7/30/2021 Cub Creek Fire Update

Overnight, the fire continued to move in the lower drainages in Pebble Creek on the eastern flank. Crews began prepping the eastern flank from First Butte up to North Twentymile Peak by ensuring heavy equipment and crews can continue to increase containment line up to northern edge of the fire. Today’s priority is along the eastern flank, where crews have added dozers and other heavy equipment to bolster existing FS road systems and reinforce the hand lines that have been constructed over this past week. Crews and dozers will work aggressively today from First Butte up to North Twentymile Peak. The western fire edge remains manageable, as crews have initiated mop up, but continue to diminish hot spots in the lower drainages. On the southern edge, crews remain in patrol status to ensure the fire stays within containment lines. The fire remains within control lines on the northern region of the fire. With an Excessive Heat Advisory in effect, crews will be on the watch out for flair-ups and increased fire behavior.

Management of the fire will transition today at 6:00pm to a Type 1 Incident Management Team, Southwest Area IMT 2.

Local resource advisors will continue to provide input to protect natural and historical values at risk.

Residents will continue to see smoke and smoldering or creeping fire behavior near homes, but personnel are actively monitoring those areas. Please only call 911 if flare-ups occur near structures.

Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) evacuations for the Chewuch River drainage remain in effect. Please consult OCEM information resources at okanogancounty.org for current evacuations. Residents leaving Evacuation Level 3 areas should be extremely cautious, drive slowly, and watch for firefighters and firefighting equipment on the roadway.

Resources for additional information:

StoryMap Link: https://arcg.is/1euzWj

Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7675/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2021

Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ Email: 2021.cubcreek2@firenet.gov

Highway Information: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx
 Evacuations: https://www.okanogancounty.org/government/emergency_management/index.php

Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/fire-prep-recovery%20

Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments):https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/

Resources: Total personnel–687; 3-type 1 IHC, 9-type 2, 4 type 2 initial attack hand crews, 6- heavy helicopters, 2- medium helicopter, 3-light lift helicopter, 28- engines, 11-dozer, 11-water tenders, and 179 overhead.

Closures: A Forest Area Emergency Closure has been issued by the Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest which closes the use of multiple roads, campgrounds, and trails. Please see the enclosed links to the Forest Closure Page. https://bit.ly/3zsRtuw and map: https://bit.ly/3wZ2y50 The documents are also available on Inciweb and Facebook.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone” and any drones sighting in a TFR will immediately ground aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions.

Weather:  Overnight, the region experienced terrible recoveries, as relative humidity’s this morning are in the twenties and temperatures in the low 70’s. Today, the Heat Advisory has been upgraded to an Excessive Heat Advisory. Temperatures will range from the high 90’s and into the low 100 degree range, while humidity’s will be in the teens. Winds will be light out of the south, pushing smoke from the Cedar Creek Fire over the Cub Creek 2 Fire.  Tomorrow, temperatures will be well over 100 degrees in the lower elevations, while upper elevations could reach into the upper 90’s.

Air Quality: Please monitor the air quality on the incident FB page above and the WA Smoke Blog https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ and take appropriate actions. All vehicle traffic is advised to travel with lights on for safety.

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