8.10 Upper Falls Fire Update

Upper Falls Fire Update    

August 10, 2014                   8:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team- Pete Blume, Incident Commander

Information Center:  509-996-9971              Hours of operation:  7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Email:   upperfallsfire@gmail.com

Yesterday

Fire was active on the north end and along Falls Creek Road. Crews continued work along Falls Creek Road to keep the fire from crossing the road. The contingency line (dozer and hand line) from the Farewell Fire scar to the Falls Creek Road south of the fire was completed. Dozers constructed line between the Falls Creek and Eight Mile Creek Roads. Helicopters dropped water to check and delay movement to the west and south.

Today 

Crews will hold the fire along Falls Creek Road. Some firing operations may occur as necessary to secure portions of Falls Creek Road. Dozers will continue to construct line from Falls Creek Road to Eight Mile Road. Helicopters will continue to drop water to check and delay movement to the west and south.

Air resources are playing a vital role in the successful containment of this fire and are supporting the Little Bridge Fire and initial attack on new fires.

Evacuations  (including all evacuations in the Methow Valley area)

Level 1:  Pine Forest, Sun Mountain Resort, Pearrygin Lake State Park, East Chewuch Road to Boulder Creek, and the Twist River from Elbow Coulee to the Forest Boundary.

There are no level 2 or 3 evacuations in effect.

Weather:  Sunny with smoke, Highs around 90; wind from the southwest at10 mph with gusts to 20

Fire Statistics

Start Date:  08/03/2014                              Size: 5,688 acres                   Percent Contained:  0%

Location:  17 miles north of Winthrop, WA                                               Total Personnel:  231

Resources Assigned:  1 Type 1 hand crews, 3 Type 2 Initial Attack crew; 30 engines, 4 dozers,

                                     11 water tenders; 2 Type 1, 2 Type 2, and 2 Type 3 Helicopters

Closures

The East Chewuch Road is now closed from the intersection of East and West Chewuch roads (at the bridge) up to the National Forest to provide a safe travel route for fire vehicles.

Forest closures:  call the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (509) 996-4000 or go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices

Highway closures:  Washington Department of Transportation at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/

Other places to get information

Twitter:  #UpperFallsFire

Inciweb:  http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4060/

Firefighter thank-yous:  https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs

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