“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” –John Quincy Adams
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NATIONAL FIRE STATS
166 NEW Fires [Light] Initial Activity. 16 NEW Large Fire Incidents. 4 NEW Large Fires Contained. 105 Uncontained Large Fires. 2 Area Command Teams Committed. 15 Type 1 IMTs & 28 Type 2 IMTs Committed.
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WASHINGTON FIRE STATS
Today’s Fire Stats: 0 NEW Large fires. 15 NEW Fires for 67 acreS. 6 Type 1 IMTs Committed. 11 Type 2 with 1 en route. 1 Area Command Team.
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BALDY FIRE: Located 26 miles NE of Colville and 6 miles NW of Ione, this fire started on 8/1/15 with an unknown reported cause but 25 lightning strikes occurred during one of the most recent thunderstorms. The fire behavior has minimal spread, but is still backing with group torching. Homes and structures are currently also threatened. Evacuations still in effect. Resources: 194 Personnel, 3 Crews, 2 Helos, 1 Engine. The fire is at a 80% containment status. 515 total acres burned. This fire will soon become part of the Kaniksu Complex.
“A Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) was used to get real-time weather information from the vicinity of the fire.” – Courtesy via Inciweb.
BLACK CANYON FIRE: Located just 8 miles W of Pateros, the Black Canyon Fire was ignited by lightning that has consumed 4,667 acres worth of land and has no 0% containment status yet. It is reported have “extreme” fire behavior with crowning, flanking and spotting. Road and area closures are in effect. Fire is managed by the PNW Team 2 along with Chelan Complex, McFarland, First Creek, Wolverine and Blankenship Fires.
“Super Skidgent” Used to bring water to Mop-Up. Courtesy via Inciweb.
CARPENTER FIRE: This fire started on 8/14/15 from lightning and is located 35 miles NW of Spokane. It has destroyed 5,170 acres and currently has a 0% containment status. Still threatened are 400 homes, commercial property and structures. 15 homes have been destroyed along with 13 others. Threatened currently now are 200 other structures.Some have been reportedly as destroyed. Evacuations completed, remain in effect. Fire Mobe approved 8/14/15. Current staffing includes 103 Personnel, 3 Helicopters and 1 Engine.
CHELAN COMPLEX: The Chelan Complex is composed of 3 merged fires: Reach, Cagle and Antoine Creek. This complex is located 1 mile S of Chelan. It was stated to have started on 8/14/15, with still an unknown cause. 63,425 acres have been scorched but fire crews have successfully reached a 30% containment status so far. Active fire behavior is being reported with uphill runs, group torching and spotting. Roads and area closures are in effect. Some reports indicate structures and residences destroyed with more being threatened, including commercial property and the Chelan Airport. Fire Mobe approved 8/14.
–> Reach Fire: The Reach fire is located 1 mile S of Chelan that has destroyed 29 homes. It continues to threaten 500 homes, structures, Hwy 97 and infrastructure. 506 Personnel, 11 Crews, 6 Helicopters and 76 Engines are working tirelessly on this incident and on many others. It has reached a 30% containment burning 814 acres.
“The Reach Fire, in all it’s Glory.” Courtesy via Inciweb
COUGAR CREEK FIRE: Located 6 miles NW of Greenwood,441 personnel are on this fire incident and have achieved a 20% containment status, due to morning mist, cooler temps and calmer winds. However, it still has an active fire behavior with flanking, torching and short-range spotting. Resources have been moved N to keep from the fire reaching the Big Muddy Creek area. 441 Personnel, 10 Crews, 6 Helicopters, 18 Engines on scene.. Heavy usage of air resources were scheduled to be used today. 20 Homes are threatened along with 10 other structures. 22,600 acres have burned.
“Cougar Creek Smoke Plume via visual from the Glenwood ICP.” Taken on 8/12/15 around 1600 PDT. Courtesy via Inciweb.
FIRST CREEK FIRE: This fire is located 8 miles NW of Chelan and is listed with a 2% containment status. It was started by lightning which has burned 1656 acres. Reports of active fire behavior with short crown runs, backing and creeping are in progress. Area and road closures are in effect. Threats include: 419 single residences, 73 multi-unit residences and 63 other minor structures. Evacuations have been conducted. Staffing includes: 204 Personnel, 6 Crews and 22 Engines. Managed by the PNW Team 2 along with Chelan Complex, McFarland, Black Canyon, Wolverine and Blankenship Fires.
