8/9/2014 PM Devil's Elbow Fire Update

Devil’s Elbow Fire burns actively in the afternoons, but containment lines are holding and plan remains strong.

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Nespelem, Wash., -- Large columns of smoke were visible again this afternoon over the portions of the Devil’s Elbow Complex fire.

The South Nanamkin containment line has been bolstered with retardant and continues to hold. Helicopters are dropping water on small spotfires at its northern mouth.

The fire also continues to slowly move to the east toward the Keno Trail road system. It is being pushed by upslope winds, causing tree torching and runs of crown fire. This movement continues to be within the eventual plan to use the Upper Bridge Creek and Keno Trail road systems for containment. When the sun sets and winds die down the fire behavior will moderate.

Tonight crews will implement a burn out operation to strengthen the containment dozer- and hand-built fireline in the McAllister Creek area. This line is anchored into previously burned area on the ridge top and leads down to Hwy 21. Burning out in that area tonight is intentional strategy to block the fire’s future movement to the south.

A new Area Closure is being implemented to prepare for fire management activity and burning out on the fire’s east and southeast sides. The area contained by Bridge Creek Road to the south; Upper Bridge Creek Road, Red Thunder Cutoff, and the Thirty Mile Road to the east; and the Twentyfive Mile Road to the north is now closed. These roads are not closed, but this area is restricted to firefighters, law enforcement and other authorized personnel. Avoiding this area will help ensure that the firefighters can complete their containment lines and burn out operations safely.

There have been no other changes to the existing Evacuation

Notification Levels, Road Closures and Area Closures.

A community meeting will occur at the Community Center in

Keller on Monday August 11 at 7 pm.