Carlton Complex Fire Update
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team- Pete Blume,
Incident Commander
Information Center:
509-996-9971
Hours of operation: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Email: carltoncomplexfire@gmail.com
July 31, 2014
8 a.m.
Special Message: All
businesses are open in the Methow Valley to residents and visitors. Traffic in
residential areas impacted by fire is limited to local residents.
The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team and Carlton
Complex firefighters express our deepest condolences to the family and fire
crew of the firefighter who died on the Launch Fire in Oregon yesterday
(wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com).
Current Situation:
Multiple smoke plumes were visible from the Methow Valley
yesterday. The majority of the fuels burning were within the existing fire
perimeter. The fire increased 673 acres in size. Air resources continue to play
a significant role on the fire with the steep terrain. Helicopters with water
buckets were used to keep the fire within containment lines. The helicopters
will be using Campbell Lake and Davis Lake for water. The fire
was very active in the Leecher Mountain Lookout area, but the lookout itself
was not damaged. A helitack crew dispatched to assist with a spot fire in the
south fork of Gold Creek. Aggressive measures are being taken to contain the
spot fire utilizing crews and air support. Good progress was made containing
the portion of the fire near Foggy Dew. Two spot fires were present in the
Tripod Burn scar on the north end of the fire. Engines continue to patrol
neighborhoods and respond to resident fire and smoke concerns 24 hours a day.
Early this morning, a half-acre reburn occurred near the westside of Beaver
Creek, south of Highway 20.
Residents can continue to expect hazy conditions due to
smoke. Today’s fire suppression priority areas include: Foggy Dew, the Leecher
Mountain Lookout, north of Highway 20 and south of the southfork of Beaver
Creek, and the north end of the fire near Pearrygin. Activities include strengthening the
containment lines on active portions of the fire line and mop up on fire containment
lines behind homes. Five dozers will be working in the 2012 burn area on
Leecher Mountain. Rehabilitation of containment lines in the valley areas has
started.
Weather: A
Haines Index of 5 is predicted for today.
The Haines Index measures the stability and dryness of the air over the
fire. A Haines Index of 5 indicates that
there is a moderate potential for large fire growth.
Evacuations and Closures:
For information on evacuations please check with the Okanogan Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Service
Center (509) 846-2122.
For information on highway closures: Washington Department
of Transportation, www.wsdot.wa.gov.
Information on trail, road and campground closures: Okanogan Wenatchee National
Forest, (509) 996-4000.
Media Briefings: Media
briefings are available upon request.
Fire Statistics:
Location: 5 Miles SW of Okanogan, 7 Miles south of
Twisp Start
Date: 07/14/2014
Complex Size:
251,698 acres Percent
Contained: 71%
Cause:
Lightning Total
Personnel: 3,116
Resources Include:
13 Type 1 hand crews, 42 Type 2
hand crews, 27 Type 2 initial attack
crews, 171 engines,
45 water
tenders, and 722 overhead personnel
Air Resources:
8 Type 1 helicopters, 7 Type 2
helicopters, and 7 Type 3 helicopters, 1
air support module
Places to get information:
Blog: carltoncomplex.blogspot.com
Twitter: #carltoncomplex;
Rocky Mountain IMT @rmt1pio
Facebook: Carlton Complex Fire; Rocky Mountain IMT: https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs.
Information
Boards: Information is posted on
community boards in Winthrop, Twisp, and Carlton.
The Sheriffs office says the blog spot is the best place to go for fire activity information. The blog spot says the Sheriffs office is the best place to go for evacuation information. Just so this doesn't fall through the cracks with one thinking the other is taking care of things....will BOTH sites please confirm and post the link to a command decision level source where we can go for up to date evacation information? (thank you)
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