Cedar Creek/Delancy/Cub Creek Fires

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Here is the smoke outlook for today and tomorrow. if you'd like a shareable PDF of this outlook, click here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oVfUzi ... 5e4HO/view

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Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires
Morning Update
July 29, 2021

Video Briefing... https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires202 ... 3011571861

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Winthrop, WA — The Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in steep and rocky terrain with heavy dead and down fuel loading. These fires are being managed by Great Basin Incident Management Team 1.
Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)
Fire Weather: Temperatures are forecast to be warmer throughout the day and into the evening. Morning smoke may be slower to lift out of the valleys but is expected to rise and drift northeast after 2 pm this afternoon. Temperatures should reach the 90s and humidity is expected to be low. Winds will be mostly slope and valley driven. We can expect poor overnight humidity recovery with stronger thermal belts. Going into the weekend, we may experience more unsettled weather with possible isolated thunderstorms.
Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 36,922 acres and is 10% contained.
Last night the fire was active in the Silver Star Creek area. A significant glow was observed through the night. Today, firefighters will use aircraft to check the fires advance and will work to establish control lines.
The fire continues to back down the slope along the Highway 20 corridor. As the fire makes its way to the control feature, firefighters will burn the remaining fuels back up to the fires edge. By allowing the fire to slowly burn downhill at a low intensity, firefighters can avoid unnecessary soil damage. This will pay dividends post-fire when rains and melting snow might create debris flows coming out of the burn area.
The large pocket of unburned fuels off Highway 20 near Lucky Jim Bluff continued to burn overnight. Removal of these fuels will clean up the fire perimeter and this section will no longer pose as great a threat to structures in the area.
Today, fire crews are working in the Little Wolf Creek area and will evaluate the dozer line that was being constructed to tie into Thompson Ridge. Observations from aircraft indicate that the line may still be viable as a control feature. Firefighters are also surveying existing roads and old dozer lines that were constructed during the 2014 Little Bridge Creek fire to provide additional control options. The objective is to build a control line that will run below Gobblers Knob, along dozer line to Thompson Ridge, and ultimately tying into the Little Bridge burn scar. This control feature would be designed to prevent fire from moving south toward the community of Twisp.
Structure protection continues to be a top priority with multiple strike teams of state and local engines (state mob) patrolling homes along the fire perimeter. Crews continue to construct and improve lines to keep the fire above the Methow River Valley and away from values at risk.
Delancy Fire: Fire activity remains minimal. The fire is being monitored from the ground by fire crews and from the air by firefighting aircraft. The estimated size of the Delancy Fire is approximately 223 acres.
Resources for additional information:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/
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/.../emer ... /index.php
Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/ ... ecovery%20
Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments): https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/
Resources: Total personnel - 629: 3 - type 1 hotshot crews, 8 - type 2 hand crews, 1 - type 2 initial attack hand crew, 1 - camp crew, 3 - type 1 (heavy) helicopters, 1 - type 2 helicopter, 2 - type 3 helicopter, 56 - engines, 5 - dozers, 19 - water tenders,1 - masticator, 2 - skidgen, 4 – skidders, 3 – excavators, 4 – feller bunchers, 1 – Aerial Supervision Module, and 167 line supervision & support personnel.
Closures:
For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting these fires, a temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been placed over the area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone” and any drones sighting in a TFR will immediately impede aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions.
State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) remains closed at milepost 185 (7 miles west of Winthrop) to milepost 165 to all traffic due to fire activity.
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has implemented a Fire Emergency Area Closure as of July 22nd, 2021. The Closure includes facilities, roads, and trails. The Closure may be viewed in its entirety at the “Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires 2021” Facebook page.
The Forest Service Fire Emergency Area Closure is separate from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) closure of portions of State Route 20 and may change or be lifted at different times depending on operational needs. WSDOT is working closely with the Forest Service and Okanogan County to identify where fire activity and firefighting operations warrant closure.
Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) continues to reevaluate evacuation levels. For the most up to date evacuation levels see the OCEM’s website above. Residents entering Evacuation Level 3 areas need to slow down and watch for firefighters and equipment in roadways.
Air Quality: Stagnant air will continue to hamper smoke dispersion today. Light downslope/downvalley winds will shift to upslope/upvalley winds in the Okanogan Valley with slightly stronger winds in the Methow Valley. Smoke will pool near the fires impacting Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp with unhealthy to hazardous air quality throughout the day. The Okanogan Valley will have haze with periods of Unhealthy air.
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

