Fire Update 8-26-14

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

TWISP, WA:  A high pressure building over all three fires will continue to result in a gradual warming and drying trend. This is expected to last until the end of the week. High winds are predicted for Thursday and Friday over the fire areas. With this increase in temperatures, interior smoke from smoldering in heavy timber and brush may be seen from the fire areas as things dry out. Crews continue to mop-up and complete suppression repair work.

The Upper Falls, Little Bridge Creek, and Carlton Complex Fires are all at 100% containment as of yesterday (8/25).

Clean-up and recovery efforts are being coordinated on the local, state, and federal levels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, which responds to emergencies created by natural disasters. For more information on how landowners impacted by these fires can possibly be eligible for financial and technical assistance, please go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/ewpp/#actualContent.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest assembled a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment team to analyze post-fire conditions of burned watersheds and to plan emergency stabilization treatments for the Carlton Complex and other Central Washington Wildfires. For more information and to stay updated on efforts regarding post-fire efforts, please go to http://centralwashingtonfirerecovery.info/

The Methow Valley Ranger District has re-opened the entire West Chewuch Road. FS Road #51 is re-opened from Eight Mile Ranch to the end of the road at the 30 Mile Trailhead. The Eight Mile #5130 is now open from the intersection at West Chewuch Road to the intersection at Ortell Creek Road #5220. The remainder of the Eight Mile Road north of the intersection will remain closed. The Billygoat Trailheads are not accessible. The portion of FS Road #4410 that goes over Thompson Ridge from Thompson Pass to Twisp River is now open. FS Road #4415, Little Bridge Creek, remains closed. See the forest website for details of closures: http://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen

There is a Forest Closure for areas surrounding the Carlton Complex. This order closes Road 41 from Hwy 20 to the intersection at FS Road #4150. FS Road #4150 is also closed from Benson Creek on National Forest Lands to Road 41. See the forest website for details of closures: http://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen

Approximately 173 fire personnel still remain assigned to the three fires. Demobilization will continue and crews will be heading back to their home units.

Email Address:          upperfallslittlebridgefire@gmail.com

Wildfire blog:            upperfallslittlebridgefire.blogspot.com

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