Burnout Operations Along Hwy 97 Near Blewett Pass

Incident: Table Mountain Fire Wildfire
Released: 1200 Hours – 9/26/12

 Crews will be performing burnout operations on the Table Mountain Fire today along Highway 97 near Blewett Pass.

One lane of Highway 97 is currently closed and pilot cars are leading traffic through the area.

Burnouts will begin around 3 pm today(9/26/2012) and continue for the next couple of days. Expect intermittent road closures and smoke impacts during that time.

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Evacuation Levels Update for Table Mountain Fire

Incident: Table Mountain Fire Wildfire
Released: 5 hrs. ago

Kittitas County Press Release

For Immediate Release

Table Mountain Fire – Evacuation Levels Updated

Kittitas County, WA -09/26/2012 – The Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center reduced some evacuation levels and coordinated the reopening of some state lands in the Table Mountain Fire area, effective 12pm today.

The Level 3 notification has been downgraded to Level 2 for Elk Springs Road above the northern-most set of power lines, and the area encompassing Upper Green Canyon Road east to Wilson Creek Road between the northern-most set of power lines and the southern boundary line of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. These areas are accessible to local traffic and residents only.

Evacuation Level 3 remains in place for the areas within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest that are accessed by Upper Green Canyon Road, Reecer Creek Road north of the upper snow park, and Wilson Creek Road.

The Level 1 notification has been removed and there are no restrictions from the lower portion of Upper Green Canyon Road southeast to Chukar Ridge Road and continuing southeast to Charlton Road. This includes Reecer Creek Road 1/2 mile south of the power lines, Robbins Road north of Chukar Ridge Road, Wilson Creek Road north of Charlton Road and Naneum Road north of Charlton Road. The area south of the Lauderdale junction to Elk Springs Road is also no longer under the Level 1 notification and has no restrictions.

Also effective at 12pm today, state lands have been reopened east of the Naneum State Forest to the Columbia River. This includes the Colockum, Quilomene and Whiskey Dick wildlife areas.

The Naneum State Forest and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (east of US97 to the Naneum State Forest) remain closed.

In the Liberty area, level 3 evacuations are still in place for Williams Creek Road, Harkness Road, Pine Gulch Road east of Red Top Road, Cougar Gulch Road, Boulder Creek Road and Liberty Mountain Association.

A Level 2 Evacuation notification remains in place for Liberty Road from US97 to Boulder Creek Road (the end of the county road), this includes the town of Liberty and any driveways directly connected to Liberty Road up to Boulder Creek Road; Pine Gulch Road west of Red Top Road, including Red Top Road; and from the Lauderdale junction north to Mineral Springs on the east side of US97 – only residences directly connected to US97.

A Level 1 Evacuation notification remains in place for the western corridor of US97 from the Lauderdale junction to Mineral Springs, including the Liberty Cafe area.

Local closures remain in effect for the following roads:

  • Liberty Road
  • Williams Creek Road
  • Harkness Road
  • Pine Gulch Road east of Red Top Road
  • Liberty Mountain Association
  • Cougar Gulch Road
  • Boulder Creek Road
  • Reecer Creek Road at the Snowpark
  • Wilson Creek Road at the end of the county road
  • Coleman Canyon Road
  • Schnebly Canyon Road
  • Cooke Canyon Road
  • Upper Green Canyon Road
  • Sun East area at the north end of Robbins Road
  • Elk Springs Road

The Red Cross emergency clear air shelter remains open at the Mercer Creek Church at 1407 N. B Street, Ellensburg.

Residents are encouraged to monitor the Kittitas County website, http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/, for updates and to view the interactive map, under the Table Mountain Fire response page. For additional evacuation or road closure information, please call the EOC at 509-933-8305.

Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us

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Table Mountain Fire News Release – 9/26/2012

Incident: Table Mountain Fire Wildfire
Released: 10 hrs. ago

Table Mountain Fire Update

Contact: Public Information Office – 206-947-9705 or 206-947-9737

Tuesday, September 26, 2012 – 9:00 am PDT Fire Status Update

Size: 37,677 acres

Contained: 15%

Personnel: 1,136

News & Events for the Table Mountain Fire:

· The Incident Command Post (ICP), previously located in Teanaway, has moved to Anderson Hay, located south of the Rotary Park in Ellensburg. Additional traffic and equipment on Hwy 97 can be expected for the duration of the incident.

