Daily Update 9-20-12
Incident: Table Mountain Wildfire
Released: 9/20/2012
Table Mountain Complex
Daily Update
FIRE INFORMATION WEBSITE: www.inciweb.org/incident/3269 EMAIL: TableMtComplex@gmail.com
PUBLIC PHONELINES: (206) 947-9705 or (206) 947-9737
MEDIA PHONELINE: (509) 260-1538
ACRES = 30,434
CONTAINMENT = 4%
PERSONNEL = 665
New phone numbers are now available to the public and listed above.
Yesterday, the plume dominated fire forced additional evacuations on the Table Mountain Complex. The Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center upgraded areas encompassing Elk Springs Road and Upper Green Canyon Road east to Wilson Creek Road, and above the northern-most set of power lines to an Evacuation Level 3. Under a Level 3 evacuation notice, residents are advised that current conditions present specific and immediate threat (s) to the life and safety of persons within this area. Residents in that area are advised to evacuate immediately.
A Level 1 notification is also in effect from the lower portion of Upper Green Canyon Road southeast to Chukar Ridge Road and continuing southeast to the Charlton Road. This includes Reecer Creek Road � mile south of the power lines, Robbins Road north of Charlton Road and Naneum Road north of Charlton Road. Under a Level 1 notification, persons are warned that the current or projected threats from hazards associated with the approaching fires are severe and this is a time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons. In the Liberty area, Level 3 evacuations remain in place. For additional information on the evacuation levels log onto the Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center website at: www.co.kittitas.wa.us. You can then go to the Kittitas County response page and click on Interactive Maps.
A Red Cross Shelter has been set up at the Mercer Creek Church located at: 1407 North "B" Street in Ellensburg, Washington. An emergency livestock shelter has been set up at the Kittitas County Event Center Fairgrounds.
The First Creek, Lion's Rock, Diamond Head, and County Line fires have now merged forming one large burn area. Firefighters were successful along the west flanks of the fires aggressively working on perimeter hold. The structure protection group continues to prep homes and other structures in the Liberty community and Liberty Mountain area.
Fire management staff from both the Table Mountain and Wenatchee Complex are working together to develop a management strategy as the fires both complexes merge.
Today, fire crews will be working diligently using a combination of hand line construction, dozers, and aircraft throughout the day focusing on the west and south flanks of the fire. Objectives will include an indirect attack utilizing road systems, natural barriers and constructed fire breaks.
Weather temperatures are expected to continue warm and dry with little relative humidity creating a fire situation much like what was observed the previous day. The fire spread is expected to move east to southeast with an increase of activity this afternoon. Fire danger remains high across Washington State. Be sure to check with your fire agencies for local fire restrictions, forest and state closures.
Due to the many fires burning throughout Central and Eastern Washington, heavy smoke continues to fill the valleys and drainages. Fires producing potentially harmful smoke can be of concern to elderly, young children, and anyone with respiratory health conditions. The public is urged to limit outdoor activities and to take precautions by staying indoors until smoke conditions improve. For more information on air quality: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/local.html.
Road Closures: USFS and DNR roads - Reecer Creek Rd. at the Snowpack, Wilson Creek Rd. at the end of the county road, Coleman Canyon Rd., Schnebly Canyon Rd., and Cook Canyon Rd. Additional roads include - Liberty Rd., Williams Creek Rd., Harkness Rd., Pine Gulch Rd. east of Red Top Rd., Cougar Gulch Rd., Boulder Creek Rd., Upper Green Canyon Rd., Sun East Rd. at the top of Robbins Rd., and Elk Springs Rd.
A community meeting has been planned for 7:00 p.m. today:
Central Washington University - Student Union Center Theater
400 East University Way - Ellensburg, Washington
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