Mile Marker #28 Wildfire – Hwy 97 (Goldendale) – 0900

Washington Incident Management Team 2

Incident Commander – Nathan Rabe

Deputy Incident Commander – Rex Reed

Mile Marker 28 Fire Update

August 4, 2013 – 9:00 AM

WEBSITE: Inciweb.org/incident/3557 INFO CENTER: (509) 773-7136 or 7059

EMAIL: MileMarker28Fire@gmail.com The phone lines will be disconnected tomorrow.

ACRES – 27,102

CONTAINMENT – 87%

TOTAL PERSONNEL – 797

 The Mile Marker 28 Fire is located 15 miles northeast of Goldendale, Washington along Highway 97. The fuels on this fire include grasslands, shrub brush, timber, and timber litter.

FIRE SITUATION: Mop-up operations continued yesterday, extinguishing and removing burning material 150-200 feet from the fire perimeter. Nearly all 41 miles of the fire line have now been covered by fire crews. In addition, handheld infrared thermovision equipment is being utilized by crews to identify “hot spots” within the 200 foot buffer of the fire perimeter. Night time patrolling of the fire perimeter will continue tonight.

Fire activity is expected to be minimal due to the combined abundance of mop-up along containment lines and the relatively high humidity levels. Nevertheless, the continued burning of heavy fuels within the fire perimeter will be noticeable, but the risk of spread will remain relatively low. Fire officials have indicated that smoke will likely be visible throughout the burn area for many weeks to come. Air quality and smoke information for Washington State can be found at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com.

Fire lines no longer being utilized, as well as roads used by fire personnel, are being identified by resource advisors and fire operations. The rehabilitation of these areas is designed to protect human life and safety, and reduce flood severity, soil erosion and prevent the establishment of non-native plants.

There are now 797 personnel assigned to the fire. Several are being demobilized today and the personnel remaining, including the management team, will be demobilized over the next several days. The plan is to transition to a smaller, Type 3 fire organization on Monday morning. That smaller force will consist of two Co-Incident commanders, two Division Supervisors, four Task Force Leaders, four crews, four Strike Team of engines and other overhead personnel, whose assignment will be to hold and patrol the existing fire perimeter. The fire information phone lines listed above will be disconnected tomorrow. For fire information, call the Klicitat Co. Sheriff’s Office at (509) 773-4455 or Dispatch Center at (509) 773-4545 or 4547.

Although much of the fire danger has passed, many areas of concern to the public remain. Fire officials recommend anyone driving through US Highway 97 only stop if you are experiencing an emergency situation. Rolling debris, dangerous and unstable trees, and underground burning stumps continue to create hazards for anyone in the burn area. US Highway 97 is now open and due to safety concerns, the speed limit has been reduced to 40 mph. For additional information call the WSDOT closure hotline: (509) 577-1617.

Regard for human safety and management of risks guides all fire management decisions and actions on the Mile Marker 28 Fire. Only minor injuries related to the heat have occurred at this time. The Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 2 would like to thank the public for their support during the fire situation.

A Burn Ban is in effect on all Department of Natural Resources administered lands. No campfires are permitted on state protected lands, even in developed campgrounds: www.dnr.wa.gov . Most wildfires are caused by people. Fire officials urge the public to be cautious during the summer season and help us prevent wildfires.

EVACUATIONS: (Information from the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office). All emergency notices remain the same at Level 1. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office urges the public to be cautious and aware of emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, supporting vehicles and personnel which will remain in the area.

SHELTER: The Red Cross Shelter located at Fathers House Fellowship has been closed. For information please call the National Red Cross at 888-610-1455.

RESOURCES: 17 Crews, 2 Helicopters, 58 Engines, 5 Dozers, 13 Water Tenders, 4 Camp Crew = Total Personnel 797

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Colockum Tarps Wildfire – SE WA – 0900 PST

Fire fighters continue building and improving lines to surround the Colockum Tarps Fire; if conditions allow, may start burn-out operations today.

Wenatchee, Wash. – Firefighting crews continued working hard to complete fire lines along the western perimeter of the Colockum Tarps Fire. They are making good progress in the steep, timbered draws along that flank of the fire. The remaining four and one half (4.5) miles of fire line construction require careful preparation in order to successfully burn out remaining fuels and secure the line.

Fire managers say that once the last segments of line are connected, weather conditions will determine how quickly crews can fully implement burn-out of the heavy fuels along the line and within the steep, forested canyons inside of the fire perimeter. Drier conditions are needed before these ground and aerial ignition operations can start. High relative humidity near 70 percent at the burn area will not allow for a clean, thorough reduction of fuels.

The 80,400-acre fire is now 60 percent contained. Two strike teams of engines will continue patrolling and mopping up during night shifts tonight.

Because of increasing temperatures and concern about the potential spread of the fire outside fire lines, evacuation levels for Kittitas County remain in effect. Level 3 evacuation status levels remain unchanged for the area west of the fire in Kittitas County where residents from approximately 45 structures are still evacuated. Level 1 Evacuation Notification is still in effect for vicinities accessed by Colockum Road, Tarpiscan Road, and Kingsbury Road in Chelan County. The Colockum Road is still closed in Kittitas County.

Firefighters continue work to rehabilitate hand and dozer-created fire lines along the northern-most and South Branch perimeters of the fire. Firefighters are mopping up the fire for the distance needed to provide containment inside all fire lines and 500 feet around structures.

High relative humidity, cooler temperatures, and cloud cover have kept fire activity at a minimum, the last couple of days. There is a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms today and temperatures are predicted to climb early this week, increasing the potential for active fire behavior. Line establishment and reinforcement activities, including burn-outs, will help to make sure the fire stays within established perimeters.

The Colockum Tarps Fire has been burning since Saturday, July 27, 2013, through dry grass, sagebrush and timber growing in steep drainages along the western shore of the Columbia River, 11 miles southwest of Wenatchee, Washington. On July 31, the push from easterly winds moved the fire toward sparsely populated areas along the Parke, Caribou and Colockum Roads in Kittitas County where a Level 3 evacuation notice was issued.

Fire Facts – Sunday, August 4, 2013 – 0900 HOURS

Fire Size: approximately 80,400 acres Percent Contained: 60%

Evacuations: In effect in Kittitas and Chelan Counties. There are numerous road closures in the vicinity. The Red Cross Shelter is located at Mercer Creek Church, 1407 North E Street, Ellensburg, Wash. An animal shelter is available at the Kittitas Valley Event Center. For more information contact the Kittitas County Emergency Operations Center 509 933-8305.

Fuels: Grass, brush, with timber at the higher elevations

Air Resources: One light, one medium, and two heavy helicopters.

Crews: 3 Type I crews; 8 Type II crews

Engines: 71 Dozers: 8 Water Tenders: 13

Total Personnel: Approx. 780

Cost to Date: $5 million

 

Source:  inciweb.org

 

2013 The NW Fire Blog