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 26, 2015
9:30 am
Current Situation: The inversion is expected
to lift again this afternoon removing the “lid” on the fire. Residents in
nearby areas may see smoke from flare-ups of unburned islands of fuel within
the fire interior. Yesterday, interior
burning on the west side of the Tunk Block Fire generated concern. Today, crews
working in the same area will be conducting firing operations to remove
unburned fuel between the fire and constructed line. Today’s operation will
continue to focus on strengthening existing direct, indirect, and contingency
fireline.
Twisp River Fire: Crews have completed line
construction around the entire fire and will be conducting mop-up operations to
further secure firelines.
Tunk Block Fire: Indirect line construction
continues along the northeast side of the fire and crews are working to construct
contingency lines to the east. These lines
will be tied in with contingency lines being constructed from the North Star
Fire. Crews will also be working to
reestablish line along the southeast side of the fire where the fire spotted
over the line yesterday afternoon.
Lime Belt/Blue Lake/Beaver
Lake Fires:
Crews will be burning out along a small section of line along the west side of
the fire. Residents of the nearby communities may see smoke both from the
burnout operations and flare-ups of unburned islands of fuel within the fire
interior. If you see a flare-up in the fire area, please do not call 911 unless
it is close to and threatening a home or other structure. If you see a new fire
outside of the fire area please call 911.
Crews
have completed constructing and are continuing to secure line along the west
side of the fire, between the fire and Conconully. The fires continue to grow
together on the southwest side. Crews
and aviation resources will be focused on constructing line in the Sinlahekin drainage.
Indirect line construction will continue to secure the east side of the fire
where the fire is backing downslope in heavy timber. As visibility allows, water scooping
airplanes will conduct water drops of 800-1,200 gallons each to support crews
on the east side of the fire.
Nine Mile Fire: The fire is in
patrol-and-monitor status.
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 focused because of the potential for afternoon flare-ups as the
inversion lifts, hazards from falling snags, and a continuing problem with vehicles
driving too fast on highways near the fire area. Motorists on Hwy 20 and 97 are asked to slow
down in the fire vicinity 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:
Location: Eleven miles northwest of
Omak, WA Start Date: August 14, 2015
Complex Size: 280,267 acres Complex Percent Contained: 17
Twisp
River: 11,129 acres, 50% containment Total Personnel: 1,345
Tunk Block: 145,113 acres, 15%
Lime Belt/Blue Lake and Beaver Lake: 119,305 acres, 20%
Nine Mile: 4,720 acres, 95%, in patrol status.
Places
to Get Additional Information:
Fire Updates are Posted Daily on the
following Information Boards:
|
Safeway, Omak
|
|
Walmart, Omak
|
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Pine Creek Area
|
|
Conconully Fire
Station, Conconully
|
|
Tonasket
Visitor Center, Tonaskett
|
|
Frontier Foods,
Winthrop
Carlton General
Store, Carlton
Twisp General
Store, Twisp
Twisp Mayor’s
Office
Sun Mountain
Lodge, Omak
Spike Camp,
Winthrop
Winthrop Market
Winthrop Mini
Gas
Farmer’s Board,
Omak
Library, Omak
City Hall, Omak
|
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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