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Cub Creek 2 Fire
Morning Update
July 29, 2021

Video Briefing... https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2 ... 9053418901

For a shareable PDF of this update, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dqmXIG ... F8HpL/view
Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm)
The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 52,832 acres with 18% containment. No infrared flight was flown last night.
Overnight, crews had success on the western flank of the fire near Deer Creek and up into Sweet Grass Butte by dropping over 6,000 gallons of water on hot spots. On the south eastern flank, crews patrolled and scouted the area to establish work assignments for today’s plan. Today, crews will work thoroughly to tie in multiple hand lines, dozer lines, and existing road systems on the south-eastern flank of the fire boundary. With a significant warming trend beginning today, the priority for crews is to reduce any heat and fuels, especially near Ramsey Creek and up into Tripod Creek where burning in the lower drainages remains a challenge for crews on the ground; these lower drainages are in steep and inaccessible terrain. With minimal winds throughout the day, the smoke will remain over the valley and linger over the fire.
Management of the fire will transition on Friday evening to a Type 1 Incident Management Team, Southwest Area IMT 2
Local resource advisors will continue to provide input to protect natural and historical values at risk.
Residents will continue to see smoke and smoldering or creeping fire behavior near homes, but personnel are actively monitoring those areas. Please only call 911 if flare-ups occur near structures.
Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) evacuations for the Chewuch River drainage remain in effect. Please consult OCEM information resources at okanogancounty.org for current evacuations. Residents leaving Evacuation Level 3 areas should be extremely cautious, drive slowly, and watch for firefighters and firefighting equipment on the roadway.
Resources for additional information:
StoryMap Link: https://arcg.is/1euzWj
Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7675/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2021
Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
Email: 2021.cubcreek2@firenet.gov
Highway Information: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... fault.aspx Evacuations: https://www.okanogancounty.org/.../emer ... /index.php
Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/ ... ecovery%20
Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments):
https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/
Resources: Total personnel–659; 3-type 1 IHC, 8-type 2, 4 type 2 initial attack hand crews, 5- heavy helicopters, 1- medium helicopter, 2-light lift helicopter, 28- engines, 11-dozer, 12-water tenders, and 173 overhead.
Closures: A Forest Area Emergency Closure has been issued by the Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest which closes the use of multiple roads, campgrounds, and trails. Please see the enclosed links to the Forest Closure Page. https://bit.ly/3zsRtuw and map: https://bit.ly/3wZ2y50 The documents are also available on Inciweb and Facebook.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone” and any drones sighting in a TFR will immediately ground aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions.
Weather: Overnight recoveries improved from previous nights over the region. This morning temperatures are in the upper 60’s, with relative huminites reaching the lower 40%. This afternoon is anticipated to be very calm, which will cause stagnant conditions, which will allow for the smoke to settle over the Valley and throughout the fire. Contingent on the smoke lingering over the Valley and fire, temperatures could remain in the upper 80’s, but if the smoke clears, then expect temperatures to increase by 10 degrees. A Heat Advisory has been issued for today for much of the eastern Washington region. Along the fringes of the fire temperatures could reach the upper 90’s in the lower elevations. By Saturday, temperatures will be well over 100 degrees in the lower elevations, while upper elevations could reach into the upper 90’s.
Air Quality: Please monitor the air quality on the incident FB page above and the WA Smoke Blog https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ and take appropriate actions. All vehicle traffic is advised to travel with lights on for safety.
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

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No infrared perimeter maps were flown last night...

Morning VIIRS map... 7/29

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Eric Crim on Facebook...

Video of retardant drop... https://www.facebook.com/eric.crim.5621 ... 2785773583

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July 28th Public Meeting in Twisp...

https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2 ... 227483467/

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Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires
Evening Update
July 28, 2021

