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)
Fire Weather: Hot and dry conditions continue for one more day. Winds will be slightly higher, starting slope and valley driven, before switching to the northwest/down valley around midday. A cold front will move through Thursday evening, bringing gust west to northwest winds overnight into Friday. There will be a small chance for showers along and behind the front, mainly for the western portion of the fire. Temperatures will be much cooler Friday going into the weekend while humidity values increase.
Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 52,498 acres and is 25% contained.
Tuesday night scattered showers fell across the fire. A few areas in the northwest corner of the fire received wetting rain (greater than 1/10 inch), while most of the southeastern area saw little precipitation. On Wednesday, the Okanagan County Communications Center reported that in 24 hours, lightning strikes in Okanogan County were responsible for 21 responses by local fire services. The team provided initial attack support to local resources on a new fire near Driveway Butte. A helicopter was deployed to assist with this start, now named the Ballard fire. Team Incident Meteorologist Steve Bodnar reported that 292 lightning strikes were recorded overnight in Okanogan County. Thunderstorms generated high winds; one weather station near Lewis Butte clocked a wind gust in the early morning hours at 63 miles per hour. Winds pushed smoke out of the area, providing clean air and good visibility. These conditions allowed firefighting aircraft to launch in the early morning, something they have been unable do for several days due to heavy smoke lingering, typically until mid-day.
Fire crews improved the containment line in the Silver Star Creek area. This line was constructed by linking a hand line, beginning at the Early Winters Creek to an avalanche chute running up the western slope of Vasiliki Ridge. Helicopters applied fire retardant on the green side (unburned side) of the line to add fire resistance. The fire has held within its current footprint. Firefighters are scouting for other natural barriers that can be used as containment features.
Wood chipping crews are making substantial progress working along WA-20. They are disposing of slash generated during suppression efforts. When all fire suppression debris is removed, the Washington Department of Transportation will evaluate the condition of the road and decide what additional work will be required (if any) before the road can reopen.
The concentration of fire-damaged trees (snag patch) at Free Stone continues to be a concern. It is currently unsafe for firefighters to enter this area to do mop up. Efforts are underway to get hazard trees on the ground so mop up can proceed. A number of fire-damaged trees near the edge of the fire line were felled for firefighter safety. Crews are mitigating the hazard of fire flaring up by using sprinklers and fire engines to cool the fire edge.
Mop up continued today below Lucky Jim Bluff. Firefighters are backhauling excess equipment off the fire line.
Crews constructed a control feature by going direct (one foot in the green, one foot in the black) at the 4410 Road and up to Thompson Ridge. Mop up on this section of line is now 50 to 100-feet deep along the perimeter. Firefighters are also building a fire line to connect the Valentine Creek dozer line to the Little Bridge fire scar.
Delancy Fire: Delancy fire showed no growth. Crews on the Vasiliki Ridge are monitoring the fire from their location. The Delancy Fire remains at 223 acres.
Resources for additional information:
Resources: Total personnel – 867 firefighters and 186 line supervision and support personnel. Resources include: 3 - type 1 hotshot crews, 10 - type 2 hand crews, 2 - type 2 initial attack hand crews, 2 - camp crews, 6 - type 1 (heavy) helicopters, 1 - type 2 helicopter, 2 - type 3 helicopter, 68 - engines, 6 - dozers, 5 – tactical water tenders, 24 - water tenders,1 - masticator, 3 - skidgen, 6 – skidders, 3 – excavators, 8 – feller bunchers,
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.
State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) remains closed at milepost 185 (7 miles west of Winthrop) to milepost 165 to all traffic due to fire activity.
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has implemented a Fire Emergency Area Closure as of July 22nd, 2021. The Closure includes facilities, roads, and trails. For additional information visit the forest alert page at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices
The Forest Service Fire Emergency Area 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 various times depending on operational needs. WSDOT is working closely with the Forest Service and Okanogan County to identify where fire activity and firefighting operations warrant closure.
Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) continues to reevaluate evacuation levels. For the most up to date evacuation levels see the OCEM’s website above. Residents entering Evacuation Level 3 areas need to slow down and watch for firefighters and equipment in roadways.
Air Quality: Smoke impacts from the Cedar Creek, Cub Creek 2, and Delancy fires are becoming more localized as the fires are brought under control. Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp will continue to experience air quality impacts because of their proximity to the fires although the severity of impact continues to decrease. The afternoon wind event today, though challenging for firefighters, will be good for air quality in the Methow Valley.
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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