· A travel route for fire equipment has been planned to minimize impacts to local traffic. Today, local law enforcement will assist with traffic flow at the intersection of Hwy 97 and West University Way. Local residents can expect additional traffic from 6:30-7:30 a.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. daily.

· The Table Mountain and Wenatchee Complex Fires have grown together north and east of Blewett Pass. This was a strategic effort by firefighters achieved through carefully planned and executed burnout operations. Fire management teams from both fires will continue to closely coordinate suppression efforts in the area.

· The fire is expected to continue slowly backing down in areas of grass or other low vegetation, with more intense burning of single or groups of trees in forested areas.

· Night shift firefighters continue to patrol and remain available for initial attack response if needed.

· Evacuation levels, area and road closures remain in place for public safety purposes. Lifting of evacuations is being evaluated on a daily basis. Current information on evacuations is available from the Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at www.co.kittitas.wa.us or (509) 933-8305.

· The Table Mountain Fire offers information on social media sites which are listed below.

Table Mountain Fire Operations Summary:

Yesterday crews continued to strengthen line and completed burn out operations on the northwest corner of the fire. Crews also strengthened containment lines on the western flank of the fire in preparation for a burn out operation that will be completed within the next few days as weather and fire behavior conditions permit. Firefighters continued to make excellent progress using dozers and hand crews to construct line and secure the southern and eastern perimeter of the fire. Night operations focused on maintaining current lines and secured protection around structures within and around the communities of Liberty, Reecer, Sun East, and Liberty Mountain.

Today firefighters plan to strengthen lines by conducting more burnout operations as conditions allow. Firefighters will also improve line and build direct line closer to the fire’s edge where possible. Crews will begin mop-up operations and build direct lines in the southwest and eastern flank of the fire area. Along the west side of the fire dozer and hand line will be constructed in preparation for the burnout operation which will take place within the next couple of days. Residents can expect to see an increase in smoke during the peak burning window in the afternoon, as temperatures rise and fuels dry out. Operations continue to seek the opportunity to build direct line and to minimize impact to the surrounding forest. Night crews will continue to patrol, hold and mop up where needed.

Closures: Local road closures remain in effect; go to the Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center, Inciweb or the Okangon-Wenatchee National Forest website for current road and area closure information.

Area Closures: As of September 22, 2012, all State lands east of the Naneum State Forest line to the Columbia River are closed due to fire hazards. This includes the Colockum, Quilomene and Whiskey Dick’s Wildlife Areas. Forest closures remain in place for the Naneum State Forest and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest east of Highway 97.

US Highway 97 has been closed intermittently, or restricted access, due to the fire situation. For the most updated information, visit the Washington Department of Transportation website at http://www.wsdot.was.gov/

Forest Service and Department of Natural Resource Road Closures: Reecer Creek Road at the Sno-park, 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.

Red Cross Shelter: The shelter at Mercer Creek Church remains open. The church is located at 407 North “B” Street in Ellensburg. The shelter can provide meals, toiletries, showers or other services, even for those who do not need to stay overnight.

Animal Shelter: Evacuated livestock and temporary housing for small pets available until a vet clinic can be found for providing long-term care. There is 30 livestock currently housed at the shelter for this purpose. Shelter staff are taking calls from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday at 509-962-7639. If a need arises outside of normal business hours, please call the Emergency Operations Center at 509-933-8305.

FIRE FACTS: Table Mountain Fire: Started: September 8, 2012 Cause: lightning Location: Cle Elum, WA/Kittitas County Resources: A total of 1,136 personnel are assigned to the fire, including 24 crews, 6 helicopters, 73 engines, 9 dozers and 14 water tenders.

RESOURCE CONCERNS: Multiple historic cabins, archaeological sites, mines, threatened and endangered species, old growth reserves.

