7/15/2021 Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fire morning update

 

Public Meeting Tonight: An in-person public meeting is scheduled for tonight, Thursday (July 15, 2021) at 6 p.m. at the Mazama Store courtyard/patio. Fire managers will provide updates on the fires and an opportunity for the public to ask questions.  If you are unable to attend in-person, please provide your questions via Facebook (site listed below) and the answers will be included in the recorded event.  The recording will be posted on the Fires’ Facebook site. Managers will remain available after the presentations and Q&As for individual discussions at different displayed maps.

 
Fire Information Line: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Winthrop, WA — Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in very steep and rocky terrain in heavy down fuels. The Varden and Cedar Creek Fires stayed south and west of State Route 20. Winds have pushed the Varden and Cedar Creek Fires together. The merged fires will be renamed as Cedar Creek Fire.  The predicted cold front has moved through the area followed by very gusty winds in some locations.  Drainage and wind directions didn’t align over the fire area so fire behavior was not as robust as expected.  Night shift resources were patrolling on site to observe and react to any operational needs.  Other resources were identified and were on standby to respond. 

Heavy equipment is continuing to deepen the prepared containment line along State Route 20 and treat fuels from the roadway. Dozer containment line constructed from other previous fires at the toe of the slope will also be opened and prepped as indirect line. Firefighters are scouting other indirect line opportunities in the Sandy Butte area along the ridge and near Wolf Creek. A potential spot fire south of Cedar Creek was identified by the infra-red flight and will be scouted today. 

The Delancy Fire received the gusty winds last night and was pushed upslope to the west. The fire will be aerially monitored. The estimated size of this fire is approximately 39 acres.   Washington State has authorized the use of structural fire department resources to protect private property near the fires.  A strike team of six engines have arrived and are working in the Mazama and Lost River areas assessing homes preparing the structures for defense.   Firefighters will remain diligent to watch for active to extreme fire behavior associated with the predicted cold front and strong winds that usually follow.  

Resources for additional information:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021 
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/ 
WA Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
Email: 2021.cedarcreek@firenet.gov
Highway Information: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx
Evacuations: https://www.okanogancounty.org/government/emergency_management/index.php

Resources: Total personnel – 370 : 2–type 1 hotshot crews,2-type 2 initial attack hand crews, 2- type 2 hand crews, 1-camp crew,3- heavy helicopters, 22-engines, 2-dozers, 6-water tenders, 1-masticator, 1- skidgen, and 76 overhead.

Closures: For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting these fires, a temporary flight restriction has been placed over the area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone.”   State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) remains closed approximately 20 miles west of Winthrop between Silver Star and Early Winters to all traffic due to fire activity between milepost 170 and 177.   The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is in the process of developing a Forest Area Closure and will provide additional information soon. The Forest Service closure is separate from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) closure of portions of State Route 20 and may change or be lifted at different times depending on operational needs. WSDOT is working closely with the Forest Service and Okanogan County and to identify where fire activity and firefighting operations warrant closure.

Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) evacuation remains the same: Level 2 - Be Ready is issued for all persons living south of the Methow River and west of Lost River Road (Mazama entrance).”  For the most up to date evacuation levels see the OCEM’s website.

Weather: Somewhat cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity are expected today as cooler air filters across the Cascade crest from the west. Temperatures are around 80 degrees along Hwy 20 and 70 degrees on the ridges.  Relative humidity is 45% in the valleys and 55 % on the ridges.  Winds will be northwest 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph in the evening.  

Air Quality: Air quality in the Valley hasdegraded to moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups. Please monitor the air quality on the above WA Smoke Blog and take appropriate actions.

Fire Restrictions: Campfire restrictions are in effect. Campfires are prohibited throughout the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, including developed campgrounds and congressionally designated Wilderness — call local ranger district offices for more information. https://tinyurl.com/yby4oysq