Thursday, September 6, 2018

9/6/2018 Cougar Creek, Lost and Bannock Lakes Fires Update


Cougar Creek, Lost and Bannock Lakes Fires
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Little fire growth as containment and repair work continues

Cougar Creek Fire: Fire spread was minimal on Wednesday. The fire is smoldering and creeping in the Mad River and Jimmy Creek areas. Helicopters continue to drop water on the area to support containment efforts by firefighters. Firefighters patrolled hand line near Signal Peak on Wednesday, and the line is holding. A small amount of smoke re-appeared in the Grandma Creek drainage on Wednesday. Firefighters and helicopters will continue to monitor the area. Mop up operations, infrared imaging to find hot spots, and patrolling are continuing along completed line on the western perimeter. Near the Sugarloaf Lookout, crews are repairing dozer lines that were used to protect Burgess Cabin. Mop up includes the chipping of significant amounts of material cleared to widen roads and create new containment lines. The southern and eastern areas of the fire are secure, and firefighters are conducting mop up, backhaul, and repair work, such as road grading.  Backhaul is the retrieval of equipment no longer needed for fire operations.

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 infrared imagery and aerial reconnaissance.

Bannock Lakes Fire: The Bannock fire remains at 497 acres. This fire is creeping among rocky outcrops and isolated groups of timber in steep, inaccessible terrain. It is being monitored by infrared imagery and aerial reconnaissance.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Warm and very dry conditions were observed over the fire on Wednesday. Winds remained light for the second day. Thursday will be the warmest and driest day of the week. Temperatures will be warming well above normal for early September, topping out in the mid to upper 80s in the valleys and near 70 in the mountains. Humidity levels will remain very dry. Winds will continue to be light and terrain driven. The warm and dry conditions will be favorable for increased fire behavior.

Evacuations: All Level 1 “Get Ready” alerts have been lifted.

Restrictions and Closures: Fox Creek, Lake Creek, Silver Falls, and Cottonwood campgrounds are reopened. Shady Pass Road #5900, North Fork Entiat Trailhead, and trails within the Glacier Peak Wilderness area on the Entiat Ranger District will also be open and accessible. In addition, the Chiwawa River Road, and campgrounds and trails off that road, will be open for use.

To ensure public and firefighter safety, road and trail closures remain in effect in the Tommy Creek, Mad River, Upper Mad River, Potato Creek, and Mud Creek areas. Forest visitors are encouraged to view the interactive closure map: https://tinyurl.com/yb5zs737. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) also remains closed from Suiattle Pass to High Bridge. The PCT detour is from Suiattle Pass to Stehekin. More information is available at www.pcta. org

Acreage: 42,412
Containment: 71 percent
Personnel: 438
Cause: Lightning
Incident Mgt Team: NW Team 10 Lawson (Type 2)
Phone: 509-664-9210 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
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