Thursday, August 27, 2015

                
Okanogan Complex Fire Update

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team - Todd Pechota, Incident Commander 
Information Center:  509-850-0083
Hours of operation: 7 am – 9 pm
Email: okanogancomplexfire@gmail.com  

August 27, 2015
9:00 pm
                       
Current Situation: With the arrival of wind and a rise in temperatures today, crews saw the increase in fire activity that had been predicted for the Okanogan Complex.

Fire activity increased on the southeastern corner of the Tunk Block Fire, prompting the closure of Highway 155 from Mile 60 to 68 near Disautel.  Tankers were able to make a number of retardant drops on that area in support of structure protection. The northeastern corner of the Tunk Fire also saw a jump in activity in a break in the fuels treatment area.

The southwestern corner of the Lime Belt Fire near Bobcat Mountain also saw significant activity. The fire crossed containment lines and is burning toward the Tripod Fire scar.

Fire crews working the night shift will be focused on structure protection in much of the complex. The Twisp River and Nine Mile Fires are largely contained, with patrolling and mop up continuing. Because of the increase in acreage, the percentage of containment has dropped for the complex overall.

Evacuations and Closures: The public is encouraged to contact the Okanogan Emergency Operations Center to learn how to register for automated phone messages in the event of evacuation notices being issued for particular neighborhoods. Contact emergency staff at 509-422-7348 or the Colville Tribal Emergency Management Center at 507-634-2105.

Media Briefings:  Media briefings are held at 11 am daily at Okanogan County Fairgrounds.
  
Okanogan Complex Fire Statistics:  

Location:  Eleven miles northwest of Omak, WA                   Start Date: August 14, 2015

Complex Size:  292,512 acres                                                 Complex Percent Contained: 12%
Twisp River: 11,831 acres, 85% containment                                     
            Tunk Block: 153,282 acres, 15%                                                                                           
            Lime Belt/Blue Lake and Beaver Lake: 122,679 acres, 20%
            Nine Mile: 4,720 acres, 95%, in patrol status.

Total Personnel: 1,831

Twitter: #OkanoganComplex
The Rocky Mountain IMT has a Facebook page dedicated to “Thank You’s to the firefighters working on the fire line. Visit the page at https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs

Spanish Language Information: (509) 422-2422

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