ADDED AT 3 P.M. BY INCIDENT COMMAND
Carlton Complex and Upper Falls Creek Fire Update
Evacuation levels were reviewed this morning at a meeting with cooperators and fire managers. Given the status of the Carlton Complex, Little Bridge Creek, and Upper Falls Fires, evacuations are now in effect for the following areas. All other evacuation levels have been dropped.
Upper Falls Fire
Level 2 Evacuation
Beginning at 6 p.m., August 8, 2014, a Level 2 evacuation order will be implemented for the private land north of the East and West Chewuch River Bridge to the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest boundary due to increased fire traffic.
The Forest is closed at the boundary, including access to the Breviconus summer homes.
Carlton Complex Fire Area
Level 1 Evacuation
Pearrygin Lake State Park and East Chewuch Road
Little Bridge Creek Fire
Level 1
Sun Mountain Resort
Pine Forest
Private land along the Twisp River from Elbow Coulee to Forest Boundary
Area closures are in effect around the Upper Falls Fire. For information on these closures, visit the forest web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices
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ORIGINAL REPORT
LITTLE BRIDGE CREEK FIRE
Incident Commander: Dave Leitch
Friday, August 8, 2014 @ 9AM
A community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the gym at the Twisp Community Center. Information Officers will also be in both Twisp and Winthrop 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.
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. The fire is currently 0% contained.
Infrared data collected last night indicate the fire is currently approximately 2,200 acres – an increase of 700 aces during the past 24 hours. The fire continues to be located between Canyon Creek and Little Bridge Creek, with the exception of one small spot that occurred yesterday just across the upper end of Little Bridge Creek. Two light helicopters assigned to this fire, and additional aircraft borrowed from nearby fires, used bucket drops throughout the day to slow the spread on both sides of the fire.
Operations personnel continue to construct indirect line in appropriate locations between the fire and structures and infrastructure. Some of those lines will likely 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.
Two structural groups continue to assess and prepare for structural protection efforts, should they be needed. An Initial Attack Group is prepared to address any new fires should they occur – none have in the past 2 days.
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, and an additional Level 1 notification was put in place yesterday at 10am for Twisp River Road above Elbow Coulee.
A dry cold front is expected this afternoon, with windy conditions. Warming and drying will begin to build again beginning Saturday with temperature expected to approach 100 degrees on Monday, with a chance of thunder storms on Tuesday.
Chuck Turley, Incident Information Officer
Incident Information: (360)827-1931
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
