9/15/2018 Cougar Creek and Lost Fire Update

Cougar Creek and Lost Fires Repair Operations Move Steadily Forward Saturday, September 15, 2018

   Cougar Creek and Lost Fires

Repair operations move steadily forward   

Saturday, September 15, 2018

 Acreage: 42,712

Containment: 79 percent

Personnel: 81 Cause: Lightning

Incident Mgt Team: Whitehall’s Okanogan-Wenatchee Team (Type 3)

                       Phone: 509-664-9210                             

Email: cougarcreekfireinfo2018@gmail.com

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6053 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cougarcreekfire Sign up for Daily Updates: https://bit.ly/2sRTpMp

 

Cougar Creek Fire: Repair of suppression activities made steady advances on Friday. On the west side of the fire, a crew and an excavator dug water-bars and pulled out large amounts of slash along Forest Road 6208 in the Twin Creek area. Grading was completed on Forest Road 6104 from Twin Creek southeast to Clear Creek. Removal of heavy fuels from roads and dozer lines along the length of Mosquito Ridge is being accomplished with a processor and skidder. On the west side of the fire repair operations are focused on two areas, Shady Pass Road (FR 5900) and dozer lines and roads in the Potato Creek area. Firefighting resources also demonstrated their versatility by participating in a search and rescue operations for a lost horse. Fire behavior was minimal on Friday.

Lost Fire: Rappellers doing repair work on hand-lines discovered a half acre fire outside of the fire perimeter to the east. This is an undiscovered spot from the Lost Fire. The rappellers were able to put fire-line around 95% of the new area and are confident of keeping it within its present footprint. Repair of the Lost Fire lines is projected to be completed in two days.

 

Weather and Fire Behavior: A slight chance of rain showers is forecast for Saturday. Chances for a wetting rain of up to .2 inches is predicted for Sunday. These wet conditions are associated with a low pressure area off Vancouver Island that will move through the region over the weekend. Skies will be cloudy with below normal temperatures and above normal relative humidity. These conditions are not conducive to major fire expansion.

Firefighters are dropping danger trees along the roads and operating heavy equipment, the public is urged to respect the closure order for their own safety and the safety of fire personnel.