WEATHER: A weak cold front will move through the incident today and this will shift the winds from the west to the northwest and bring slightly cooler air. Drier air is expected this evening on ridge tops with lower humidity, but good humidity recovery is expected at lower elevations. Maximum temperature is predicted at 74 degrees at lower elevations and 64 degrees at higher elevations. Relative humidity is predicted at 24-26% for lower elevations and 26-30% at high elevation. Downslope winds will be 6-8 mph becoming upslope 4-8 mph after 11:00 AM. Ridgetop winds from the west will become northwest 5-8 mph with gusts to 15 mph.

WEATHER OUTLOOK: A warming and drying trend is predicted for the next couple of days, with mostly cloudy to partly cloudy conditions. Areas of smoke are expected in the valleys, especially in the mornings.

TODAY’S EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR: Upslope winds on the northwest flank of the fire will continue to aid burnout operations. On the west side the fire is expected to continue slowly backing down. On the southwest flank, backing fire with short, intense runs uphill are expected when the smoke lifts. On the east flank the fire is expected to continue slowly backing down and crews will begin mop up.

COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Fire Marshall, Kittitas County Fire Districts #1, #2, #7, Kittitas County Sheriff, Yakima County Sheriff, National Guard Resources, British Columbia Wildfire and the Okanagon-Wenatchee National Forest.

For text message updates via Twitter (no Twitter account is necessary). Send a text message to 40404 and in the body of the message simply write “Follow TableMtnWAFire” (without the quotation marks). You’ll receive a reply from 40404 confirming your request and noting instructions to stop messages when you no longer need them. Standard message rates will apply.

For satellite imagery that shows smoke from fires in the area go to the following link: http://sat.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/loopsat.php wfo=otx&area=west&type=vis&size=1

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Table Mountain Fire News Release – 9/24/2012

Incident: Table Mountain Fire Wildfire
Released: 2 days ago

Table Mountain Fire Update

Contact: Public Information Office – 206-947-9705 or 206-947-937

Monday, September 24, 2012 – 12:00 pm PDT

Size: 35,965 acres

Contained: 10%

Personnel: 944

News & Events for the Table Mountain Fire:

· A burnout operation is planned for the northwest end of the Table Mountain Fire along a 1-mile section of fire line. The burnout is being carefully planned to minimize impacts to Hwy 97.

· Slightly warmer and drier conditions expected for today may contribute to a slight increase in fire activity. Interior burning continues within the fire perimeter. The fire is expected to continue slowly backing down the fire perimeter in areas of grass or other low vegetation, with more intense burning of single or groups of trees.

· Night shift firefighters continue to patrol and remain available for initial attack response as needed.

· The Pacific Northwest (PNW) Team 2 managing the Table Mountain Fire is working closely with the managers of the Wenatchee Complex Fires to the north, coordinating fire suppression efforts where the two fires are in close proximity.

· Evacuation levels, area and road closures remain in place for public safety purposes (detailed information below); approximately 800 structures remain threatened. Lifting of evacuations is currently being evaluated.

· The Table Mountain Fire offers information on social media sites which are listed below.

· The Incident Command Post, currently located in Teanaway, will move to the Rotary Park sports complex in Ellensburg on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, as PNW Team 2 assumes support of an additional 150 firefighters from the Wild Rose Fire and Yakima Complex.

Table Mountain Fire Operations Summary:

Yesterday crews finished line preparation on the NW flank of the fire and performed some burnout operations to strengthen the line. Crews also continued efforts to strengthen and tie in portions of the fire line along the W/S flanks. In the SW flank firefighters accomplished extensive line preparation and constructed some direct line closer to the fire’s edge. Crews have tied in hand lines with dozer lines near Wilson Creek. On the west flank, crews strengthened contingency lines. Last night fire crews continued structure protection and patrol.

Fire crews continue to provide initial attack response and structure protection around Liberty and Reecer.

Today, firefighters will continue with coordinated burnout operations and building of direct line where possible on the southwest and west flanks. On the south flank, crews will continue working in the Wilson Creek area, utilizing the 35711 road system, existing clear cuts and hand line to tie in segments of the fire line. Newly arriving resources will be assigned to the east flank to start building line from the county line south.

