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
Aug. 23, 2015, AM
Current Situation: The Okanogan Complex is now
10 percent contained with 239,733 acres having burned. The five fires making up
the Okanogan Complex yesterday gained a total of 12,527 acres.
Calm
weather yesterday allowed crews to make welcome progress. Smoke is expected to
lift which could result in more active fire behavior. A positive result of the
smoke lifting would be better visibility allowing aircraft more opportunities
to assist firefighters on the ground. Dry fuels will continue to present challenges
as well fire behavior reflected in today's Red Flag conditions.
Firefighter
and public safety and protection of private property and infrastructure is today’s
prime objective. Crews are working hard
to establish containment lines and area making good progress; air support will
be utilized when visibility allows. Structural
firefighters activated under the State Mobilization Act have been an integral
part in saving and protecting structures.
Community Meetings: Sunday, Aug. 23 at 4 pm at the East Omak Community
Center 601 Benton Street. Fire incident team members will be on hand to provide
fire updates.
Tunk Block Fire: Currently: 128,046 acres
with approximately 8,942 acres in growth. Containment: 15 percent.
This
fire is the largest of the five complex fires. The Colville Tribe has committed
a task force of firefighters and equipment to assist over the next several days
on the southern end of Tunk Block. Firefighters yesterday removed unburned
fuels from the north end of Tunk. As of midnight Saturday, the northern end of
Tunk had crossed Highway 20 and is approximately 3 miles southeast of Tonasket
proper. Private landowners with structures located between the Tunk and North
Star fires may see more air resources today dropping water and
retardant as conditions allow. Fire managers are working to keep the Tunk Block
and North Star fires apart.
Limebelt / Blue Lake Fire: Currently: 75,785 acres
with approximately 2,538 acres in growth. Containment:
20 percent.
Firefighters
will work to reinforce dozer lines on the north perimeter of the fire. The
public is asked to stay out of active fire areas and let firefighters safely
work on fire areas.
Beaver Lake Fire: Currently: 25,929 acres with
approximately 4,526 acres in growth. Containment: 0 percent.
Crews
will look for opportunities to build direct line on the south side of the fire.
Structure protection will continue in the Salmon Creek area. The public is
asked to clear the areas where firefighters are working as the additional
traffic and lack of coordination can increase firefighter safety hazards.
Twisp River Fire: Currently: 9,973 acres
with approximately 1,241 acres in growth. Containment: 0 percent. Three HotShot
crews will be working to build direct line today to the fire’s west perimeter to pinch off
further growth. Crews today will also continue structure and electrical,
data line and phone line protection an on the west sides of Omak and Okanogan.
Nine Mile Fire: Currently: 4,720 acres.
Containment: 95 percent.
To
learn more about current smoke conditions and associated health hazards visit
the Washington Smoke Information site at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ .
Evacuations and Closures: For the latest updates on
evacuations and to register for automated phone messages in the event of
evacuation notices being issued contact the Okanogan Emergency Center emergency
staff at 509-422-7348.
Media Briefings: Media briefings will be held at 11 a.m. daily at Okanogan
County Fairgrounds. Media field trip 1:00 meeting today.
Fire Statistics as of Sunday
morning:
Location: Eleven miles northwest of
Omak, WA Start Date: August
14, 2015
Complex Size: 239,733 acres Percent Contained: Shown above
Twisp
River: 9,973 acres Total Personnel: 1,041
Lime Belt/Blue Lake:
75,785 acres
Tunk Block: 128,046 acres
Beaver Lake: 25,929 acres
Nine Mile: 4,720 acres
Places
to get additional information:
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.
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