8/10/2021Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires

Daily Update

August 10, 2021

Winthrop, WA —The Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and public and private lands within Okanogan County. These fires are being managed by Great Basin Incident Management Team 1.

Fire Information Line: Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily)

Fire Weather: Much warmer temperatures return today, reaching the lower 90s. Humidity will remain low. The only cloud cover will be high cirrus sweeping overhead. Winds will start light upslope, switching to northwest, with gusts around 20 miles per hour in the later afternoon for the Methow Valley and along ridgetops.

Yesterday evening at 6 pm, Southwest Team 2 hosted a Virtual Public Meeting that was live streamed on Facebook. Audio from the meeting was simulcast on American Legion Radio 105.5 FM. Representatives from the teams provided updates on the Cedar Creek, Delancy, Cub Creek 2, and Muckamuck fires. Forest Service, Department of Natural Resources, Okanogan County, and other community leaders spoke, or were available to take questions.

Immediately following the online virtual meeting, Great Basin Team 1 Incident Commander Evans Kuo joined American Legion Post 143 Commander Keith Morden for a live Radio Public Meeting on the 105.5 FM. Evans Kuo discussed the Cedar Creek and Delancy fires and took questions from callers.

Washington DOT has reopened State Road 20. Motorist should be aware that firefighters are still working in the area. Large fire vehicles will be traveling on the road and may stop or pull out from unexpected locations. Please use caution. 

Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 52,859 acres and is 34% contained.

When it was determined that a containment line along the base of the Vasiliki Ridge was the option with the highest probability of success, crews encountered a problem. For decades trees and other debris have rolled off the top of the Vasiliki Ridge. This accumulated over time to form a pile of dry, splintered timber, four to five feet deep running the entire length of the ridge. Heavy equipment and lots of human-power was used to remove this obstacle so that line construction could begin.

The line is now complete, dug down to mineral soil. Hose has been stretched to provide water for suppression and firefighters feel that their hard work has produced a defensive feature that will prevent the fire from moving to the west.

Citizens continue to report seeing smoke from Highway 20, especially along Lucky Jim Bluff.  Firefighters patrol the highway corridor and follow up on reports. The smoke has been from hot spots well inside the fire perimeter. Citizens should expect to see smoke and even occasional flames in the interior until a season ending weather event finishes off the last smoldering hot spots.

Fire crews are working to mop up containment features along the Thompson Ridge and in the Sheep Creek area. Fire managers are confident that they will be able to call this area contained in the near future.

A dozer line extends along from the 040 Road to above Little Bridge Creek where the fire bumped up against Little Bridge Fire burn scar. This control feature has held for several days. Crews are mopping up and adding depth so we are confident this line will also be contained within a few more operational periods.

Firefighters have been working along the north side of the Twisp River, mapping out the best route for a contingency line which will protect values in the river valley. Today masticators and feller bunchers began removing understory and ladder fuels.

Delancy Fire: No fire activity has been observed. The Delancy Fire remains at 223 acres. This fire is being actively monitored but is unstaffed.

Resources: Total personnel – 628 firefighters and 203-line supervision and support personnel. Resources include 2 - type 1 hotshot crews, 9 - type 2 hand crews, 1 - type 2 initial attack hand crews, 1 - camp crews, 4 - type 1 (heavy) helicopters, 1 - type 2 helicopter, 2 - type 3 helicopter, 44 - engines, 4 - dozers, 5 – tactical water tenders, 17 - water tenders,1 - skidgen, 3 – skidders, 3 – excavators, and 2 – feller bunchers. 

Air Quality: Air quality has remained remarkably good given the amount of fire on the landscape in North Central Washington. Smoke will increase over the next few days with the warming temperatures although is not expected to reach unhealthy levels. The exception may be the Okanogan Valley in areas downwind of the Muckamuck and Chickadee fires. There are also active fires in Canada that could contribute smoke to the area.

Resources for additional information:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/

Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Email: 2021.cedarcreek@firenet.gov

Highway Information: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx

Closures: For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting these fires, a temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been placed over the 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 impede aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has implemented a Fire Emergency Area Closure as of July 22nd, 2021. The Closure includes facilities, roads, and trails. The Closure may be viewed in its entirety at the “Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires 2021” Facebook page.

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

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