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Winthrop, WA — The Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires are burning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in steep and rocky terrain with heavy dead and down fuel loading. These fires are being managed by Great Basin Incident Management Team 1.
Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)
A Public Meeting was held this afternoon at Twisp River Park in the community of Twisp. Representatives from California IIMT 1 and Great Basin IMT 1 provided updates on the Cub Creek 2, Cedar Creek, and Delancy Fires. Okanogan County Emergency Manager Maurice Goodall discussed evacuation status. Twist Mayor Soo Ing-Moody also spoke. The meeting was attended by approximately 130 people.
Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 35,685 acres and is 10% contained.
This afternoon fire pushed out near the head of Little Wolf Creek. The fire moved in a south-westerly direction through heavy fuels. It burned past the end of the dozer line that was being built to connect to Thompson Ridge. The fire generated a significant smoke plume that was visible from the communities of Winthrop and Twisp. Firefighters responded quickly. Firefighting aircraft were used to slow the fires advance.
Tying in dozer line to Thompson Ridge to create a continuous containment feature had been the primary containment plan for this section of the fire perimeter. With the fire approaching Thompson Ridge, firefighters will utilize an alternative plan and work to contain the fire using both existing road and old dozer lines that were constructed to contain the 2014 Little Bridge Creek fire. By improving these dozer lines and tying them into existing roads, firefighters will work to create a continuous fire line that will tie into the area of sparse fuels in the Little Bridge burn area.
Fire continues backing down throughout the Little Boulder Creek and Little Falls Creek areas. Short range spotting and roll-out are igniting fuels downslope, which result in short runs back uphill. Contingency lines farther south of the fire along Forest Service Roads 4410 and 4415 and along the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness boundary are being developed.
Fire continues to back into the Silver Star Creek area. In the northwestern corner of the fire, firefighters are monitoring along State Route 20 between Silver Star Creek and Early Winters Campground where fire has backed downhill to the road. In the northeastern corner, fire continues to back down Sandy Butte ridgeline in the Freestone area but remains contained above Forest Service Roads 100 and 115. Firefighters are mopping up and patrolling the eastern portion of the line between Looney Creek and Badger Creek.
Strike teams of state, and local engines (state mob) are providing structure protection for homes throughout the fire area. Crews continue to construct and improve lines to keep the fire above the Methow River Valley and away from values at risk.
Delancy Fire: Fire activity remains minimal. The fire is being monitored from the ground by fire crews and from the air by firefighting aircraft. The estimated size of the Delancy Fire is approximately 223 acres.
Resources for additional information:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/
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/.../emer ... /index.php
Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/ ... ecovery%20
Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments): https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/
Resources: Total personnel - 629: 3 - type 1 hotshot crews, 8 - type 2 hand crews, 1 - type 2 initial attack hand crew, 1 - camp crew, 3 - type 1 (heavy) helicopters, 1 - type 2 helicopter, 2 - type 3 helicopter, 56 - engines, 5 - dozers, 19 - water tenders,1 - masticator, 2 - skidgen, 4 – skidders, 3 – excavators, 4 – feller bunchers, 1 – Aerial Supervision Module, and 167 line supervision & support personnel.
Closures:
For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting these fires, a temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been placed over the area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone” and any drones sighting in a TFR will immediately impede aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions.
State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) remains closed at milepost 185 (7 miles west of Winthrop) to milepost 165 to all traffic due to fire activity.
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has implemented a Fire Emergency Area Closure as of July 22nd, 2021. The Closure includes facilities, roads, and trails. The Closure may be viewed in its entirety at the “Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires 2021” Facebook page.
The Forest Service Fire Emergency Area Closure is separate from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) closure of portions of State Route 20 and may change or be lifted at different times depending on operational needs. WSDOT is working closely with the Forest Service and Okanogan County to identify where fire activity and firefighting operations warrant closure.
Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) continues to reevaluate evacuation levels. For the most up to date evacuation levels see the OCEM’s website above. Residents entering Evacuation Level 3 areas need to slow down and watch for firefighters and equipment in roadways.
Weather: High pressure continues to build into the region. Expect generally light slope and valley winds followed by the typical afternoon and evening down Methow Valley winds. Expect smoke to linger a little longer. Maximum temperatures will be 83-92 degrees in the valleys and 76-82 degrees on the ridges with relative humidity 15-22% in the valleys and 18-25% on ridgelines.
Air Quality: Stagnant air will continue to hamper smoke dispersion today. Light downslope/downvalley winds will shift to upslope/upvalley winds in the Okanogan Valley with slightly stronger winds in the Methow Valley. Smoke will pool near the fires impacting Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp with unhealthy to hazardous air quality throughout the day. The Okanogan Valley will have haze with periods of Unhealthy air.
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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Cedar Creek fire perimeter from NFIC evening satellite file draped on Google Earth shows the significant growth today over the morning infrared shaded perimeter file in the Thompson Ridge area... We will have the new 7/29 infrared file at about 6am tomorrow.

Evening NFIC satellite zipped KML perimeter file... Unzip this to make the kml file... If you have google earth simply double click on the file name and google earth will start with the perimeters active... Zoom into our area...

