Saturday, September 8, 2018

9/8/2018 Cougar Creek, Lost and Bannock Lakes Fires update


Cougar Creek, Lost and Bannock Lakes Fires
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Scattered rain showers fall across the fires

Cougar Creek Fire: Scattered rain showers fell across the area Friday night. Remote automated weather stations around the fire varied from a one-tenth to one-hundredth of an inch. It was a welcomed relief after the warm temperatures and gusty winds Friday afternoon which caused internal unburned islands and fringes on the north side of the fire to burn aggressively. Because it was determined that the active fire was not threatening to expand the fire perimeter and increasing clouds were damping aggressive burning, no helicopters were used to drop water Friday. There was some lightning in the area and fire crews are poised to respond to any new starts that may reveal themselves Saturday.

It was a productive day on the fire Friday as crews continued to search for and extinguish any hotspots around the contained parts of the fire.  Roads and fire lines are being repaired and much of the woody vegetation removed along the roads and contingency lines is being chipped.

The Fish Lake Helibase was closed Friday. If additional helicopter use is requested, aircraft will come from the Central Washington Interagency Coordination Center (CWICC) in Wenatchee.

Lost Fire: The Lost Fire has been held contained at 80 acres. The fire will continue to be monitored by air.

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

Weather and Fire Behavior: Cooler air will flood into the region on Saturday and this will bring gusty west to northwest winds. Wind gusts may reach 25 mph. Temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Friday topping out in the 50s in the mountains and 70s in the valleys. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a chance for more sprinkles or light rain in the late afternoon or evening.

Restrictions and Closures: Fire use restrictions are still in place. No campfires are permitted. Fox Creek, Lake Creek, Silver Falls, and Cottonwood campgrounds are open. Shady Pass Road #5900, North Fork Entiat Trailhead, and trails within the Glacier Peak Wilderness area on the Entiat Ranger District are open and accessible. In addition, the Chiwawa River Road, and campgrounds and trails off that road, are 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. Visitors to the National Forest are encouraged to call the local ranger station or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices. 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: 73 percent
Personnel: 352
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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