Closures: Local road closures remain in effect; go to the Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center, Inciweb or the Okangon-Wenatchee National Forest website for current road and area closure information.

Area Closures: As of September 22, 2012, all State lands east of the Naneum State Forest line to the Columbia River are closed due to fire hazards. This includes the Colockum, Quilomene and Whiskey Dick’s Wildlife Areas. Forest closures remain in place for the Naneum State Forest and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest east of Highway 97.

US Highway 97 has been closed intermittently, or restricted access, due to the fire situation. For the most updated information, visit the WADOT website at http://www.wsdot.was.gov/

Forest Service and Department of Natural Resource Road Closures: Reecer Creek Road 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.

Red Cross Shelter: The shelter at Mercer Creek Church remains open. The church is located at 407 North “B” Street in Ellensburg. The shelter can provide meals, toiletries, showers or other services, even for those who do not need to stay overnight.

Animal Shelter: Evacuated livestock and temporary housing for small pets available until a vet clinic can be found for providing long-term care. There is 30 livestock currently housed at the shelter for this purpose. Shelter staff are taking calls from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday at 509-962-7639. If a need arises outside of normal business hours, please call the Emergency Operations Center at 509-933-8305.

FIRE FACTS: Table Mountain Fire: Started: September 8, 2012 Cause: lightning Location: Cle Elum, WA/Kittitas County Resources: A total of 944 personnel are assigned to the fire, including 21 crews, 5 helicopters, 82 engines, 10 dozers and 19 water tenders.

RESOURCE CONCERNS: Multiple historic cabins, archaeological sites, mines, threatened and endangered species, old growth reserves.

WEATHER: Sunny. Areas of valley smoke in the morning, and patchy valley smoke in the afternoon. Maximum temperature predicted at 82 degrees at lower elevations and 70 degrees at higher elevations. Relative humidities are predicted at 20-28% for lower elevations and 28-37% at high elevation. Downslope winds 3-6 mph becoming upslope 4-8 mph after 11:00 AM. Ridgetop winds will be light, becoming west 4-8 mph by mid-afternoon.

WEATHER OUTLOOK: Partly cloudy tonight with areas of smoke. Good humidity recoveries on the mid-slopes and ridges. Temps 50-58 degrees at the ridge tops and 43-50 in canyon bottoms. Relative humidity max 50 to 70% midslope to ridgetop and 70 to 90% in canyon bottoms. Winds on ridges expected to be light and variable. Valley downcanyon/downslope 4 to 8 mph, but strong NW winds with gusts to 30 mph are likely in the Kittitas Valley into Monday morning.

TODAY’S EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR: On the NW flank of the fire warmer and drier conditions should improve conditions for burning out to strengthen containment lines. On the W flank there is potential for flare-ups and interior burning will continue but little spread is likely due to the fire being on scree slopes. On the SW flank, an increase in fire activity is expected, with more intense surface burning and isolated flare-ups of single or grouped trees. On the E flank, there is a potential for very rapid spread and intense flare-ups where fuels, wind and slopes align. No significant change in fire behavior is expected over the next several days.

COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Fire Marshall, Kittitas County Fire Districts #1, #2, #7, Kittitas County Sheriff, Yakima County Sheriff, National Guard Resources, British Columbia Wildfire and the Okanagon-Wenatchee National Forest.

MORE TABLE MOUNTAIN FIRE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES:

· Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/TableMountainWAFire/

· E-mail: TableMtComplex@gmail.com

· Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TableMountainWAFire

· Twitter: http://twitter.com/TableMtnWAFire

· Word Press: http://tablemountainwafire.wordpress.com/

For text message updates via Twitter (no Twitter account is necessary). Send a text message to 40404 and in the body of the message simply write “Follow TableMtnWAFire” (without the quotation marks). You’ll receive a reply from 40404 confirming your request and noting instructions to stop messages when you no longer need them. Standard message rates will apply.

For satellite imagery that shows smoke from fires in the area go to the following link: http://sat.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/showsat.php wfo=otx&area=west&type=vis&size=1

Okanogan – Wenatchee National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, WA 98801

REPOST

Source: WA DNR