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Cub Creek 2 Fire
Evening Update
July 28, 2021

Video briefing... https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2 ... 7939547794

For a shareable PDF of this update, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ee2tiM ... GgsHY/view
Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm)
The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 52,832 acres with 18% containment.
Today, crews worked diligently to tie in multiple hand lines, dozer lines, and existing road systems on the western and eastern flank of the fire boundary. The smoke has reduced the potential for significant fire growth, but the hot and dry temperatures remain a recipe for burning in the lower drainages. Along Deer Creek and up into Sweet Grass Butte, where crews completed a strategical burning operation, mop -up and reduction of any burning fuel has been diminished. With a significant warming trend beginning tomorrow, the top priority for crews is to reduce any heat and fuels on the south eastern flank of the fire, especially near Ramsey Creek and up into Tripod Creek. Crews will work overnight to construct line to prevent the fire from pushing east, which will tie off a significant portion of the eastern flank, specifically along FS Road 37 and continuing up north.
There was a community meeting at the City Park in Twisp at 6:00pm.
Local resource advisors will continue to provide input to protect natural and historical values at risk.
Residents will continue to see smoke and smoldering or creeping fire behavior near homes, but personnel are actively monitoring those areas. Please only call 911 if flare-ups occur near structures.
Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) evacuations for the Chewuch River drainage remain in effect. Please consult OCEM information resources at okanogancounty.org for current evacuations. Residents leaving Evacuation Level 3 areas should be extremely cautious, drive slowly, and watch for firefighters and firefighting equipment on the roadway.
Resources for additional information:
StoryMap Link: https://arcg.is/1euzWj
Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7675/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2021
Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
Email: 2021.cubcreek2@firenet.gov
Highway Information: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... fault.aspx Evacuations: https://www.okanogancounty.org/.../emer ... /index.php
Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/ ... ecovery%20
Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments):
https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/
Resources: Total personnel–659; 3-type 1 IHC, 8-type 2, 4 type 2 initial attack hand crews, 5- heavy helicopters, 1- medium helicopter, 2-light lift helicopter, 28- engines, 11-dozer, 12-water tenders, and 173 overhead.
Closures: A Forest Area Emergency Closure has been issued by the Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest which closes the use of multiple roads, campgrounds, and trails. Please see the enclosed links to the Forest Closure Page. https://bit.ly/3zsRtuw and map: https://bit.ly/3wZ2y50 The documents are also available on Inciweb and Facebook.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone” and any drones sighting in a TFR will immediately ground aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions.
Weather: Today, temperatures continued to be warm and dry across the region, with upper elevation ranging into the low 80’s and the lower elevations ranging in the mid 90’s. Wind were light and variable, which kept the smoke over a significant portion of the fire. By tomorrow, will be hot, with temperatures in the upper 90’s in the lower elevations. By Saturday, temperatures will be well over 100 degrees in the lower elevations, while upper elevations could reach into the upper 90’s.
Air Quality: Please monitor the air quality on the incident FB page above and the WA Smoke Blog https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ and take appropriate actions. All vehicle traffic is advised to travel with lights on for safety.
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

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Michael Chiu
5m ·
6:00pm Wednesday, 7/28 - Cedar Creek Fire.
Winds 1-4 up valley and upslope. 74F and cooling quick, 32% RH but felt like higher most of the day. Morning RH at about 8am was over 70%.
Great weather to slowly back the fire down to the crews continually improving the fuel breaks. Clear air for aerial support and cooler fresh air to breath. Not aware of much aerial activity. Had ear muffs on running a leaf blower for about 6 hours. But even over the lead blower and ear muffs, I could feel the distinct concussive rhythm of a CH-47 Chinook many times during of the day. A few Bell UH-1’s slinging water and one heli scouting about. Believe the Chinook was working South of me on the other side of Virginian Ridge where the large dark plume went up around 11:30am. By hasty compass bearing it looked to be pretty far up Wolf Creek or Little Bridge/Cabin Creek headed up towards Gardner? Not sure, but not threatening…. to my locale.
The smokes along Virginian Ridge from the bench (West of Park Lane / 5005 road) toward Lucky Jim Bluff were constant but low intensity. Infrequent torching occurred but all the smoke went uphill. See time lapse.
Again, Wolf Creek Rd had pretty decent air throughout the day. But still was encumbered with a respirator for dust + smoke.
Filthier day by far than yesterday. Dust and dirt clung and sweat didn’t evaporate. Not as bad as mop up work, but still felt like a nasty dust monkey. That muddy sweat puddle in the respirator chin cup? Nice!! And how much PPE is too much PPE? Ditched the goggles pretty quickly as it heated up to 91. Face shield not compatible with the respirator. Too lazy to go get an N-95. Personal struggles. Not complaining! That humidity helped keep things in check and watered areas stayed damp all day. Good stuff.
Firewise reminder: Keep leaf litter away from the house and screen in the space under your deck and porch steps with hardware cloth to keep leaves from accumulating underneath. As a fire approaches your house it is Pete’s with a massive shower of sparks and small embers. They’ll find nooks and crannies where leaves and beauty bark lurk.
Brooms left on decks collect hot those same sparks and embers like nobody’s business. Take brooms, fiberous doormats, plastic patio furniture covers, rope hammocks, tarps and kindling OFF your porch and decks. Give structural protection crews a fighting chance by reducing points of home ignition.
Goodnight! Returning to finish that morning baguette before it becomes a crouton.

