Cedar Creek/Delancy/Cub Creek Fires

Information about wildfires, prescribed burns, and other fire related info for the 2021 season.
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fire Update
July 13, 2021 9:00 pm

A Public Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday (July 15, 2021) evening at 6:00 pm at the Mazama Store courtyard. The fire managers will provide updates on the fires and an opportunity for the public to ask questions. Managers will remain after the presentation and Q&As for individual questions at different displayed maps.

Fire Information Line: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)
Winthrop, WA — The Cedar Creek and Varden Fires burned actively throughout the day and the two fires are approximately a half mile apart. The combined estimated size is approximately 1,612 acres. The Varden Fire has burned down to within a quarter mile of State Route 20. Firefighters have prepped the south side of this route from the snow gate at the Silver Star Mt. on the west end to the Early Winters Campground as containment line by reducing fuels.

The Delancy Fire was initial attacked by smoke jumpers and helicopter rappelers. The fire continues to burn and move slightly to the northeast. With the predicted cold front moving through the area tomorrow, resources are being removed as a safety precaution due to the access difficulties and inability to remove them quickly. The estimated size of this fire is approximately 30 acres.

The Methow Valley was blanketed in smoke much of the day limiting use of aerial resources. Heavy lift helicopters were able fly in the late afternoon and provide assistance to firefighters with water bucket drops.

Firefighting resources provided mutual aid this evening to a local, new start with a hotshot and type 2-IA hand crews, five engines, air attack, one heavy lift and one-medium lift helicopters to drop water and keep the fire at 1.6 acres.

Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock, assumed management of the fires this morning. The incident Command Post is located at the Rhythm and Blues Site near Winthrop, WA.

Resources for additional information:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/
WA Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
Email: 2021.cedarcreek@firenet.gov
Highway Information: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... fault.aspx
Evacuations: https://www.okanogancounty.org/governme ... /index.php

Resources: Total estimated personnel - 314

Closures:
For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting these fires, a temporary flight restriction has been placed over the area. Please consult the “Notice to Airman” for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone.”

State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) remains closed approximately 20 miles west of Winthrop between Silver Star and Early Winters to all traffic due to fire activity between milepost 170 and 177. There is no estimated time for reopening of the route.

Two Forest Service Campgrounds Early Winters and Klipchuck are currently closed. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is in the process of developing a Forest Area Closure and will provide additional information in the near future.

Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management evacuation levels remain the same.

Weather: Tonight, will be mostly clear except for smokey conditions. Minimum temperature will be near 60 degrees with minimum humidity of 57% with winds northwest 4 to 7 mph with gusts up to 15 degrees.

Fire Restrictions: Campfire restrictions are in effect. Campfires are prohibited throughout the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, including developed campgrounds and congressionally designated Wilderness. — call local ranger district offices for more information. https://tinyurl.com/yby4oysq

-End-
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Varden/Cedar Creek/Delancy Fire Update
July 13, 2021
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

The Varden and Cedar Creek Fires had active fire behavior and saw an increase in size over the last two days. These fires were caused by the thunderstorm that came through north central Washington on July 8.

The Varden Fire, located approximately, 5.5 miles west of Mazama, WA, on the south side of State Route 20, is estimated at over 1000 acres. Crews continue to prep along highway from Silver Star Creek to the Cedar Creek trailhead by reducing fuels close to the road and removing dead trees that could pose a hazard to firefighters and the emergency response vehicles.
Yesterday dozers and hand crews started constructing line along the base of Sandy Butte toward Lucky Jim Bluff to help prevent the spread of the fire into the valley bottom towards Mazama and surrounding communities. Crews continue to assess options to stop spread to the southeast.

The Cedar Creek Fire, located roughly 3 miles southwest of Mazama, is estimated at 175 acres in size.
The Delancy Fire is located roughly 10 miles west of Mazama, north of State Route 20, and has not grown over the last operational period.

Northwest Type II Interagency Incident Management Team #8 took over management of the fires at 6:00 a.m. July 13.
The team is in process of establishing a phone line for additional information and setting up information boards. The next fire information update will come out from the team this evening. We appreciate your patience during this transition period.
A Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021 and InciWeb page:https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/
have been established for the fires.

