Daily Update
Incident: Okanogan Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/24/2012
Significant progress was made yesterday along the northwestern perimeter of the Buckhorn Fire, where burnout operations were carried out to remove fuels between the advancing flame front and the Middle Fork of Gold Creek control line. Crews plan to continue burnout operations today to remove any remaining fuel and strengthen containment lines. Firefighters in this area have spent the past several days preparing for this operation by clearing brush, constructing containment lines, installing hose lays and setting up sprinkler systems with the intent of preventing the fire from crossing the creek. Engines will continue patrol throughout the night along the Middle Fork.
Mop-up operations will continue along the South and North Fork of Gold Creek and along portions of the Middle Fork. The upper end of the South Fork is close to meeting the mop-up standards. Palm held infra-red technology will be used to continue to look for remaining hot spots.
Rehabilitation, backhaul, and mop-up of containment lines and other areas disturbed by fire suppression will be ongoing on the Leecher Fire, while the Hunter Fire is now in monitor status by air.
Weather today should be conducive to support all the operations planned for this period. Temperatures should approach the 80s in the fire elevations, with relative humidity in the low 20s. Light winds will change to a westerly direction this afternoon, with gusts 10-15 mph. This should allow the fire to become active earlier in the day, which is needed to help with controlled burn operations. There will be four aircraft available to assist the firefighters on the ground.
The Goat Fire is now being managed by Washington Incident Management Team 5, which has set up an Incident Base in the Rodeo Grounds in Chelan. The new fire information number for the Goat fire is (509)682-0070.
To view high quality photos and maps visit our blog at: http://okanogancomplex.wordpress.com.
Fire at a Glance
Size: 5,973 total acres
Hunter - 211
Leecher - 1,320
Buckhorn - 4,442
Containment: 60%
Location: southern Methow Valley in Washington state.
Cause: Lightning (9/8/12)
Personnel: 518
Evacuations: Level and Area
Level 2: Buckhorn Fire: South Fork Gold Creek Residences
Level 3: Buckhorn Fire: Middle Fork and North Fork Gold Creek residences
Fire Information Number: 509-997-0568
For more information: www.inciweb.org/incident/3261
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