Video... https://www.facebook.com/1748635016/vid ... 0431831711

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Cedar Creek Fire... Major growth SW up over Thompson Ridge into Little Bridge Creek drainage...

Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires 2021
Current situation - On the west side of the bowl in Little Bridge Creek the fire is active. Scooper airplanes are working to keep the fire along the ridge. A scooper plane scoops up water and then drops it on the fire.

Current situation on smoke plume... Cedar Creek Fire... Thompson Ridge/Little Bridge Creek
https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires202 ... 3726760739

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Cedar Creek Fire. Images of smoke plume rising near Helispot 10 in Division H, above Valentine Creek. 2:30 pm, Wednesday, July 28, 2021. See map for location.

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Michael Chiu

12:00 Wednesday, 7/28 - Cedar Creek Fire.
Calm at valley bottom. Mild up slope winds on valley walls. 88F and RH 33% near Wolf Ridge Resort. Air quality is “meh” as pooled smoke is still stacking up valley from Grizzly/Dripping Springs but not complaining, still the best air in the valley.
Had to visit Mazama to reprovision the larder!!
(Note: reprovision is not recognized as a word by my iPhone, thus 100% confirming my crustiness).
Successful baguette run, picked up a thoughtful fire t-shirt gift from a lifelong friend from UW Forestry school and take possession of large branch and stick sized firebrands that travelled 1/4-1/3 mile from the Little Boulder creek blaze and landed on the North (!!) side of HWY 20 @ Mazama Community Church.
Smoke in Mazama is atrocious. Can barely make out Flagg Mtn from Goat Creek Rd.
Word is Maui, Ocean Shores, Sequim have clean air and will be receiving valley residents soon. Be on lookout for neighbors returning home with suspicious tan lines and coon-eyes.
View from HWY 20 across Big Valley clearly showed the afternoon uptick in activity on the slopes of Virginian Ridge. Wondering if some of those smoke plumes are the big stacks of slash from DNR’s (timely) fuel treatment last year.
Heard Klamath Falls, OR got big rains as did Alaska and that resources maybe released from those conflagrations and be tasked on our fires. Fingers crossed. The rain dance we all were asking for apparently landed far away but had a positive effect!!
No aerial ops evident to me from Mazama to Winthrop. Did see a twin engine prop plane high overhead. Maybe the Beechcraft King Air spotter?
Gentlemen selling the t-shirts is from Tonasket. He runs as far South as Arizona for fires in Sept. He’s located directly across the Rythm&Blues/Fire Camp driveway. Unisex sizing only. Lots of colors. No female styles. Just plain crewneck. $25 each. Different graphics for Cedar Creek and Cub Creek 2 fires. Drive slow (35) since area is congested with fire apparatus.
Sign confusion… Road closure at Twin Lakes/Wolf Creek Rd says Level 2 evac. Friendly security guard is back. WA Army NG troops gone. No clipboard to check in. Hmmm, really. Thought we were still Level 3.
See photo captions.
And yes, that was a fresh, warm, crusty, salted baguette. Life is still good.

Video... https://www.facebook.com/1748635016/vid ... 9693171154

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Elise Walker

This was the call on Elbow Coulee yesterday. Thankfully, he was ok save sore muscles and bumps and bruises. His tank was full. The tree holding him back was all that stood between him and rolling straight down the hill. Angel on his shoulder for sure.

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July 28 1230 pm Operations Update
The Cub Creek 2 fire is picking up a bit today. It continues to be smoky in many areas. Here is a look at Doe Creek on the northwest side of the fire.

