9/16/2018 Cougar Creek and Lost Fire Update

Cougar Creek and Lost Fires FINAL Daily Update is Today Sunday, September 16, 2018

Acreage: 42,712

Containment: 79 percent

Personnel: 80 

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: Movement continued on repairing the results of suppression activities on Saturday. Repair of hand lines near the Alder Ridge Trail (#1523) were completed and are ready for acceptance by resource advisors. An excavator working south is continuing to make improvements to Forest Road 6104 between Alder Ridge and Maverick Peak. Excellent progress has been made on the management of heavy fuels on Mosquito Ridge. Necessary repairs in the Burgess Meadows area were evaluated on Saturday. On the east 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. There is an extensive amount of light fuel piling required along the Shady Pass Road. Fire behavior was minimal on Saturday.

Lost Fire: The spot fire discovered on Friday has been completely contained by rappellers.



Weather and Fire Behavior: A low pressure area that has been producing clouds and cool temperatures over the previous few days will pass through the fire area Sunday. This will be the last chance for some wetting rain from this system. Forecasts call for warmer and drier weather for Monday through Wednesday. There is a possibility for up to a quarter inch of rain during the day on Sunday and a prospect of afternoon thunderstorms. Winds will shift from the south to the west and become stronger as the day progresses. These conditions are not conducive to major fire expansion.

*THIS WILL BE THE FINAL DAILY UPDATE UNLESS SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OCCUR*

Although this is the final Daily Update, crews and heavy equipment will continue to do the important repair and rehabilitation work needed to button up these fires. The public is asked to adhere to the closure order restrictions for their own safety and the safety of fire personnel.