8/28/2018 Horns Mountain Fire Update

Horns Mountain Fire Update

August 26, 2018  10 am

Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 9 (NWIIMT9), Brian Goff, Incident Commander

        Fire Information: (505-302-5008 GoogleVoice) or 218-244-2843     Email: HornsMountainInfo2018@gmail.com   

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6138    

Northeast Washington Fire Information https://www.facebook.com/newfireinfo/

NWCC Public Information Blog www.nwccinfo.blogspot.com

NORTHPORT, WA – Due to hard working firefighters and heavy equipment operators, the Horns Mountain Fire is 75% contained. Crews will patrol and hold burnouts they completed yesterday on the northwest side of the fire. Other crews continue with holding and mopping up firelines. Some are focused on repairing and restoring roadways and other areas impacted by firefighting activities. The Horns Spike Camp will be disassembled today.

One watchout situation with firefighting is when conditions change. The weather is changing with 50% chance of showers on the fire. The work is changing from line building and burnouts to holding, mop-up, and repair. Leadership is changing. NWIIMT9 will be shadowed tomorrow by a local Type 3 Team. The Type 3 Team will assume command on August 28th. Location of the incident command post will change from the Northport School in Northport to the Rock Cut RV Park in Kettle Falls, Washington on Tuesday. Some crews will demobilize that day. The force is expected to be down from 540 to around 150 people.

Mop-up continues in a cedar stand along the 290 Road. Photo: Jean Goad

As fire danger decreases, crews are cautioned to maintain vigilance against complacency. Saw crews are dropping hazard trees (snags), burning material may still come tumbling down steep terrain, and heavy equipment will be moving on narrow roads.

Closures remain:

·         Portions of the Colville National Forest affected by fire suppression operations are closed for the safety of firefighters and the public. The closure is roughly from the Colville National Forest boundary with Canada to NFS 30, to NFS 15, to American Fork Big Sheep Creek Road, to Zodiak Creek, north to the international border, and west to the origin.  See the Colville National Forest website at: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/colville/alerts-notices or Inciweb for a map of the closure area.  The following roads are closed:  NFS189 Camp Creek, 190 Bowen Mountain, 210 Horns Mountain, 460 American Fork Creek, 461 American Fork Creek Ext., 290 Whitehorse East, 291 Whitehorse North, 340 Churchill Jeep Trail.

·         The primary route of the Pacific Northwest Trail between Northport and Orient, WA is closed near Elbow Lake. Air quality and traffic in the area may be impacted by fire activity, check conditions at: https://www.pnt.org/pnta/know-before-you-go/plan-your-trip/trail-alerts/

·         Sheep Creek Road and Sheep Creek Campground are closed until further notice.

·         Fire restrictions are in effect and residents and visitors are encouraged to check local regulations before burning.