7-30-2014 South Zone Update

Fire Name: Carlton Complex (South Zone)

 Acres: 251,025 (total complex)               Start Date:  7/14/2014               Cause: Lightning               
Location: The Carlton Complex South Zone is located on private, state and federally managed lands north of Chelan, Washington.

Current Information:

Due to the ongoing hot dry conditions interior smokes may be visible today. Helicopters and fire crews are prepared for any new fire starts in the area with engines, water dropping helicopters and airtankers. Mop-up and patrol around structures along highway 153 and 97 corridors will continue.  Estimated containment of the fire in the South Zone is 95%. Firefighters have made great progress constructing handline in the heavy vegetation and steep terrain, while continuing to safeguard containment lines. There is no threat from fire activity to the cities of Pateros, Brewster, Chelan, or Manson.

Demobilizing of crews has started as the South Zone of the Carlton fire nears containment.

Cumulus clouds will begin to form in the early afternoon and winds will be light in the morning with isolated gusts this afternoon.

Effective immediately, donations of goods are no longer accepted for victims of wildfires Carlton Complex.  The generosity of donors has exceeded the capacity of the Okanogan County resources to manage and store donations.  Items will be collected and moved to a central location and then distributed to members of the community.  If you want to help victims of the wildfires Carlton complex wildfire, monetary donations can be made to the American Red Cross or other agencies that provide assistance to those affected.

Advisories:                                               

Portions of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest remain closed due to the fire activity.  Please contact the Fire Information line listed at the top of the page for more specific information.

Carlton Complex East Zone Update Wednesday, July 30, 2014—10:00 a.m.

This Update Covers the Carlton Complex’s EAST ZONE

Yesterday’s Highlights: A large smoke column, visible from much of the Okanogan River Valley, developed due to an expected increase in fire activity.  Very high temperatures and low humidity contributed to the flare up.  The column originated near Leecher Mountain, along the large unburned section in the center of the fire.  Air resources and crews from the Carlton Zone worked to suppress the flare up.  (See Carlton Zone update for more details.)  Along the East Zone’s most rugged sections, crews made progress strengthening existing fire lines south of Highway 20.  Fire managers praised firefighters for holding and improving that line, under challenging conditions.  Crews continue to “mop up” toward the interior of the fire, which means making sure everything is out cold, up to 300 feet in from the line.

Today’s activities: The hot dry weather will continue to cause unburned “islands” of fuel to burn.  Crews are tasked with widening a buffer zone between these still active areas and existing fire lines.  That buffer is now 50 to 300 feet wide in most places but steep terrain and the heat, makes the work slow going.  If conditions allow, crews may burn a section of previously unburned land, south of the Loop Loop summit, to further strengthen the fire line.  Helicopters will continue to support firefighters by dumping water on hot areas to dampen the fire’s intensity

The Stampede is on, fire camp on the move: To make way for the annual Omak Stampede, the East Zone fire camp is in the process of moving to the Okanogan County Fairgrounds.  All Stampede events will take place, as usual, starting August 7^th.  Fire camp will be at the fairgrounds beginning Thursday night.  Fire personnel appreciate all the support and hospitality received from the Omak Stampede staff and the Omak community.

Emergency Relief Information Needed:  The Okanogan County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is asking residents with fire damage claims to let them know whether they are insured.  This is only to help the county accurately report losses so that eligibility for specific FEMA funds can be determined.  The EOC is at 509-422-2422, 509-422-2428, or 509-422-2420.

Evacuation levels and local road closures: Some residential areas along Highway 20 west of Okanogan remain at Evacuation Level 2.  Updates will be on the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Facebook page and the Carlton Complex blogspot.  Roads may open and close at any time due to fire conditions. 

Carlton Complex Overview: Three incident management teams are managing this fire in three zones, with incident camps at Omak, Winthrop, and Chelan.  About 900 firefighters are assigned to the East Zone of the fire.  The fire is 251, 025 acres with 67 percent containment.  There are 3,104 people assigned including 82 crews, 168 engines, 45 water tenders and 23 helicopters.

Road Conditions:  Afternoon increases in fire activity could affect safety for travelers.  For updated road conditions, contact the Washington Department of Transportation (www.wsdot.com or call 511).

7/30/2014 Daily Fire Update 9:00 AM

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 30, 2014             

Special Message:  The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team, with Pete Blume as Incident Commander, assumed command of the North Zone of the Carlton Complex at 6 a.m. today.

