Daily Update 9-14-12
Incident: Okanogan Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/14/2012
On the Buckhorn Fire, structure protection is the operational focus. Crews include Washington Dept. of Natural Resources, Washington Fire District #6 and #15, and two interagency Hot Shot crews are arriving today. A Level 3 evacuation order remains in effect for homes near the Buckhorn Fire. A burnout is planned to strengthen containment lines where needed on Friday.
Containment line was completed around two areas of the Leecher Fire Thursday. Line was burned out in several areas to deepen and strengthen firelines. During Friday's operations, a twenty-acre burnout is planned along the south perimeter, as well as beginning mop up.
Crews and smoke jumpers were successful in lining most of the northern perimeter of the Hunter Fire by Thursday evening. The fireline will be strengthened today with a burnout, as weather allows.
Due to dry fuels, low humidity recovery, and warmer temperatures on the ridges, fire has been active through the night. Today's weather forecast is for hotter and drier conditions with south winds shifting to northwest winds in the afternoon, with gusts up to 25 miles per hour. This may test the firelines on the Buckhorn perimeters through the day. Extreme fire activity is expected. Interior burning is expected through Friday's shifts.
Road restrictions are still in place on North Fork Gold Creek Forest System Road (FSR) 4340, South Fork Gold Creek FSR 4330, Benson Creek Road FSR 4150, FSR 4150-300, and 4150-200. Trails from Foggy Dew and Crater Creek are also closed at this time.
For Washington regional fire information, please call the regional Joint Information Center (JIC) at 509-664-9374. Follow the JIC twitter account: @inciweb#Wenatchee WAOWF
Fire at a Glance
Size:
Hunter Mtn.: 160 acres
Buckhorn: 1,817 acres
Leecher: 1,200 acres
Total acres: 3,177
Containment: 4%
Location: Vicinity of Carlton, Washington
Cause: Lightning (9/8)
Personnel: 349
Evacuations: A Level 3 evacuation remains in place in the Gold Creek Area near the Buckhorn Fire
Closures/Restrictions:
See main text
Fire Information Number:
509-996-4057