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The smoke is lifting up and clearing earlier today. A distinct column can be see coming from the Wolf Creek and Little Wolf Creek confluence. The smoke is interior burning not along the perimeter.

fire193.jpg (18.75 KiB) Viewed 5738 times

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Last nights Winthrop Community Meeting Video - July 27, 2021. 170 people attended the meeting that discussed the Cedar Creek Fire and Cub 2 Fire. An identical meeting will be happening tonight in Twisp at 6pm.

https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires202 ... 9335114202



Community Meeting Q_A - SD 480p
Here are the questions and answers from last nights community meeting in Winthrop for Cedar Creek and Cub 2 fires.

https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires202 ... 7981464307

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Morning VIIRS map... 7/28

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Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires
Morning Update
July 28, 2021

Video Briefing... https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires202 ... 2777957980

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Public Meeting: Join us Wednesday, July 28, 6 p.m. at Twisp River Park, 325 North Lincoln Street in Twisp when representatives from California IIMT 1 and Great Basin IMT 1 will provide detailed updates on the Cub Creek 2, Cedar Creek, and Delancy Fires, as well as a discussion of future suppression efforts. Okanogan County Emergency Manager Maurice Goodall will be on hand to discuss evacuation status. Spokespersons from the US Forest Service and Chief Cody Acord, Okanogan County Fire District 6 will be available to answer your questions.
Fire Information Line - Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires: 509-557-0740 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)
Winthrop, WA — Cedar Creek and Delancy fires are located on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The fires are burning in very steep and rocky terrain in heavy down fuels.
Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 35,685 acres with 13% contained.
Last night, good relative humidity recovery and calm winds helped to reduce fire activity. Crews took advantage of the opportunity and made progress in suppression efforts along the northeastern perimeter of the fire in Silver Star Creek area. Firefighters are patrolling along State Route 20 between Silver Star Creek and Early Winters Campground where fire is backing downhill to the road.
Along the northeastern perimeter, fire continues to back down Sandy Butte ridgeline in the Freestone area but remains contained above Forest Service Roads 100 and 115. Firefighters are securing lines as fire backs down. Firefighters are mopping up and patrolling the eastern portion of the line between Looney Creek and Badger Creek.
The primary focus of suppression operations continues to be the southern tip of the fire where crews are working to prevent the fire from encroaching on structures.
Strike teams of state, and local engines (state mob) are providing structure protection for homes throughout the fire area. Crews continue to construct and improve lines in an effort to keep the fire above the Methow River Valley and away from values at risk.
Ash and smoke may be visible for several miles from the fire and will continue as fuel is consumed. Only call 911 if you are seeing actively burning material.
Delancy Fire: The estimated size of this fire is 223 acres. Today, crews will continue to closely monitor the Delancy fire and take appropriate action if the fire should show signs of movement. The fire is expected to continue to creep and smolder in steep, rocky, sparsely vegetated terrain.
Resources for additional information:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires2021
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7655/
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/.../emer ... /index.php
Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/ ... ecovery%20
Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments): https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/
Resources: Total personnel - 560: 3 - type 1 hotshot crews, 5 - type 2 hand crews, 2 - camp crews, 4 - type 1 (heavy) helicopters, 1 - type 2 helicopter, 2 - type 3 helicopter, 55 - engines, 5 - dozers, 16 - water tenders,1 - masticator, 1 - skidgen, 3 – skidders, 1 – excavator, 4 – feller bunchers, 1 – Aerial Supervision Module, and 151 line supervision & support personnel.
Closures:
For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting these fires, a temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been placed over the area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone” and any drones sighting in a TFR will immediately impede aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions.
State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) remains closed at milepost 185 (7 miles west of Winthrop) to milepost 165 to all traffic due to fire activity.
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has implemented a Fire Emergency Area Closure as of July 22nd, 2021. The Closure includes facilities, roads, and trails. The Closure may be viewed in its entirety at the “Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires 2021” Facebook page.
The Forest Service Fire Emergency Area Closure is separate from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) closure of portions of State Route 20 and may change or be lifted at different times depending on operational needs. WSDOT is working closely with the Forest Service and Okanogan County to identify where fire activity and firefighting operations warrant closure.
Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) continues to reevaluate evacuation levels. For the most up to date evacuation levels see the OCEM’s website above. Residents entering Evacuation Level 3 areas need to slow down and watch for firefighters and equipment in roadways.
Weather: Weather over the fire area will remain warm and dry today with temperatures ranging from 83 to 91 degrees in the valleys and 77 to 83 along the ridge tops. Relative humidity will be 16 to 22 percent in the valleys and 18 to 25 percent at the ridges. Winds will be mild, upslope, up valley at 4 to 8 miles per hour. There is no rain the forecast.
Air Quality: Stagnant air will continue to hamper smoke dispersion today. Light downslope/downvalley winds will shift to upslope/upvalley winds in the Okanogan Valley with slightly stronger winds in the Methow Valley. Smoke will pool near the fires impacting Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp with unhealthy to hazardous air quality throughout the day. The Okanogan Valley will have haze with periods of Unhealthy air.
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
This incident is being managed by Great Basin Incident Management Team 1.
-End-

