8/25/2021 Chickadee Update

 

Current Situation:

• Areas of both fires continue to hold significant heat, even in areas that have been burning for three weeks.
• Crews continue to staff night operations, patrolling and monitoring overnight fire activity on both fires.
• As fire activity lessens and firefighting activity slows, resources can begin to assess damage to private property.
• The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Blue Team will transition with the Type 2 Pacific Northwest Team 12, which will assume command of both fires tomorrow, Thursday, August 26.

Operational Plan for Today:

• Line construction is complete on the south, east, and west sides of the Chickadee Creek Fire, using direct line wherever possible.
• Firefighters will continue to lay hose and mop up heat sources near the fire perimeter.
• Indirect lines are nearing completion in Chickadee Creek and Sarsapkin Creek in preparation for future burnout operations in those areas.
• Helicopters will work areas of heat, especially along the east end of the fire when flareups occur.

Fire conditions and weather:

• Toda's weather will be warmer and dryer than it has been for the past week. Temperatures will range from 65 to 75 degrees, with relatively humidity dropping to around 15 to 25 percent. Skies will be sunny with light winds. 
• Fuels are gradually drying since the rain that was received on both fires over last weekend. Fire behavior is expected to increase with lower relative humidity and higher temperatures, with moderate fire behavior expected today.

Area Fire Restrictions:

• Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR): https://tinyurl.com/7ypskezs
• Colville National Forest: https://tinyurl.com/pt4kc8rc
• Okanogan County: https://tinyurl.com/jbt2xth4
• Bureau of Land Management: https://tinyurl.com/faws8t5d

Closures:

• Washington DNR: https://tinyurl.com/f7ux5c                                  
• Colville National Forest: https://tinyurl.comsajw4pzu

Evacuations:

• Evacuations changed on August 23 in some areas. See Okanogan County Emergency Management's Walker Creek Fire web page for current evacuations: https://tinyurl.com/34fkh9kj

Temporary flight restriction:

• A temporary flight restriction is in effect for the fire areas: https://tfr.ffa.gov/. Remember: If You Fly, We Can’t!