LITTLE BRIDGE CREEK FIRE UPDATE (Aug. 7) FROM INCIDENT COMMAND
Updated at 5 p.m. by Incident Commander Dave Leitch:
Thursday, August 7, 2014 @ 5 pm.
Our Inciweb site has been down for much of the day. In case you haven’t seen it, the following information is new since this morning’s update.
Okanogan County has implemented a new Level 1 Evacuation Order for the Little Bridge Creek Fire. The order affects residents on Twisp River Road from Elbow Coulee Road to the end of the Road. Level 1 evacuation orders remain in effect for residents in Pine Forest subdivision and Sun Mountain Lodge. There are no Level 2 or Level 3 evacuations in effect for this fire.
Management Team 5 Twisp, WA
Incident Commander: Dave Leitch
Thursday, August 7, 2014 @ 9AM
The Little Bridge Creek Fire started at approximately 6:30pm on Saturday, August 2, on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 10 miles west of Winthrop Washington. The fire was naturally caused, likely by lightning. Washington Incident Management Team Five (WIMT#5) assumed command of the fire at 6:00am on Monday, August 4.
Approximately 475 persons are in camp this morning, including 1 Type 1 Hotshot crew and numerous other hand crews and engines. Two helicopters are assigned to this fire, with additional air support available from other fires in the area, if needed.
The fire is located in a very steep, roadless area in heavy timber with a large component of bug killed trees. An infrared flight last night sized the fire at that time at approximately 1,500 acres with growth primarily to the east and south east. Containment is currently 0.0%.
No structures or infrastructure are immediately threatened. No Level 2 or Level 3 evacuation notices exist for this fire. Level 1 notification remains in place for the Pine Forest and Sun Mountain areas.
On Wednesday and again today, operations personnel continue to construct indirect line in appropriate locations between the fire and structures and infrastructure. Some of those lines will be used for significant firing operations to remove remaining fuel between the fire and those structures. Those burn-out operations are expected to begin this weekend assuming appropriate conditions and resources are present.
A community meeting will be held at 7pm Friday in the gym at the Twisp Community Center. Information Officers will also be at that location beginning around noon today, and will be providing information about the Little Bridge Creek, Carlton Complex, and Upper Falls Fires in the communities and surrounding area throughout the day.
Hot and dry weather with gusty afternoon winds is expected today. A dry cold front is expected to pass thru the area on Friday. Warming and drying will then occur over the weekend and early next week, with a chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday.