[pasayten]

7/28 - Smoke Forecast
Fire
Cedar Ck fire has grown to 38,685 acres with active fire in the
Wolf Ck drainage, fire continuing to back down Virginian Ridge
above Hwy 20, and fire continuing to move toward Silver Star
Ck in the NW corner of the fire area. Cedar Ck fire is 13 %
contained with crews continuing structure protection and
connecting control lines to Thompson Ridge. Cub Ck 2 fire has
grown to 52,387 acres and is 13% contained. Yesterdays fire
activity was primarily in the Pebble Ck drainage, Twentymile
Ck drainage, and along Eightmile Ridge. Crews have tied in
containment lines to Sweetgrass Butte on the west side of the
fire. Aircraft assisted with firefighting efforts on both fires
yesterday.
Smoke
A stronger upvalley flow today will improve air quality
conditions south of the fires this afternoon. Communities
adjacent to the fires will have less improvement. Upvalley
winds may channel additional smoke into Mazama this
afternoon. Smoke will again pool overnight with degraded air
quality in the Upper Methow Valley early tomorrow morning.
The Okanogan Valley should have improved air quality
throughout the day.
Health
For information regarding Smoke and Health visit the health
information tab on the WA Smoke Blog site at
https://wasmoke.blogspot.com

[pasayten]

Cub Creek 2 Fire
Morning Update
July 28, 2021

Video Briefing: https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2 ... 3458755096

For a shareable PDF of this update, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p92-68 ... lcO1B/view
Fire Information Line – (509)-593-0574 (8:00 am to 9:00 pm)
The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 52, 387 acres with 13% containment.
Overnight, crews continued to make good progress as they were engaged in tactical patrols and bolstering containment lines. Along Deer Creek and up into Sweet Grass Butte a strategical burning operation was able to tie into an existing control lines, additional strategic firing may be need to increase the depth. The inversion settled in the upper elevations, at approximately 5,100 feet, causing temperatures to remain relatively warm and dry over the fire area. Today, along Buck Mountain towards Fifth Creek crews will work to complete the hand line to ensure the fire does not escape the control line. With a significant warming trend beginning tomorrow, the top priority for crews is to reduce any heat and fuels on the western flank of the fire, especially near the McLeod burn scare by Sweet Grass Butte. Along the eastern flank, above Pebble Creek, the fire remains checked in by existing control lines, but crews will complete the dozer line up to the Tripod Peak, which will tie off a significant portion of the eastern flank. Flight crews will complete prepping the North Twenty-mile Lookout. The southern remains in mop-up and patrol status.
There will be a community meeting at the City Park in Twisp tonight at 6:00pm. The meeting will be live streamed on this Facebook page.
Local resource advisors will continue to provide input to protect natural and historical values at risk.
Residents will continue to see smoke and smoldering or creeping fire behavior near homes, but personnel are actively monitoring those areas. Please only call 911 if flare-ups occur near structures.
Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) evacuations for the Chewuch River drainage remain in effect. Please consult OCEM information resources at okanogancounty.org for current evacuations. Residents leaving Evacuation Level 3 areas should be extremely cautious, drive slowly, and watch for firefighters and firefighting equipment on the roadway.
Resources for additional information:
StoryMap Link: https://arcg.is/1euzWj
Inciweb Page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7675/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2021
Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
Email: 2021.cubcreek2@firenet.gov
Highway Information: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... fault.aspx Evacuations: https://www.okanogancounty.org/.../emer ... /index.php
Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/ ... ecovery%20
Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments):
https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/
Resources: Total personnel–609; 3-type 1 IHC, 7-type 2, 4 type 2 initial attack hand crews, 5- heavy helicopters, 1- medium helicopter, 2-light lift helicopter, 28- engines, 10-dozer, 12-water tenders, and 145 overhead.
Closures: A Forest Area Emergency Closure has been issued by the Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest which closes the use of multiple roads, campgrounds, and trails. Please see the enclosed links to the Forest Closure Page. https://bit.ly/3zsRtuw and map: https://bit.ly/3wZ2y50 The documents are also available on Inciweb and Facebook.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone” and any drones sighting in a TFR will immediately ground aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions.
Weather: Overnight, temperatures remained relatively warm, with the inversion settling it at about 5,100 feet. Temperatures ranged into the upper 50’s – lower 60’s, with poor humidity recoveries, ranging in the mid 40%, while some reached 55%. Today, temperatures are expected to be warmer than yesterday, with upper elevation ranging into the upper 80’s and the lower elevations ranging in the mid 90’s. Winds are expected to push the smoke over the western edge of the fire, with winds out of the south in the morning hours, increasing around 3pm to 3 – 9 mph, with gusts up to 16 mph. By tomorrow, a warming trend is anticipated, with temperatures in the upper 90’s in the lower elevations. By Saturday, temperatures will be well over 100 degrees in the lower elevations, while upper elevations could reach into the upper 90’s.
Air Quality: Please monitor the air quality on the incident FB page above and the WA Smoke Blog https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ and take appropriate actions. All vehicle traffic is advised to travel with lights on for safety.
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