GOLD HILL FIRE: The Gold Hill Fire is located 10 miles W of Colville and 1 mile of Kettle Falls. The fire ignited on 8/14/15 by lightning, starting ablaze heavy fire fuels consuming 600 acres so far. Moderate fire behavior reported but still a threat to 40 homes. 121 Personnel, 3 Crews, 8 Engines are the current resources on the fire ground.
“Firefighters on First Creek Fire”. Courtesy via Inciweb
GRIZZLY BEAR COMPLEX: 17 Fires are in this Complex burning in the Weha-Tucannon Wilderness. It is said to be 20 miles SE of Dayton that started on 8/13/15 by lightning. A NIMO has been ordered. It has a 0% containment status and burned up 2,357 acres. 34 Personnel, 1 Crew, 1 Helicopter and 2 Engines are on this Fire incident. Fire behavior reportedly is active with structures and homes currently being threatened.
“The high number of Fire Resources on the First Creek Fire.” Courtesy via Inciweb.
KETTLE COMPLEX: The Kettle Complex consists of 4 fires. These group of fires are located 26 miles NW of Colville. The start date of these incidents were reported on 8/11/15 with a new one starting on 8/17/15 from an unknown cause.
“Burned out Guardrails”
#FireImage Courtesy of Inciweb
–> Stickpin Fire: Located 14 miles NE of Republic. Burned 37,850 acres. 0% containment status. Active fire behavior with group torching, spotting and creeping. 2400 Homes, 50 Mixed residential/commercial structures, 100 commercial properties, 1000 others along with major power lines, infrastructure are threatened. The fire is said to be burning on Kettle Crest between Curfew and Orient. The fire has also said to have reached the 2003 Tongo Fire area. Fire Mobe approved 8/14/15. 381 Personnel, 6 Crews, 33 Engines on the fire ground.
#FireImages Courtesy of Inciweb
–> Graves Mtn Fire: The fire started on 8/14/15 from lightning that has scorched 1300 acres. The fire is located 16 miles E of Republic and has reached 1304 acres. It’s current containment status is 0. 100 Residences are threatened along with 200 others. Primary power lines are threatened. Evacuations in effect. Staffing includes: 16 Personnel and 4 Engines.
“North End of Stickpin Fire” – Courtesy of Inciweb
–> Roy Road Fire: Roy also started on 8/14/15, but from an unknown cause. This fire has a low growth potential and is sitting at 120 acres. However, it is currently threatening 4 homes. Dozer lines have been completed around the fire perimeter. 1 Engine and 2 Tenders have been working on this incident. WA National Guard is also said to be deployed for additional manpower. Evacuations in effect. However, primary power lines, homes and structures are still being threatened. Area Command is managing this fire along with Kettle Complex, Stevens County Complex and Kanisku Complex.
–> Renner Fire: Renner Fire is located 13 miles NW of Kettle Falls that reportedly started on 8/14/15 by lightning. The fire threatens 40 homes and 60 other structures. 21 Personnel and 1 Engine are working on this fire that started yesterday on Monday, 8/17/15, with an unknown reason for ignition. Homes and structures are being reported as threatened. There is a 0% containment status. Update: Multiple calls received. A dozer and 1 20-person hand crew are now working on flanking the fire with the aid of air resources. It has not crossed Thompson Ridge. Level 1 Evacuations from Ferry County Sheriff’s Office still remain in effect with no change.
#FireImage [above] by John Foster-Fanning – Courtesy of Inciweb
MARBLE VALLEY FIRE: Fire started on 8/14/15 with an unknown cause. The fire has burned away 3,085 acres. This incident is listed with a 10% containment status. The fire behavior is moderate, however it is still threatening 1 non-residential commercial property, 75 other minor structures and 31 others. 3 have been destroyed. 73 personnel and 2 crews are on this incident.