State Route 20 North Cascades Highway remains closed to all traffic due to fire activity between milepost 170 and 177 is closed approximately 20 miles west of Winthrop between Silver Star and Early Winters). There is no estimated time for reopening of the road.
STATE ROUTE 20 UPDATES GO TO WSDOT: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... fault.aspx

EVACUATION INFORMATION: Please see Okanogan County Emergency Management page for current status: https://www.okanogancounty.org/.../curr ... dents_.php

SMOKE INFORMATION:
The Forest Service works closely with other federal and state partners to predict and mitigate smoke impacts on individuals and communities during wildfires, visit https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ for local air quality information.

WEATHER: A Fire weather watch has been issued for Wednesday, July 14 through Thursday, July 15 for very dry and breezy to windy conditions. West to southwest winds 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and relative humidity as low as 10% will be possible. New fires could spread rapidly. Heed all fire restrictions. Use caution with fire triggers (grills, cars, campfires, etc.).

FIRE RESTRICTIONS:
Campfire restrictions are in effect. Campfires are prohibited throughout the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, including developed campgrounds and congressionally designated Wilderness. — call local ranger district offices for more information. https://tinyurl.com/yby4oysq
#VardenFire2021 #CedarCreekFire2021 #DelancyFire2021

Photograph- The Varden Fire viewed from State Route 20 near Early Winters Campground on Monday afternoon around 6:00 pm. Credit: US Forest Service, K. Kelly.
fire15.jpg
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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From the morning briefing...


Varden. WA-OWF-000347. IMT2, NW Team 8 (Stock). 5 mi southwest of Mazama, WA. Start 7/11. Monitor/Confine/Full
Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 1,000 acres (+400). 0% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Timber. Transfer of
command to IMT2, NW Team 8 (Stock) occurred today at 0600.

Cedar Creek. WA-OWF-000320. IMT2, NW Team 8 (Stock). 5 mi southwest of Mazama, WA. Start 7/8. Full
Suppression. Cause: Lightning. 175 acres (+100). 0% containment. Moderate fire behavior. Timber. Transfer of
command to IMT2, NW Team 8 (Stock) occurred today at 0600.
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by edmenendez »

Thanks for keeping this updated!
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by pasayten »

Varden and Cedar grew quite a bit since yesterday... Growing together soon!

https://mappingsupport.com/p2/gissurfer ... d_fire.txt
fire14.jpg
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by pasayten »

Peter Neitlich

We live in interesting times in the Methow. Here are the two current fires (red/orange dots) mapped in the context of fire perimeters (yellow polygons with red outlines) from the past 20 years. Needles, Tripod, Carlton, Rising Eagle, McCleod, Crescent, Little Bridge Cr, Texas Cr, Cold Springs, etc.
fire13.jpg
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Air resources are back on the fires in the Methow... Yahoo!!!!!
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by mister_coffee »

Ray--

I just wanted to thank you for posting this information all in one place!
:arrow: David Bonn :idea:
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Mazama, WA -- Fire Information Update
Fire activity has increased on the Varden Fire located approximately 7 miles west of Mazama, WA., on the south side of Highway 20 and is estimated at over 700 acres.

The Delancy Fire is located roughly 10 miles west of Mazama, north of State Route 20 and is estimated at 30 acres. It is staffed with smokejumpers and a helitack crew.

The Cedar Fire, located roughly 3 miles southwest of Mazama is estimated at 75 acres in size.

Please note-to date there has not yet been an Infra-red flight to obtain or confirm acreage size estimates for the fires. Estimates have been based information gathered from on-the-ground and aerial resources.

A Type II Incident Management Team has been ordered to assist with the fires.

As of Monday, July 12 at 10am--SR 20 North Cascades Highway is closed to all traffic due to fire activity between milepost 170 and 177 is closed approximately 20 miles west of Winthrop between Silver Star and Early Winters). There is no estimated time for reopening of the road.
For Highway 20 updates go to WSDOT: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... fault.aspx
#VardenFire2021 #CedarFire2021 #DelancyFire2021

(*Correction) US Forest Service photo showing both Delancy and Varden Fires taken 7/11 from the aerial attack plane, looking southeast in the direction of Winthrop. Delancy is the smaller fire shown on the lower right (north side of Hwy 20), Varden is the larger plume toward the top of the photo on the ridge (south side of Hwy 20).

fire10.jpg
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Last up-dated: 7-12-2021 / 1000

2021-07-12
1000

State Route 20 CLOSED at 10:00 today 7-12-2021 until further notice between Mile Post 170.6 on the west end and Mile Post 177.4 on the east side.

