9/4/2018 Crescent Mountain Fire Update

CRESCENT MOUNTAIN FIRE Successful firing operations along Buttermilk Creek

September 4, 2018 Crescent Mountain Fire: 46,650 acres; 37 percent contained ●   Personnel: 878 ●   Point of Origin: Approximately 21 miles west of Twisp ●   Start Date: July 29, 2018 ●   Cause: Lightning McLeod Fire: 22,511 acres; 35 percent contained ●   Personnel: 397 ●   Point of Origin: Approximately eight miles north of Mazama ●   Start Date: August 11, 2018 ●   Cause: Lightning Holman Fire: 299 acres, no containment ●   Point of Origin: Holman Peak ●   Start Date: August 17, 2018 ●   Cause: Unknown   Crescent Mountain Fire:  Efforts are being focused by aircraft to slow the rate of spread while construction of control lines continue from Libby Creek area to Foggy Dew. Firing continued in the area of Buttermilk Creek northwest of Black Pine Lake. Along the Twisp River corridor, patrol and mop-up continues with the use of hand and engine crews. Tuesday’s focus will continue to be on control line construction and continuing to mop-up and hold existing control lines in the areas of the Twisp River corridor, northwest of Black Pine Lake by Buttermilk Creek, and assessment and structure protection in Libby Creek. McLeod Fire: Mop-up continues along the fire perimeter from the historic Diamond Fire along Eight-mile Road and toward Yellow Jacket Creek. Lost River Gorge area was quiet yesterday, and demonstrated minimal heat. ForMonday, mop-up will continue using hand crews, engine crews and air attack. A mobile retardant base has been placed at the Foster Farm to provide for quicker turnaround of air resources when needed. Evacuations: Crescent Mountain Fire: A Level 3 (GO now) evacuation is in effect for all persons living west of the Little Bridge Creek intersection in the Twisp River Valley. A Level 2 (get SET) evacuation is in effect for persons living west of Newby Creek Road to Little Bridge Creek Road, Smith Canyon Road, and Libby Creek Road west of Smith Canyon Road. An alert remains in the Poorman Creek area. The Red Cross has a shelter available at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp. No evacuations are in effect for the McLeod or Holman Fires.   Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and North Cascades National Park have issued trail and area closures orders in the vicinity of all three fires. Maps and information on the closures can be found on InciWeb.Temporary flight restriction information is available at the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.   Smoke/Weather: Temperatures in the 60’s and 70s continue with moderate humidity recovery in the high 20’s to mid 30’s. Winds are projected to decrease in the afternoon with sustained winds from 6-11 mph and gusts to 17 on the ridges. Area businesses are open. Please consider showing your support by shopping in the local community. The Washington Smoke Information’s webpage has information on smoke and public health. Smoke information in Spanish can be found on the WA Dept. of Health’s website.