Current Situation:

The hot, dry weather contributed to the increase in fire activity yesterday. Temperatures reached 105F in the Methow Valley. Multiple smoke columns were visible as pockets of unburned vegetation burned within the fire perimeter. The fire was active in the Gold Creek and also the Leecher Mountain Lookout areas, but ground crews and air support helped slow the rate of spread. A planned burnout of steep jack-strawed, beetle-killed mixed conifers between Highway 20 and the south fork of Beaver Creek was not conducted yesterday due unfavorable conditions, including erratic winds. Fire activity was visible from the Pearrygin Lake area last night. Engines continue to patrol neighborhoods and respond to resident fire and smoke concerns 24 hours a day.

Today’s fire suppression priority areas include: Foggy Dew, the Leecher Mountain Lookout, and north of Highway 20 and south of the southfork of Beaver Creek.  Mop-up activities continue on fire containment lines behind homes. Rehabilitation of containment lines in the valley areas has started. The Washington National Guard is supporting the fire suppression efforts by staffing road closures checkpoints.

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:  251,025 acres                                                                 Percent Contained: 67%

Cause:  Lightning                                                                                    Total Personnel: 3,104

Resources Include: 13 Type 1 hand crews, 41 Type 2 hand crews, 28 Type 2 initial attack crews 168 engines,  45 water tenders, and 722 overhead personnel

Air Resources: 9 Type 1 helicopters, 7 Type 2 helicopters, and 7 Type 3 helicopters, 1 air support module

Places to get information:

Blog: carltoncomplex.blogspot.com

Website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3967/

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.

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7/29/14 8:00 pm Veteran Led Disaster Relief Assistance

Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster relief group managing wildfire relief efforts in Pateros, is also offering debris removal services in Twisp, Methow and neighboring communities.

Residents can apply for assistance at the Volunteer Reception Center at Pateros High School. Team Rubicon does not charge for its services.

Volunteers will sift through debris to recover personal items and valuables. If homeowners cannot be present during the work, found items will be safely secured for return. Debris will then be sorted and pushed to the curb.

In addition to requesting debris removal, residents can go to Pateros High School for meals provided by the American Red Cross or to volunteer. Relief items, like clothing, diapers, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies, are available at the school through Saturday. Beginning Monday, the relief items will be available at Neff’s Warehouse, Hwy 153, Pateros.

Plans are being finalized to open a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) that will serve as a “one-stop shop” where those affected can meet with representatives from government and nonprofit agencies for assistance

7/29/14 4:50 pm Carlton - North Active in the Gold Creek Area

Operations personnel are reporting that they are working to hold the fire in the Gold Creek area.  While line was completed around the area yesterday, they were waiting a few days to call it contained and using the time to make it more secure.  Today's hot and dry weather, along with afternoon winds, has pushed the fire across the line and it has worked its way up a ridge north of Gold Creek.  Aircraft are being used to drop retardant along the ridge top to try and keep the fire from crossing the ridge and allowing burning trees & logs to roll down the other side. The area that is burning along the ridge is likely to put up a lot of smoke and aircraft will be in the area.

7/29/14 4:30 pm Pateros Weekly Meetings To Continue

The city of Pateros will hold continue to hold weekly meetings on Mondays to provide information updates to victims of the Carlton Complex wildfires. The next meeting is scheduled to be held Monday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m. at Pateros High School. 

7/29/14 3:45 pm Smokes Are Up Around Carlton North Zone

Wispy smoke and heavier columns have been appearing around the north zone of the Carlton Complex  as the day heated up and the wind picked up. There has been more activity by scooper planes and helicopters around the island of green in the center of the fire, especially near the Leecher Mountain lookout, as they try and keep the hot spots cooled off.

A Scooper Plane

More activity has been reported in Division S which is the Gold Creek area, near Foggy Dew Campground. Crews are putting in hose lines around the campground to protect it. And more smoke is reported at the north end of the zone, east of Pearrygin Lake, which helicopters continue to cool with water. Fire managers are continuing to try and find ways to go direct on this northern area of the fire.

A column building about 4 pm the 29th
 over the Leecher Mountain area

Current weather for the fire includes a build up of cumulus clouds which bring the potential for thunder storms. There is also a Haines index of 5, out of a possible total of 6. This is important information for firefighters.
The Haines Index is a numerical value that indicates the potential for large wildfires to experience extreme fire behavior. The HI combines both the instability and dryness of the air by examining the lapse rate between two pressure levels in the atmosphere and the dryness of one of the pressure levels.  The higher the Haines, the greater the chance for increased fire behavior.