9/18/2018 Miriam Fire Update

Miriam Fire Update Fire Information Line: 509-653-1468

September 18, 2018 – 12:30 p.m. Acres: 5,400 Percent Containment: 50%                                                                                                                        Start Date:07/30/18    Today is the final daily update. Future updates will only be released if the situation changes significantly. Fire suppression efforts are winding down and crews are now working on fire line repair.  The Forest has begun to shift resources to focus on burned area emergency response assessments.  That information will be posted here when it becomes available: http://centralwashingtonfirerecovery.info/   Announcements: Because minimal fire growth is expected after the recent rain and snow, the Yakima Valley Office of Emergency Management terminated all evacuations levels yesterday.    Current situation: After Sunday’s rain, the strategy on the Miriam Fire turned to monitoring, patrol, hazard mitigation and equipment removal. Despite the significant decrease in fire activity, smoke is still visible in some locations well within fire containment lines, especially in the afternoon with the warming of the day. Smoke will continue to be noticeable until significant moisture is received as the fire continues to consume left over pockets of fuel within the interior of the burned area.      Tree fallers were busy yesterday cleaning up the line along Forest Service Road #530 spur and while engine crews were patrolling Forest Service Road #1207. The Naches Initial Attack Crew pulled equipment from near the High Camp Lodge and Pigtail Peak on the east side of the fire and brought it back to the Naches Ranger District. An engine crew hiked to the 10-acre spot fire on the east side of the Tieton River and gathered up the 6,000 feet of hose, about 200 pounds of sprinkler system fittings, fuel and fuel cans and two pumps with accompanying kit equipment to be flown out helicopter via a sling load. Fireline repair work starts today. This will includeclean-up of road chip piles along Forest Service Roads #1204, #1205, and #540. Please be aware there will be fire personnel and equipment along these roads in the next few days. Firefighters are working to get the clean-up done before putting the fire in monitor status toward the end of the week Weather and Fire Behavior: The weather forecast will mirror Monday’sweather for the next few days with a cold and wet weather starting on Thursday. Snow was even forecasted in the higher elevations at the end of the week. Temperatures are predicted to be between 49-62 degrees with light and variable winds out of the west. However, the fire activity will be more of the same – creeping and smoldering with some backing within the fire interior.   Fire restrictions:   Fire restrictions on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest were changed to a Level 1, allowing some fires in designated campgrounds, special use areas and in wilderness areas. For more information go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_053600#stageII or to see the list of campgrounds where fires will be allowed: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd592042.pdf.  Closures: The size of the area closure remains in effect on the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Gifford Pinchot National Forests. Maps and a list of affected areas can be found at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/6066/ or https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd589952.pdf   Personnel/Resources: 1 hand crew, 4 engines, (37 total personnel)  Location: Two miles east of White Pass Ski Area, within the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the Naches Ranger District, 13 miles east of Packwood, WA Values at Risk: White Pass Ski Resort and area; recreational cabins, camps and resorts on Clear and Rimrock Lakes; State Highway 12; Goat Rocks Wilderness; and northern spotted owl, bull trout, and other wildlife habitat Estimated Incident Containment or completion: September 30, 2018  Smoke Information: Smoke may still be visible in the afternoon. For further smoke information visit wasmoke.blogspot.com/p/state.html For Online Miriam Fire Updates visit (*Please note- These Facebook and Inciweb page will only be available for about another week or so following today’s final update): Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6066/ Miriam Fire Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MiriamFire