Fire Update 9/12/2012 Morning
Incident: Wenatchee Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/12/2012
Following a severe lightning storm that covered much of eastern Washington on Saturday September 9th, a series of fires were discovered. Local resources from the United States Forest Service (USFS), Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wenatchee Fire Districts 1 and 7, and Chelan County Sharif's office began the suppression efforts. These organizations and the firefighters that responded were instrumental in minimizing losses and keeping folks safe.
Yesterday a Type 1 National Incident Management Team headed by Incident Commander Jeff Pendleton was given management authority for all of the fires within the Wenatchee Complex. The Incident Management Team immediately began the process of assessing the situation and mobilizing additional resources to aid in the suppression efforts. Firefighters are being assigned to fires with the greatest risk to human life, property, and natural resources. In these efforts, public and firefighter safety is of the highest priority.
The fire directly west of Wenatchee, dubbed the Canyon Fire, is burning in shrub and grass. This fire is approximately 2,000 acres in size. The fire is staffed with firefighters, and a primary focus is securing fireline in and around homes. Evacuations and road closures are in place for areas around this fire; please refer to www.inciweb.org/incident/3258 for locations and levels of evacuations.
The fire burning due south of Cashmere is being called the Poison Canyon Fire. This fire is approximately 1,000 acres in size, and is burning in shrubs and pine. This fire is also staffed with firefighters, and a primary focus is also to secure fireline around homes. Evacuations and road closures are in place for areas around this fire as well; please refer to www.inciweb.org/incident/3258 for locations and levels of evacuations.
There is a cluster of fires burning due southwest of Wenatchee, these fires are burning south of Pevine Canyon. These are also burning in shrubs and pine. These fires are staffed with firefighters, and fireline construction is the primary focus of these efforts. Evacuations and road closures are also in place for areas around these fires; please refer to www.inciweb.org/incident/3258 for locations and levels of evacuations.
The fire burning just north of Entiat Washington, dubbed the Byrd Canyon Fire, is also staffed with Firefighters who are working on securing fire line and protecting local communities and homes in that area. This fire is approximately 10,000 acres at this time, and is burning in grass and shrubs. Again, evacuations and road closures are in place for areas around this fire as well; please refer to www.inciweb.org/incident/3258 for locations and levels of evacuations.
Another fire south of Lake Chelan is being called the First Creek Fire. This fire is approximately 60 acres at this time and is burning in very difficult, remote and steep ground. This fire is also being staffed with fire crews and retardant was dropped near this fire to slow growth.
There is also another fire located due north of Entiat Washington, located in the Entiat drainage. This fire is being called the Pyramid Fire, and according to aerial mapping appears to be approximately 100 acres at this time. This fire is burning in timber that was impacted severely by disease and insects. This fire is currently not staffed with firefighters.
Several other small fires that are scattered throughout the area have been staffed with firefighters, and others are being assessed for impacts to human life, property and environmental sensitivity and will be managed as resources arrive and capacity increases.
A Public Fire Information Briefing has been scheduled for tonight at 6pm at the Riverside Center in Cashmere. This Briefing is open for all public.
The Incident Management Team would like to express appreciation to the community for your support and help in our efforts to fight these fires. It is vital that the community cooperates with evacuations, road closures, and avoiding areas of high traffic for fire suppression.
