8/8/2021 Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires Update

Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires

Daily Update
August 8, 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.

The Okanogan County Office of Emergency Management reduced evacuation levels for the Pine Forest and Eastern Wolf Creek-South areas from Level 3 – Leave Now to Level 2 – Be Ready. These were the last two areas bordering the Cedar Creek fire under mandatory evacuation. All residents are now able to return to their homes. For detailed information, visit the Okanogan County OEM website at: https://bit.ly/OkanoganCountyEM

State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) remains closed from Mile Post 165 to Mile Post 177, (east of Early Winters Campgrounds). For more information visit the Washington Department of Transportation at: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/

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

Fire Weather: North to northwest winds continue through the day Sunday, keeping cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels in place. Light rain showers will be possible through early afternoon, but overall accumulations will be minimal. Winds will begin from the northwest, switching more northerly and gusty during the afternoon. A warming and drying trend returns early next week.

Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 52,859 acres and is 32% contained.

Lower temperatures and higher humidities have moderated fire behavior. Grasses and other fine fuels readily absorb humidity from the air,  increasing their moisture content and making them more difficult to ignite. While heavy fuels, such as large diameter branches and logs, remain dry. These heavier fuels are less likely to burn without light fuels to preheat them. This reduces the risk of spot fires outside the fire perimeter.

Crews are constructing an indirect fire line at Early Winter Creek on the west side of Vasiliki Ridge. Additional heavy equipment is being moved from divisions where it is no longer needed to Vasiliki Ridge to help speed up the process.

From Silver Star Creek to Free Stone, the fire line is controlled and is now in monitor and patrol status.

The snag patch (area containing many dead standing and fire-damaged trees) in the Free Stone area remains a threat to firefighter safety. Due to these concerns, firefighters opted to install sprinkler systems to wet down the edge of the burned area. This is to ensure that no concealed heat sources remain that might flare up to threaten structures. 

Smoke may be visible from Highway 20 along the Lucky Jim Bluff. When the fire moved through this area, it did not burn intensely. Patches of green fuel remain. This is referred to as a “dirty burn.” As these islands of fuel are consumed, flames may be visible. Burning well inside the fire perimeter does not pose a threat to the community.

The perimeter around Gobblers Knob and the slop-over at the 4410 Road is now contained. Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor this area. Mop up from the 4410 Road to Forest Road 040 is nearing completion. 

Fire managers are scouting locations to construct shaded fuel breaks as contingency lines along the 100 Road in the Twisp River drainage and up Canyon Creek from the Twisp River to the Little Bridge burn scar. Once completed, these control features could be used to defend homes in the Twisp River in the event the fire in the wilderness moves south through natural barriers on Abernathy Ridge.

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

Resources: Total personnel – 759 firefighters and 238-line supervision and support personnel. Resources include 2 - type 1 hotshot crews, 9 - type 2 hand crews, 2 - type 2 initial attack hand crews, 1 - camp crews, 6 - type 1 (heavy) helicopters, 1 - type 2 helicopter, 2 - type 3 helicopter, 60 - engines, 6 - dozers, 5 – tactical water tenders, 23 - water tenders,1 - masticator, 3 - skidgen, 6 – skidders, 3 – excavators, and 8 – feller bunchers. 

Air Quality: Breezy conditions should keep smoke moving around and prevent accumulations today. Air quality should remain good throughout most of the day in the Methow Valley. The Okanogan Valley area is more likely to see periods of smoke during the day today although overall conditions for the day are expected to be moderate.

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.

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.

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