Varden Fire has not reached the SR20 but due to personnel and equipment on the roadway it was closed.

Level 1 Advisory remains in effect for the Mazama and Lost River areas.
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by Fun CH »

There are a few scientifically based pdf files on the subject that I briefly alluded to above. There's also a few good articles that are more easily understood such as this one by now NWAC director Simon Trautman while he was working as a director of Avalanche Center in Idaho.

https://backcountrymagazine.com/stories/fire-and-ice/

"The Beaver Creek Fire left its mark in many ways, both seen and unseen. People have asked what the ramifications are from an avalanche perspective and a realistic, if not satisfying answer is, “Well, it depends.” We can predict that the slopes that saw intense fire will generally have higher avalanche danger than similar slopes that were not burned."

"If a slope is steep enough and a weak layer in the snowpack is uniform enough, avalanches can and will occur regardless of the amount of vegetation on a slope. That said, in some cases trees and brush can act as anchors on a slope and, maybe more importantly, they can disrupt snowpack uniformity by bisecting the layers, shading the snow, protecting slopes from the wind and dropping “tree bombs” on the slopes and providing insulation. This disruption makes heavily vegetated slopes less hazardous than sparsely or non-vegetated slopes. On the other hand, standing deadwood does not disrupt the snow layering as well as living vegetation as it increases a slope’s susceptibility to wind loading, a combination that promotes snow instabilities."
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by Fun CH »

Its never to early for BC skiers to consider the effect that this fire in the 'Power Cache' will have upon avalanche potential.

I've climbed that approximately 3,900 vertical foot ski line around 400 times since its 'discovery' in the mid 1980's by 3 local BC skiers looking for a ski after their snowmobile broke down on the hwy near there. I know that terrain well.

The 'Powder Cache' is steep complex avalanche terrain with quite a few near miss avalanche accidents occurring there.

Will natural or human triggered avalanches now have the potential to hit Hwy 20? It may be prudent to close the Silver Star snow park early until that avalanche potential is observed and studied.

Here's a link that discusses this issue.

https://snowbrains.com/using-reforestat ... s-it-work/

"After a wildfire, most trees die, which weakens them over time. These weak trees become poor anchors in the snowpack, increasing the likelihood of an avalanche. This was a large concern in Vaud Canton as the steep slopes that burned are directly above the picturesque Swiss town."
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
Can't talk to a man who don't want to understand--Carol King
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Michael Liu is with Janis LaDow Liu and Christine Estrada...
https://www.facebook.com/michael.liu.58 ... 7098981562

When Goat Peak lookout is down to her last radio battery and there are multiple fires in her area; it's a good time to find a way to get her more batteries. I know, obvious right?
mike1.jpg


The view that greeted me at the ridge, three visible fires along Highway 20. One near Cedar creek, one near Varden Creek, and one near the Needles off Delaney Ridge.
mike2.png


View from the Goat Peak lookout
mike3.jpg
mike4.jpg


By late afternoon, the fire near Varden Creek was getting active again.
mike5.jpg
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by Fun CH »

Varden Creek fire around 11:00am.
Varden Creek fire around 11:00am.
0711211202_Burst01.jpg (1.68 MiB) Viewed 25464 times
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by Fun CH »

We hiked rainy to Cutthroat pass with a late start and were caught in a stopped traffic line for about a half hour on the way home. A guess from the hwy, A ski line area called the 'Powder cache' (just west of Varden creek and being called the Varden Creek fire)) is burning from about thousand vertical feet up high off Hwy 20 for another 1500 to 2000 vertical feet above that.

The traffic was stopped so a line of fireman could clear brush and small trees from about Varden Creek up to the a ski line area called 'the bride' (basin just west of the powder cache and shares a common Ridge).
Last edited by Fun CH on Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Reported on Okanogan County And Methow Valley topics of interest and news facebook site...

"All of the air resources from the Methow are off the fires and being redirected to Burbank fire (Yakima/Selah). They have level 2 evacs going down there..."


https://www.facebook.com/groups/OCfiren ... 0446417495
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Starting Monday 10.00 am. HWY 20 CLOSED between MP 172 and 174. From WSDOT:

UPDATE 8:37 a.m.: The closure points will actually be mileposts 170.6 to 177.4, Silver Star to Early Winters. Functionally this doesn't change anything, it just makes it a little easier to manage the closure.

