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 25, 2015
10:30 pm
Current Situation: By early afternoon, the
inversion that had been “putting a lid” on the fire lifted resulting in an
increase in fire activity. On the plus side, clearing of the air over the fire
allowed aircraft to fly and drop water and retardant where needed. The increase
in fire activity resulted in an increase of 3,311 acres. Continued progress is reflected in the 2% increase
in containment.
Attention
is focused on the southern tip of the Tunk Block Fire where the fire spotted
over a dozer line and is backing downhill through heavy timber. Crews are
working to reinforce contingency line south of the fire perimeter. This
afternoon, activity also increased on the north end of the Lime Belt Fire where
the fire is burning in steep largely inaccessible ground in the Sinlakein
drainage.
Progress
continues to be made in securing the Twisp River Fire. As a result of progress made, a hotshot crew
and several dozers were moved to other areas of the complex where they are
needed.
Firefighters
continue to watch the weather closely, as the presence/absence of the inversion
can have a significant influence on fire activity. Fire managers are asking
crews to remain vigilant, both because of the potential for afternoon flare-ups
and continuing hazards from falling snags and heavy traffic in the fire area.
Motorists
on Hwy 20 and 97 are asked to slow down in the vicinity of the fire area for
their own safety and the safety of fire crews exiting and entering the
highway.
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 will be held at 11 am daily at Okanogan
County Fairgrounds.
Fire Statistics as of Sunday:
Location: Eleven miles northwest of
Omak, WA Start Date: August 14, 2015
Complex Size: 261,650 acres Complex Percent Contained: 17
Twisp
River: 10,503 acres Total Personnel: 1,345
Tunk Block: 135,349 acres
Lime Belt/Blue Lake and Beaver Lake: 111,078
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
Spanish Language Information: (509) 422-2422
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