Evacuation Update September 25, 2012
Incident: Wenatchee Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/25/2012
PEAVINE/TABLE MOUNTAIN FIRES
Continued progress in checking the northeastward movement of the Peavine and Table Mountain Fires has prompted the Chelan County Sheriff's Office to reduce the evacuation level to a Level 1 for the area accessed by the Squilchuck and Mission Ridge Roads effective 6:00pm today. The affected area commences at the Wenatchee Heights Road junction, includes Halvorson Canyon and Hampton Road and terminates at the Mission Ridge Ski Area. For the first time in over two weeks, no homes in Chelan County are under an evacuation notice exceeding a Level 1.
Motorists are requested to exercise added caution when driving within or near any of the fire areas. Firefighting and resource rehabilitation work will continue for some time. Slowing down and keeping a sharp watch helps ensure everyone's safety.
STEMILT ROAD AND COLOCKUM AREA CLOSURES
The Stemilt Road and Colockum Area closures are still in effect. Until the east flank of the Table Mountain and Peavine Fires is secured, the Colockum area remains highly vulnerable to rapid eastward fire expansion. The remoteness and difficult access would place any citizens in the path of such an event in grave danger.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has reiterated that fall hunting seasons are not closed. However, the Colockum area southeast of Wenatchee and a number of areas on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest are closed to entry due to fire activity. Hunters who had planned to use the areas now closed are advised to stay abreast of closure information and have alternative locales identified should the closures extended later into the fall.
EVACUATION LEVEL DEFINITIONS
Evacuation Levels 1, 2, and 3 are akin to a "Ready, Set, Go" level of preparedness. Level 1informs residents a threat exists and to be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen. Level 2 means residents should be set to go at a moment's notice. Level 3 means authorities are advising residents to evacuate due to an imminent threat to their safety.
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Up-to-date information on evacuations can be heard on local media in Wenatchee or by checking www.inciweb.org/incident/3258.
PUBLIC INFORMATION NUMBERS:
Inquiries regarding fire information and evacuation levels should be directed to the Wenatchee Complex Fire Information Section at 509-662-4438 or 509-662-4694. The phones are staffed daily from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm.
For information on fire activity in Okanogan, Kittitas and Yakima Counties , please contact the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 509-664-9353.
