Fire Terms

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

8/29/2018 Cougar Creek, Lost and Bannock Lakes Fires Update


Cougar Creek, Lost and Bannock Lakes Fires
Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Acreage: 41,430
Containment: 45 percent
Personnel: 458
Red Flag Warning In Effect
Pacific Northwest Team 3 Transfers Command to Northwest Team 10

Cougar Creek Fire:
A Red Flag Warning will be in effect today across the fire area due to a combination of increasing temperatures and wind. This marks a change in the weather pattern for firefighters following several days of cool and moist conditions.

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.

If conditions allow, crews along the southwestern corner of the fire will continue burnout operations. This work is crucial to securing the line in that area. If and when crews are able to begin these burnout operations, additional smoke is to be expected and will be visible from the community of Plain.

On the northern end of the fire, personnel and equipment have identified the 1415 trail as an option for an alternative line and will begin work providing additional containment options to the north and northeastern corners of the fire. Working closely with local fire departments and county emergency management personnel, structure assessments along the eastern side of the fire have been completed.

Pacific Northwest Team 3 Incident Commander Noel Livingston will officially transfer command of the Cougar Creek Fire to Northwest Team 10 Incident Commander Al Lawson at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday evening.

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 atwww.pcta.org.

Weather and Fire Behavior:
Red Flag warning in effect for today. Skies will be clear, with gusty ridge top winds throughout the day. High temperatures will be in the upper 60s. Poor relative humidity coverage overnight will contribute to drying of fuels across the fire and will not increase about 25-35% throughout the day. Winds will increase to 15 to 18 mph, with gusts over 25 mph from the west, southwest in the early afternoon, shifting to the northwest in the early evening. The marine layer is expected to cross over the area overnight brining cooler temperatures and better relative humidity recovery going into Thursday.

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 atwww.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.
Northwest Team 10 will assume command of the fire at 1800 on Wednesday, August 29th.

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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