Incident: Okanogan Complex Wildfire
Released: 1000 Hours – 9/25/2012
Burnout operations continued on the Middle Fork area of the Buckhorn fire yesterday. This was accomplished by both aerial ignition and firefighters on the ground. The fire backed down nicely towards the road in the middle fork of Gold Creek. Today, the remaining small area between yesterday’s operation and its intended target will be completed by firefighters with drip torches. Crews with hose lines will be monitoring progression to avoid spots over the line.
The Leecher fire is approaching completion of the required mop-up standards. Rehabilitation, backhaul, and gridding will continue today, with end of shift today as a goal.
Weather conditions for this operational period will be 5-10 degrees cooler than yesterday. The humidities will remain in the 30-40 percent range, while the fire will experience weak northernly winds. Fuels that are larger than one half inch in diameter are still dry and will burn, but fire movement is slowing in these types of areas.
Tomorrow morning, Wednesday September 26th, at 6:00 a.m. the command and management of this fire will be transferred to a Type 3 team being managed by the local forest. Camp will continue at its current site for the foreseeable future to continue to support firefighters and other resources that will be remaining to assist in the containment and extinguishment of this complex.
Remember, as the fall season arrives, fuel moisture levels at this time are unseasonably lower than normal, and that any sparks or ignition sources could ignite another wildfire. Enjoy this time of year, but be fire smart.
To view high quality photos and maps visit the fire blog at: http://okanogancomplex.wordpress.com/.
Fire at a Glance
Size in Total Acres
Hunter – 211
Leecher – 1,320
Buckhorn – 4,63
Containment: 75%
Location: southern Methow Valley in Washington state.
Cause: Lightning (9/8/12)
Personnel: 518
Evacuations: Level and Area 1, 2
Buckhorn Fire: South Fork Gold Creek Residences, 3
Buckhorn Fire: Middle Fork and North Fork Gold Creek residences.
####
Incident: Okanogan Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/24 2000 Hours
Significant progress was made yesterday (9/23) 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 (9/24) 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.
####
Incident: Okanogan Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/23/12
The Buckhorn Fire was once again quiet on three sides, giving firefighters opportunity to complete preparations for the final assault. The northwest flank has remained hot and active, and plans are in place today to begin burning out the remaining fuels between the fire and the Middle Fork of Gold Creek.
“We want to strike while weather conditions remain favorable,” said Operations Chief Ron Barber. Heavy smoke accumulation or relative humidity above the threshold for ignition are possible factors which would delay the aerial burnout operation.
Residents are advised to expect smoky conditions today in the Gold Creek vicinity. The Goat Fire continues to blaze brightly and conspicuously along the rim above homes near the Golf Course at Alta Lake. As the fire proceeds slowly down the rocky bluffs, firefighters are waiting at the bottom with hoses and sprinklers, dozer lines, engines, and crews to stop it from advancing further.
Elsewhere on the fire, the line constructed to the northwest along Adam’s Ridge was breached last night. Firefighters will survey the situation today to make containment plans. There was also growth to the southwest. The Hunter fire was patrolled on Saturday and there were no visible smokes. The Leecher Fire continues to be checked for hot spots with hand-held infra-red sensors. Management of the Goat Fire will shift today as Washington Incident Management Team 5 assumes responsibility for suppression activity.
Future updates regarding the Goat Fire will be produced separately by the Washington Team. Oregon Incident Management Team 1 will continue to direct activity on the Okanogan Complex, which will consist of the Buckhorn, Leecher, and Hunter Fires.
The Oregon Team is working with local agencies to develop a plan to return responsibility for the Complex back to the local agencies. Suggested websites for those interested in preparing their homes and surroundings for better wildfire survival include http://www.fireadapted.org and http://www.firewise.org. The Pateros Web Cam shows air quality near Goat Fire:
http://paterosriversrestaurant.com/webcam/.
####
Incident Overview
The Okanogan Complex is made up of four separate fires occurring in the Methow Valley. The Buckhorn, Leecher, and Hunter Fire were all sparked by a lightning storm on Saturday 9/8/12. The Goat Fire started a week later on the night of 9/15/12 and its cause is still under investigation.
Public traveling in the vicinity of Pateros, Methow, Carlton, and Twisp may experience additional traffic due to fire and emergency responder vehicles in the area. The business and communities in these areas are all open and welcome visitors.
The Oregon Incident Management Team #1 assumed management of the Okanogan Complex on September 12th. Fire crews working on this fire have included U.S. Forest Service, Washington State D.N.R., Okanogan County Districts #6 and #15, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and various private contractors. Most recently the complex has welcomed a 14-person crew from Canada to assist in firefighting efforts. Fire managers have been very pleased with the cooperation and professionalism that all of the crews have been displaying.
With multiple fires in central Washington, smoke from local and regional fires may accumulate and build up close to the ground. Fire managers ask the public to take the adequate precautions to protect their personal health. To learn more about health hazards associated with smoke inhalation and to find a real-time air quality map, visit the Washington Department of Ecology website: fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx.
Now more than ever, citizens and visitors are asked to obey all fire restrictions in these areas. Grass and vegetation is extremely dry and a spark can ignite a wildfire.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Saturday September 08th, 2012 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Location | Methow Valley Ranger District, Carlton, WA |
| Incident Commander | Ross Williams |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 426 |
|---|---|
| Size | 6,131 acres |
| Percent Contained | 75% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Tuesday October 02nd, 2012 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Timber, grass and understory |
| Fire Behavior | Burnout along the northern perimeter of the Buckhorn fire above the Middle Fork of Gold Creek was accomplished with aerial and hand ignition. Burnout in interior unburned islands continue with backing, creeping, short runs and isolated torching. The Leecher fire activity was limited to smoldering and creeping ground fire; No fire activity was observed on the Hunter fire. |
| Significant Events | Air operations to complete burnout on the Buckhorn fire started again this afternoon as smoke inversion lifted. Reinforcement of control lines continues on the north, east, and south perimeter of the Buckhorn fire. Good progress continues on mop up and rehabilitation on the Leecher fire. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Continue to support IA in the area, continue to use air resources as air quality permits for monitoring, bucket support for suppression effort, and to assist in IA as needed. On Buckhorn fire, continue mop-up along west and south perimeters, burnout unburned islands and continue mop-up on northwest line. If visibility allows, utilize buckets to check fire edge. Continue mop-up and suppression rehabilitation on Leecher fire. Continue to recon for rehabilitation needs. For night operational period, patrol with engines on the Buckhorn fire, monitoring burnout along northwest perimeter. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | High |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme |
| Remarks | Cost for the Buckhorn Fire includes suppression and support costs for the Leecher and Hunter Fires. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 13 mph S |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 84 degrees |
| Humidity | 28% |
Information Number: 509-997-0568
For more information: www.inciweb.org/incident/3261
Monitor real-time air quality:
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.ltr.aspx
REPOST
Source: InciWeb
NW Fire Blog 
Comments are closed.