8/12/2014 AM Snag Canyon fire Update

FIRE STATUS  

Acres Burned:  approx. 12,000 

Cause:  Lightning 

Structures Destroyed:  19 (8 residences)

Crews:  19

Engines: 57

Dozers: 20

RESOURCES

Closures:  Naneum Ridge State Forest is closed; Okanogan Wenatchee area has an area closure. Numerous road closures in immediate fire area 

Containment:  30%

Water Tenders: 15

Helicopters: 12

Total personnel:  880

Injuries: 10

Incident Summary: The Snag Canyon Fire, located 12 miles northwest of Ellensburg, was started by a lightning strike on Saturday, August 2. The fire is burning in grass, brush and timber. The fire is burning on state and private land. The fire is also threatening the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest.

Current Situation: The Snag Canyon fire is now an estimated 12,000 acres with 880 personnel assigned. An unstable air mass moved into the area yesterday afternoon causing a significant increase in fire activity on the north perimeter.

Crews continue to construct contingency lines well to the north of the fire. Fire managers have been scouting the area, and have a plan in place.  If it is safely possible, crews will construct direct lines.

Containment lines to the east, west, and south continue to hold and will be monitored today. Crews will find and extinguish pockets of heat within 100 feet of the fireline and 300 feet around structures. Handheld infrared cameras will be used to find and locate pockets of heat not visible to the eye.  Interior burning will continue to produce visible smoke.

Resources will be available for initial attack of any new starts should they occur in the fire area tonight. Fire crews are aggressively fighting this fire, but continue to be concerned about the weather forecast

and fuel conditions. Public and firefighter safety is a significant concern.

The state mobilization has ended and structure protection resources have returned to their home units.

Weather Outlook: A Red Flag warning continues in the area today because of predicted dry thunderstorms. A low pressure system will push into Central Washington today into Wednesday. The storms will start out dry and then quickly moisten through the day today.  Flash flood watch is in effect this evening through Wednesday in the Snag Canyon area.

Evacuation Information: The evacuations levels have not changed. Residents affected by the fire can contact the Kittitas County EOC at 509-933-8305 for more information, or visit the county website for updates and evacuation maps at  https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/.

Forest Closures: The Washington Department of Natural Resources issued a closure for the entire Naneum Ridge State Forest. Contact DNR Southeast Region at 509-925-8510 for details. The Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest has issued an Area Closure adjacent to the fire. More information can be found on http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4046/ or call the Cle Elum Ranger District at 509-852-1100.

Injuries: There have been 10 non-life threatening medical issues that received treatment at the local hospital. All were treated and released.

Cooperating Agencies: Department of Natural Resources, Kittitas County Sheriff, Kittitas County Emergency Management, Washington National Guard, Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue, and United States Forest Service