SIT REP 3 | 8/20/2020
PALMER FIRE
Washburn Road
5 mi ESE of Loomis
Okanogan County, Washington State
Start 8/18/2020 1500 PT
Incident Summary
Reported at 1451 PT on August 18, 2020 as being half way up Washburn Lake Road towards Washburn Lake.
DNR quickly mobilized, bringing in numerous air and ground resources. The winds were shifting driving the fire in all directions, consuming grass, scrubs and trees.
At 4 PM a level 2 evacuation was issued over Okanogan County Alerts as Okanogan County Sheriff’s Deputies, Fish and Wildlife Officers along with Border Patrol Agents made door to door notifications for persons south and west of Wannacut Lake.
By 1800 hours PT the fire was still progressing in all directions and was estimated at 1000 acres.
At 2050 PT, a level 3 evacuation was issued over Okanogan County Alerts as law enforcement made door-to-door notifications for the area west of Wannacut Lake, including Wannacut Lake Road from Ellis Barnes Road in the north, south to Richards Road. (Presser/NE WA IMT)
The map below:
Estimated fire perimeter map for Palmer. Adjusted acres is 11,191. This is a rough outline that is subject to change with better GIS data and mapping. An infrared flight has been ordered for tonight, but it is not guaranteed to happen.
This map shows the fire perimeter (red), level 3 evacuation area (pink), and level 2 evacuation area (yellow). The black dots are known structures. There could be others not showing on this map.
Current Status
Fire has scorched the BLM-Spokane District land in the amount of 11,191 acres of brush and grass. It has destroyed 30 or more structures. There is a 0% containment status.
Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized mobilization of state firefighting resources on August 19, 2020, at 9:45 am at the request of Fire Chief Darryl Perry, Okanogan County Fire District 10
Fire is moving towards the Canadian border and can be seen on the other side, prompting multiple emergency reporting and calls.
FIRE FACT
2015: WA Governonr Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency due to wildfire. It comes 5 years to the day that 3 firefighters were killed in Twisp during the OKANOGAN COMPLEX. (PALMER FIRE has similarities to the Compex Fire)
Fire behavior is extreme and has a fast-moving rate of spread.
A NW IMT Team 6 (Sheldon) has been ordered to manage the incident.
Evacuations – Level 3 (GO NOW!)
- Wannacut Lake Road at Ellemeham Mountain Road
- Ellis Barns Road at Loomis-Oroville Road
- Blue Lake Road at Lake Front Road
- Washburn Lake Road at Loomis-Oroville Road to Ellis Barnes Road
- Ellemeham Mountain Road to Ellis Barnes Road
- Loomis-Oroville Road from Toats Coulee Road to Chopaka Road
Fire Weather
Fire continues to burn actively today. I am very concerned about the potential for fire spread tomorrow. Although humidities will be 30-35%, sustained winds could reach 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph, pushing the fire further north. Fuels here are very dry! – WA Fire MET
Resources
There are 398 personnel assigned to the incident. Fire management is under a NE WA Team 3, IMT.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray will remain activated to Level 1 to help coordinate state assistance for the Palmer Fire. State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are en route to the scene to coordinate dispatch of resources
Resources: AA 2QM AA 4TS AR 27 BC 32 BC 601 BC 603 C 6201 DNR 33 E 6695 E 692 FB 201 FB 202 FB 244 FB 245 FP 18 H 344 HB 171PL HI 25 (IC) HI 26 HI 27 HI 60 HI 7102 HI 7103 HI 7104 HI 7106 HI 7108 HI 7110 HI 7112 SO 30 T 102 T 152
Incident Cooperators: WA IMET, WA National Guard, District firefighters, DNR, BLM.
Through the Eyes of Social Media
A bad fire situation in the state…exactly 5 years to the day after 3 firefighters died in Twisp during the Okanogan County Complex. – News Media
@nwfireblog – Twitter, Facebook NW Fire Blog – Instagram
(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 8/20/2020 2215 PT
NW Fire Blog 