8/11/2014 9:00 AM Little Bridge Creek

Monday, August 11, 2014 @ 9AM

The smoke will lift this morning as the inversion breaks.  Red flag warnings are in effect for very dry and unstable conditions today with a chance of dry thunderstorms tonight.  The Little Bridge Creek Fire controlled burn, on the south side of Thompson Ridge, was successful.  The blackened area provides an anchor point from which suppression can be taken. 

The Great Basin Team 1, led by Incident Commander Beth Lund, will be taking command of the Little Bridge Creek Fire at 6 AM tomorrow morning.  The Washington Incident Management Team Five (WIMT#5) will return home Tuesday for two days rest before becoming available for new fires. 

Information Officers will again be in the Twisp and Winthrop area today to provide information about the Little Bridge Creek, Carlton Complex, and Upper Falls Fires.

For the latest information on smoke and air quality go to: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com

                                            

The Little Bridge Creek Fire is currently 10% contained.  The fire, which was likely caused by lightning, started at approximately 6:30 pm on Saturday, August 2, on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 10 miles west of Winthrop, Washington.  There are 703 firefighters assigned to the fire.  Infrared data indicates the fire is approximately 3,734 acres.  It is located between Canyon Creek and Little Bridge Creek, with the exception of one spot just across the upper end of Little Bridge Creek.  Two light helicopters are assigned to the fire, additional aircraft are being borrowed from nearby fires. The helicopters are dropping water on the fire throughout the day to slow the spread.

Operations personnel continue to construct indirect line in appropriate locations between the fire and infrastructure.  Structural firefighters continue to assess and prepare for structural protection efforts, should they be needed.  An Initial Attack Group is prepared to address any new fires should they occur.

No structures or infrastructure are immediately threatened.  No Level 2 or Level 3 evacuation notices exist for this fire.   Level 1 notification remains in place for the Pine Forest and Sun Mountain areas, and for Twisp River Road above Elbow Coulee.   

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Chuck Turley, Incident Information Officer

Incident Information: (360)827-1931

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4051