[pasayten]

Here are the July 28 maps for the Cub Creek 2 Fire
For a Shareable PDF of the IR ortho map (dark), click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LoOjCJ ... e8Urj/view
For a Shareable PDF of the IR topo map (light), click here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_syxLg ... uMtlA/view
For a Shareable PDF of the PIO Perimeter Map map, click here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ndAQ3A ... TcBtD/view

[pasayten]

Operational Maps | Cedar Creek & Delancy Fires - July 28, 2021

[pasayten]

Infrared mapping for July 28, 2021

Cerdar Creek/Delancy...
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/WAOWF/2 ... 11-CDT.pdf

Portion on Google Earth... Compares growth from yesterday...

Attachment contains zipped KML file for Google Earth for ALL fires...

[pasayten]

Michael Chiu

5:45pm Tuesday, 7/27. Cedar Creek Fire

Smokey and calm day, 90F and 30% RH. Air was still acceptably bad. High pressure over the region has put a lid on the fire holding the smoke down in the valley helping reduce winds.
No significant hot spots or visible candling of trees today. No visible aerial operations near Green Rd. A Sikorsky was intermittently working near the Left Fork Wolf Creek. A K-max was working up valley out of earshot. Quiet near me until 5:00 pm when two Bell Jet Rangers started to drop water on the bench 1/4 south and uphill of Green Rd. Visible smoke plumes seemed unremarkable. My assumption (!) is that the fire had backed down to the primary defensive line and they were cooling the fire to ensure it didn’t slop over the line.
Moved irrigation again to ensure dormant grasses that had gone to seed were damp. I briefly wished I was 6’ 6” and 290 lbs. Pushing the non-motorized irrigation line through heavy tall hay in the heat was… interesting!
Departed for the evening to attend the community meeting while the down valley wind was still non-existent. Air quality had improved and I didn’t need a respirator any more while leaf blowing and tidying up neighbors’ homes.
The WA Army Nat Guard checkpoint was moved from the Wolf Creek bridge to the intersection of Twin Lakes Rd. It was explained to an acquaintance that the rationale was because hot firebrands were discovered falling down valley of the original Wolf Creek Bridge checkpoint.
Attended the community meeting at the park lawn adjacent to the Red Barn to refresh my situational awareness. Several of the takeaways were from conversations AFTER the event. A good reason to attend.
Takeaways:
- There are only about 15 or so Type 1 incident management teams nationwide. Cedar Creek was elevated to that dubious honor. There are about 24,000 wildland firefighter in the US and over 20 Incident Mgt teams fighting for the the same resources.
- Type 1 teams have their own dedicated fire meteorologist. Which enables incident command to more accurately plan operations with greater safety and probability of success. In terms of wildland fire fighting there are three key factors: terrain, fuel and weather. The first two are static and the third is king.
- Monsoonal weather is pushing up from the South and bringing moisture into the SW, Utah and even Idaho. Incident command hopes
the moisture will release firefighters down in the SW to be redeployed further North.
- Incident Managers at Cub Creek 2 and Cedar Creek, although managed distinctly apart from each other, are assisting each other by surging aircraft or ground troops by request.
Apologies for the 6 hr delay in posting. Needed a bit of R&R with friends.