are present, the operator may not see you in his or her mirrors.

Cougar Creek Fire Evacuation Levels
Plain Area:
Effective Monday (08/27/2018) at 9:00am, the Level 2 evacuation status for all of the Chiwawa Loop Road area (including Shugart Flats and Chiwawa River Pines communities) will be lowered to a Level 1 “fire advisory” status. Areas in Plain and Lake Wenatchee which have been at a Level 1 status, will no longer be under any evacuation notification.

Entiat Area:
That portion of the Mad River Road below the fire area, to the Entiat River Road, and the Entiat River Road from the intersection of the Mad River Road, north to Mile Marker 16.5 is no longer under an evacuation order. The Entiat River Road from Mile Marker 16.5, north to its end is now under a Level 1 Evacuation Alert. The 25 mile per hour speed restriction has been rescinded. For more information, call the Chelan County Emergency Management at 509-667-6863, or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CCSOEM. An American Red Cross shelter, at 14916 US 97A in Entiat, is on standby. The Red Cross can be contacted at 509-663-3907.

Smoke:
Air quality has been substantially better for the last 48-hours as winds pushed smoke out of the area. However, multiple fires continue to burn across the region and smoke should be expected to return. Individuals with compromised respiratory systems are encouraged to acquire N95 masks. These masks are being provided free of charge, by the Chelan County Sheriff's Office and are available at local fire stations. For more information on smoke and public health, visit:www.wasmoke.blogspot.com or https://bit.ly/2J22754 (Spanish).

U.S. Forest Service Closure Orders:
·        Cougar Creek and Lost Fires: https://bit.ly/2MkmKew
·        Bannock Lakes Fire: https://bit.ly/2nezyF6
·        Area businesses are open. Please consider showing your support by shopping in the local community.


Incident Management Team:
Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3 (Type 1) continues to work closely with cooperators from the US Forest Service, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Entiat Rural Fire District 8, Chelan County Fire District 3, Peshastin Rural District 6, Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Chelan County Department of Emergency Management, Chelan County Public Utility Dept., Washington Department of Transportation, American Red Cross, Chelan Public Schools, and Chelan Public Works. 19 Firefighters from Australia are supporting.

Fire Information:
Phone: 509-664-9210 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Facebook: facebook.com/CougarCreekFire  #WaWildfire #CougarCreekFire
Interactive Map: https://bit.ly/2MnFB9j


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