#CubCreek2 Fire Evening Update for July 30, 2021
Video briefing...
https://www.facebook.com/MazamaFires202 ... 1645721528
Cedar Creek and Delancy Fires
Evening Update
July 30, 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)
Fire Weather: Today it will be sunny and dry over the fire area. Temperatures will range from 90 and 97-degrees in the valleys and 79 to 85 at higher elevations. Relative humidity will be low with readings of 15 to 20-percent at lower elevations and 17 to 25-percent along the ridge tops. Winds will be light, downslope/downvalley in the morning, becoming upslope/upvalley in the afternoon. Wind speeds should be 4 to 10-miles per hour, with gusts to 15. There is no precipitation in today’s forecast.
Cedar Creek Fire: The fire is currently estimated at 41,142 acres and is 17% contained.
The fire was active at Milton Mountain in the Little Wolf Creek - Thompson Ridge area today. A smoke column rose to approximately 34,000-feet. Lightening could be seen emanating from within the column, followed by loud bursts of thunder. Fire crews responded using heavy equipment to carve containment lines ahead of the fire. They were supported from the air by two Canadair CL-415 “Superscoopers.” Instead of landing to reload, these amphibious aircraft can scoop from any large body of water and can cycle quickly from the water source to the fire and back again.
Work on the 4410 and 4415 roads below Gobblers Knob is continuing as firefighters strengthen control features. Once completed, these fire lines, linked with dozer lines will tie into the old Little Bridge Fire burn scar. Fire managers are hopeful that the fire will burn less aggressively in the burn scare due to the scarcity of heavy fuels.
A Mobile Retardant Base has been set up off Twisp River Road, 10-miles from the community of Twisp. This plant mixes fire retardant in large tanks. Helicopters can refill at this base and shorten the amount of time between retardant drops on the fire.
Fire has crossed the Silver Star Creek and has crested Vasiliki Ridge. The terrain in this area is steep and rocky, with stringers of heavy timber provided a pathway for fire to travel up the hillside. Firefighters are working to get out in front of the fire and contain its growth to the west.
Pockets of heat remain along the fire perimeter in the Free Stone area. Fire crews are working to strengthen and improve containment lines. Short range spotting near structures was observed, but firefighters were able to quickly respond and control these spots. There was no damage to any of the nearby structures.
A section of fire line to the west of the Sun Mountain Lodge and Patterson Lake is now shown on the fire map as contained. Crews have been working diligently to protect this area and are now confident that there is little chance of fire escaping the perimeter and threating Sun Mountain Lodge.
Structure protection remains a top priority with multiple strike teams of state and local engines (state mobilization) patrolling homes along the fire perimeter.
Delancy Fire: Last nights infrared flight showed some residual heat within the Delancy fire. However, the fire has not increased in size and while smoke may be visible, no significant fire activity has been observed. Fire crews and aircraft continue to monitor the Delancy fire and will take appropriate action if any change in fire behavior occurs. 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 - 689: 3 - type 4 hotshot crews, 9 - type 2 hand crews, 1 - type 2 initial attack hand crew, 1 - camp crew, 8 - type 1 (heavy) helicopters, 1 - type 2 helicopter, 2 - type 3 helicopter, 55 - engines, 5 - dozers, 20 - water tenders,1 - masticator, 2 - skidgen, 4 – skidders, 3 – excavators, 4 – feller bunchers, 1 – Aerial Supervision Module, and 179 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.
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