8/12/2020 Chikamin Fire Update

  Good progress was made yesterday to reinforce and secure the fireline on the east flank of the fire. It is 65% contained and 391 acres. On Friday at 6:00 p.m. the Type 3 team will hand the fire back over to the local District to manage for the duration. The next fire update will be Saturday morning.

Yesterday’s Activity- Firecrews continued to improve containment lines on the west flank as the fire slowly backed down toward a wet ravine. Fire crews patrolled the southeast flank, while the Entiat Hotshots continued to bolster firelines along the northeast flank. With yesterday’s gusty winds the fire grew slightly to the northwest, however there was no infrared flight to get updated perimeter and acreage.

Week’s Operations- Controlling the line and mopping up on the east flank will be the primary focus for this week’s efforts. Fire crews will monitor and patrol the west flank. Brushing and chipping will continue along the 6210 road, all the way down to the Chiwawa River Road. This work will continue through Friday, then transition into suppression repair.

Weather and Fire Behavior- Cooler temperatures are expected today with increasing relative humidity. No precipitation is forecast through the week. Fire behavior is expected to be low to moderate, with fire backing down the west flank and isolated torching. Aerial support is available to aid firefighters as the winds pick up.

Safety- Our highest priority remains the safety of the public and all wildland fire personnel. Fire operation protocols include best management practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 within the firefighting crews, fire managers and general public.

Closures- Today unfinished work will continue on the FS 6210 road and surrounding trails/areas. With heavy equipment and firefighter traffic on the 6210 road, closures will remain in effect for public and firefighter safety.

Public Use Fire Restrictions- On the Wenatchee River Ranger District Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. However, Thursday August 13th fire restrictions will increase to a Stage 2. This means that campfires will only be allowed in Wilderness areas where permitted, campfires will not allowed in campgrounds dispersed campsites. For more information on fire restrictions on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/home/?cid=FSBDEV3_05360