Heads up that SR 20 will FULLY CLOSE at 10 a.m. today - Monday - between mileposts 172-174 (about 20 miles west of Winthrop near Early Winters campground) for fire response activity. There is no estimate for when the highway will reopen so people should plan to use US 2 or I-90 for cross-state travel. We will update this post when we have more information.


https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... ion=2&aw=1
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by pasayten »

2021-07-11
1930

There are three fires burning west of Mazama in Okanogan County.

Cedar Creek and Varden Fires are south of SR 20.

The Varden Fire is closest to SR 20 and working its way towards the highway. SR 20 (MP-170 to 174) was reduced down to one lane with a pilot car today, 7-11-2021, as to allow crews room to work next to the highway.

SR 20 will open back up to two lanes around 8 PM tonight until approximately 8 AM tomorrow morning when it will again be reduced down to one lane. If the fire reaches SR 20 you can expected that SR 20 would be closed.

The Delancy Fire is north of SR 20 and being estimated at 30 acres.

Level 1 Advisory is still in effect for the Mazama and Lost River areas.

This is a good time for persons in the Level 1 area to make a plan for “If we get EVACUATED”.

Let’s hope it does not get to that point, but if it does, you should be prepared.


https://okanogancounty.org/government/e ... dents_.php
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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Fire mapping application... Varden fire seems like it is surpassing Cedar Creek in size...

https://mappingsupport.com/p2/gissurfer ... d_fire.txt


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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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From Chris at Goat Peak Lookpout... Views of Cedar Creek Fire...
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fire6.jpg
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

Post by PAL »

Yes, it may get nastier. Darn. I started thinking they may close the Northlake Trail too. I'll have to tune into Purple Air to see what we are up Twisp River. Thanks for the updates.
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Re: Cedar Creek/Varden/Delancy Fires

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East Chewack Rd 3 miles north of Winthrop... Purple Air AQ reading outside 163 (EPA corrected value-unhealthy)...

"151-200: Everyone may begin to experience health effects if they are exposed for 24 hours; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects"

Smoke from Cedar Creek/Varden local fires... Inside AQ reading 23 (EPA corrected value-good)... whole house a/c running with filter and indoor air room cleaner... #cleanairmethow

fire5.jpg
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Cedar Creek/Delancy/Cub Creek Fires

Post by pasayten »

Important web links...

Cub Creek Fire
Official Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2021/
Official Incident page... https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7675/
Story Map... Check It Out!... https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f7 ... 25092e032f
Sun Mountain Webcam... https://www.sunmountainlodge.com/webcam/viewpic.jpg

Cedar/Delancy Fire
Official Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021
Official Incident page... https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/
Story Map... Check It Out!... https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/43 ... f71212afae
Mazama Trailhead Webcam... https://www.mazamatrailhead.com/p/web-cams.html?m=1
Sun Mountain Webcam... https://www.sunmountainlodge.com/webcam/viewpic.jpg

General
CalTopo Fire Mapping... https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=48.6510 ... a=modis_mp
WA Smoke... https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
Purple Air... https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQ ... /-120.2053
AQI... https://aqicn.org/city/usa/washington/w ... hewuch-rd/
UW Winds Modeling Forecast...https://a.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/w ... wssfc+///3
Air Traffic... https://www.flightradar24.com/48.49,-120.24/10
Okanogan County And Methow Valley topics of interest Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/groups/OCfirenewsevents
Evacuations... https://www.okanogancounty.org/governme ... dents_.php
Highway Information... https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... fault.aspx


************************************************************************************************************************************************

2021-7-11
1130

Cedar Creek Fire remains active. (100 acres Saturday)
A second fire “Varden” is burning a few miles to the west of Cedar Creek Fire, one half mile off of SR 20.
Due to the Varden Fire USFS has requested the WSDOT reduce SR 20 down to one lane of traffic with a pilot car, between Mile Posts 170 and 175.
Klipchuck and Lone Fir Campgrounds have been closed.



Mazama, WA -- Fire Information 6pm

Fire activity has increased on the Varden and Delancy Fires.
The Delancy Fire was located this morning and is located roughly 10 miles west of Mazama, north of State Route 20. It is staffed with smokejumpers and a helitack crew.
One lane of State Route 20 is still closed between mileposts 170 and 175 near Lone Fir Campground to enable firefighters to work safely.
fire3.jpg
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Cedar Creek fire from Goat Peak


fire4.jpg
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Varden Creek Fire
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