8/15/2014 Morning Update South Cle Elum Ridge Fire

FIRE STATUS Acres Burned: 894 acres Containment: 60% Structures Destroyed:  0 Closures:  Closure Area for Taneum Creek on Cle Elum Ranger District, Campfire Ban                   Cause:  Lightning suspected; formal investigation pending

RESOURCES Crews: 13  Engines: 41 Dozers: 2 Helicopters: 6 Total personnel:  548 Injuries: 6

At 6:00 a.m. this morning the Northern Rockies Type 1 Team assumed management of both large fires in Kittitas County, the Snag Canyon Fire and the South Cle Elum Ridge Fire.

Current Situation:  There was no increase in acreage yesterday.  Firefighters were successful in getting a line around the western flank of the fire.  Additional rain and cool temperatures aided firefighters in further strengthening the containment lines on the north and south flanks.   Today firefighters will be concentrating on the northeastern flank.  They will be thinning and removing vegetation in unburned areas between the line and the main fire area.  If conditions are favorable they will stack and burn the thinned fuels.

The fire is not expected to spread today but it will continue creeping and smoldering in the thick duff layers in the interior of the fire area. 

Weather Outlook:  A cool, moist and unsettled weather pattern will continue over the Cle Elum Ridge Fire.  There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms over the fire area today.  Warmer and dryer conditions are expected beginning on Sunday

Forest Closures: For public and firefighter safety the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has issued an Area Closure in the Taneum Creek Area. Road blocks are in place on Forest Road 4510 (Woods and Steele Road), junction of Forest Roads 3350 and 119 (Five Corners) and Forest Road 3300 at the Bridge across the South Fork Taneum Creek.

A campfire ban is currently in place for all forested lands in Washington State.  It is extremely important that forest visitors and campers continue to cooperate and support local firefighting efforts by having no campfires

For US Forest area closure information contact: Cle Elum Ranger District: 509.852.1100 Monday through Friday 8-4:30pm.

Evacuation Information: No change in evacuation levels. There continues to be a Level 1 evacuation advisement for the 15 homes over a mile away from the fire on the Woods and Steele Road. 

Cooperating Agencies: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Kittitas County Fire Districts 7 and 1, and Kittitas County Sheriff's Office.