“Cougar Creek Perspective from the South” by Amanda Hildenbrand – Courtesy of Inciweb
MCFARLAND CREEK FIRE: The McFarland Fire is located 8 miles W of Pateros that ignited on 8/14/15 from an unknown cause. Currently, it has a 0% containment status with 1368 acres scorched. 206 structures are threatened. 28 Personnel, 1 Crew and 1 Engine are staffing this fire event.
NORTH STAR FIRE: The North Star fire is located 25 miles N of Coulee Dam and 12 miles N of Nespelm and has burned N to Dugout Mtn and W of Moses Lake, off of the Colville Indian Reservation on to the Okanogan National Forest. The Fire Level has been raised to a 4 due to drought conditions, limited firefighting resources, new possible fire starts and extreme fire behavior. Currently, there have been Level 1 evacuations issued due to 20 homes, 150 outbuildings, 10 commercial structures and cattle being threatened. Other parts of the area have received Level 3 evaucations. To see the areas under evacuation, check out this great resource at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/indicent/4524. Total acres burned: 30,559 with a 0% containment status. This was caused by Human and under investigation. 167 Personnel along with 6 Crews, 9 Engines and 1 Helicopter are working this incident. There is no containment at this time.
“View from the Wolverine ICP” [Above] Courtesy of Inciweb
OKANOGAN COMPLEX: This fire has a combined staffing of 402 Personnel, 9 Crews, 2 Helos, 19 Engines. It is located 8 miles W of Pateros. This Complex includes the following fires:
–> Blue Lake Fire: 823 acres, 40% contained.
–> Lime Belt Fire: 3443 acres, 25% contained. NOTE: We heard this evening, that the fire has jumped Hwy 97 on to the other side from an unconfirmed source.
–> Tunk Block Fire: 2,744 acres, 20% contained.
–> Beaver Lake Fire: 723 acres. 0% containment.
–> 9 Mile Fire: 4704 acres. 90% containment.
THURSDAY CREEK: Started on 8/10/15, Thursday Creek is located 13 miles NE of Newhalem in the Ross Lake National Recreation area started by lightning. It is stated to have minimal staffing due to resources assigned to other priority fire incidents. This fire has burned 421 acres and has a 0% containment status.
TOWER FIRE: This fire named the Tower Fire is currently burning 35 miles E of Colville that began on 8/12/15 with an unknown ignition. It has consumed 7,743 acres but has a 5% containment status. At the moment, 25 residences are threatened along with 10 minor structures. 39 Personnel, 3 Engines are on this incident.
WOLVERINE FIRE: The long burning fire began originally on 6/29/15, from lightning that passed over in the area. It has consumed 40,357 acres, reaching a 30% containment status. However, it is still displaying active fire behavior with torching, flanking and backing. The fire has destroyed many residences and structures, while still threatening an undetermined number of others. Evacuations in effect. The fire has caused the halting of the $300M Holden Mine reclamation project. Smoke and ash are considerably affecting the area.The fire is threatening 150 Single homes, 80 Mixed commerical/residential and 12 non-residential/commercial properties. An unknown # of structures were lost. 252 Personnel, 1 Crew and 8 Engines are current resources assigned to this event. PNW Team 2 along with Chelan Complex, McFarland, First Creek, Wolverine and Blankenship Fires.
“Wolverine Fire Managers Planning Fire Tactics, Discuss Attack”. Courtesy via Inciweb.
[Thank You to our Fire Personnel, Support, Pilots, Medics, Structure Firefighters, Wildland Fire Crews and Everyone Else we Unintentionally have Forgotten: Thank you to the many who are in these photos and are not, we greatly appreciate all of your dedication, service and tireless efforts working to protect structures, buildings, commercial and other structures. For putting your lives on the line so others can live is something that we cannot express how many folks are saying “thank you”. We’ve been hearing about the many successes and the hard work you all are putting in. We wish you safety all around you. Keep it up the great work!]
[Thank You to our Supporters, You we call Family and Those in Between…Thank You for reading our Blog, becoming Followers on our Blog here, on Facebook and engaging us on Twitter. We couldn’t and definitely wouldn’t want to do this gig without you all. You all make it worthwhile and a blast! It’s what keeps us moving every day and worth the journey. Have a safe day/evening wherever the journey takes you.]
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