7/16/2015 Newby Lake Fire Update A.M.

The acres burned remained the same, but containment has risen to 20%.  Nighttime infra-red photo flights indicate many areas of fire have heat along the fire’s edge and interior.
 

The north end of the fire had two hot shot crews and 40 Canadian firefighters working.  They need two more days of work to complete the lined area in Canada.  The east side of the fire had crews extending and strengthening line further in the Snowshoe Trail and Disappointment Ridge area.

On the south end of the fire firefighters continue to put in hose lays and remove snags adjacent to the fire line to improve the line that connects to the 2006 Tripod Fire.  Crews began working on “contingency lines” to back up the primary lines.  This work is in the Branch Creek and Nine Mile drainage.

Today’s Activities:  With the use of a palm infra-red, firefighters will search for hot spots near the fire line on the east and north sides of the fire.  Using infra-red to detect hotspots allows crews to focus their efforts and limits exposure of firefighters to falling snags.

At the south portion of the fire crews will continue to improve fire lines and to evaluate potential locations of fire line close to the fire edge.

Work to extend contingency lines in the Branch Creek and Nine Mile drainage will continue for the next few days.

Weather:  Through Friday the main concern for firefighters is  the drying of fuels and increased winds.  Winds on Thursday are expected to be 13 miles per hour with gusts up to 25 miles per hour.  Relative humidity 37% and temperature on the fire in the sixties.  The strongest winds are expected Friday morning. 

Washington DNR: www.dnr.wa.gov/managed-lands/forest-and-trust-lands/loomis-and-loup-loup-state-forests 

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest:  www.fs.usda.gov/okawen/