8/11/2014 AM Upper Falls Fire Update (Carlton Complex)

Yesterday

Crews continued work along Falls Creek Road to contain the fire. The southern indirect line (a combination of 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 to contain movement of the fire down Eight Mile drainage. Helicopters dropped water to check and delay movement to the west and south.  Night crews were on patrol during the night.

Today 

Firefighters will hold the fire along the Falls Creek Road and improve the southern indirect line between the Farewell Burn and the Falls Creek Road. The fire burned over the line on the west side between Falls Creek and Eight Mile last night; crews will work to contain that area, reposition the containment line, and continue construction toward Eight Mile Creek. Firefighters will be on alert for increased fire behavior due to hotter and dryer weather moving into the area reflected in the Red Flag Warning in effect today. Helicopters will drop water to check and delay movement to the west and south as weather allows.

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:  Red Flag Warning today for stability and plume dominated fire growth ; Highs around 89; wind from the southwest at10 mph with gusts to 18

Fire Statistics

Start Date:  08/03/2014                               

Size: 6,513 acres                    

Percent Contained:  0%

Location:  17 miles north of Winthrop, WA                                                 

Total Personnel:  324

Resources Assigned:  1 Type 1 hand crews, 4 Type 2 hand crews, 4 Type 2 Initial Attack crew;

                      25 engines, 9 dozers, 7 water tenders; 2 Type 1, 2 Type 2, and 2 Type 3 Helicopte

Closures

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

###