Okanogan Complex and Chelan Complex Fire Update

September 4, 2015, 9:00 AM
Fire Information: 877-568-0458 or 877-574-5148
7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Okanogan Complex	Chelan Complex
Size: 148,747 acres	Size: 93,877 acres
Containment: 60 percent	Containment: 70 percent
Estimated Cost to Date: $30.9 million	Estimated Cost to Date: $14.9 million
Injuries: 6	Injuries: 9
Residences Burned: 123	Residences Burned: 21
Total Personnel: 1,188	Total Personnel: 613
Committed Resources: 19 crews, 73 engines, 11 dozers, 23 water tenders, 9 helicopters	Committed Resources: 9 crews, 25 engines, 5 dozers, 14 water tenders

 

CURRENT FIRE SITUATION

The fire was minimally active yesterday—due to mostly cloudy skies over the fire area—and firefighters were able to increase containment. To put their work in context, 5 percent containment equals 15 miles of constructed line. If the containment lines for the Okanogan Complex were stretched straight, they would be 313 miles long. The Lime Belt and Chelan Fires continue to be most active on their north and northwest ends.

 

OKANOGAN COMPLEX

Lime Belt Fire (132,805 acres, 55 percent contained): The fire-suppression priority today is the area north of Buck Mountain where the fire remains east of Forest Road 42. Crews will prepare a section of indirect dozer line for tomorrow’s planned defensive firing operations. The goal is to halt the fire’s spread northwest toward Granite Mountain. East of Peacock Meadow, the fire has not crossed the Loup Loup Canyon Road. The fire has backed downslope to the road in many places and is secure. Where it has not reached the road, the fire is not expected to move further and is secure where it is. On the fire’s northern tip, in the Sinlahekin Valley, crews will mop up yesterday’s firing operation on the canyon rim. The public may observe smoke and aircraft activity as firefighters continue to work on the fireline.

 

 

Twisp River Fire (11,222 acres, 98 percent contained) and Nine Mile Fire (4,720 acres, 98 percent contained): Heavy-equipment operators, under the guidance of resource advisors, continue to repair areas damaged by fire-suppression activities on the Twisp River Fire. The Nine Mile Fire will be monitored by air.

CHELAN COMPLEX

Crews continued to secure the fireline around Hungry Mountain and Rainy Creek yesterday on the northern tip of the fire. Structure-protection crews are present in the McFarland Creek area around the clock. Firefighters are building some direct fireline, but the terrain is so steep and dangerous that it is unsafe for firefighters to access the fire directly along Saint Luise Creek. The fire’s northwest spread is being held in check by large-capacity helicopters and favorable weather conditions.

 

 

EVACUATIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES

·        Okanogan County Emergency Operations Center provides information on evacuations and road closures: 509-422-7348

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Okanogan.County.Emergency.Management

Washington State Department of Transportation provides additional information about road closures: www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts.