8/21/2015 Kettle Complex Update

The Kettle Complex includes four fires in northern Ferry County Washington.

Current Situation:  Significant fire activity continued across the region yesterday and fire officials are working together to prioritize incident personnel and manage numerous incidents. An Area Command Team is in place to provide additional leadership and support to Kettle Complex, North Star fire, Stevens County Complex, and Kaniksu Complex. Support teams from the Washington National Guard will assist fire managers to ensure safety of the public and firefighters on the Kettle Complex. There have been no injuries.

A red flag warning continues in the fire area today. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will create extreme fire growth potential. A cold front will pass over the area this morning bringing strong winds with gusts to 40 MPH.

There will be a public meeting tonight, Friday August 21, at the Malo Grange at 7pm. Stickpin Fire - Stickpin Fire is at 43,348 acres and is burning on the Kettle Crest between Curlew

and Orient. The fire is now 15% contained. Dozer and hand line construction are holding on the

western perimeter. The fire remains active on the eastern perimeter. Yesterday, interior fuels burned near the northern perimeter on Togo Mountain. The fire has burned into the Togo Fire (2003) burn area and crews are working to construct line to keep the fire from progressing towards Grand Forks and Christina Lake British Columbia. The fire was also active on the southwestern perimeter; dozer lines being constructed but are indirect (meaning there is unburned fuel between the line and the fire edge). Three helicopters are supporting firefighting efforts. Public and

firefighter safety is a significant concern, and incident management personnel are looking at all options for suppression. Fire crews from across the state are in place to assist Ferry County Fire District 14 with structure protection under the State Mobilization Act. These resources are

dedicated to structure protection and free up additional firefighters for wildland fireline construction.

Roy Road Fire – The Roy Road Fire is burning west of Republic and is approximately 120 acres and is 25% contained. Firefighters continue to mop up.

Graves Mountain Fire – The Graves Mountain Fire is burning along Highway 20 in the Sherman Pass area and the smoke column will continue to be visible. The fire is 2,908 acres and is 10% contained. The fire is moving to the south and southeast. The southern perimeter near the BPA

powerlines is the highest priority and crews continue to strengthen that line. A line has been constructed on the west flank and some of the east flank. The fire is burning in thick lodgepole pine in steep, rocky terrain. The cause is under investigation.

Renner Lake Fire – The Renner Lake Fire is approximately 1,019 acres and is 0% contained. The fire has progressed to the east and south and is very active.  Fire personnel from Ferry County District 3 and Stevens 8 worked on the fire overnight. The Ferry County Sheriff has placed a

LEVEL III evacuation for the Matsen Creek community including Matsen Creek Road. Level II evacuation for Deadman Creek Road and Jackknife Road. A level II remains for the Barstow area. Indirect firelines are being constructed around the fire using existing roads and topographical features. Firefighters are being shifted from Stickpin Fire to Renner Lake.

Evacuation Information: This information is as of 1130 AM. If conditions change, it will be updated on the Ferry County Sheriff’s facebook page.

LEVEL I- All of Ferry County is under a Level 1 notice, except for Level II and Level III areas as described below. Please remember that a LEVEL 1 evacuation notice is a notification that you may be asked to evacuate. Residence are encouraged to make plans if conditions change.

LEVEL II- Barstow area including Deadman Creek Road, Jackknife Road. Hurl Burt, Boulder Creek-Deer Creek – HWY 21 past mile marker 1, Long Alec – HWY 21 past mile marker 1, Danville Area – HWY 21 all roads off the main HWY past mile marker 1,Lone Ranch – HWY 21 past mile marker 1

LEVEL III – NEW –The level 3 evacuation is from MM 247 to MM 253 on Highway 395, which is Deadman Creek Rd to Barstow and includes the Matsen Creek Community including Matsen Creek Road, Jackknife Road and Deadman Creek Roads.

All of these LEVEL’s include any roads off of the main road. Boulder Pass is still currently closed. The Kettle River is open to float, but please stay away from the fire and be courteous of all fire fighters and fire trucks on the highway.

Industrial Fire Precaution Level Changes: By law, DNR uses two closure systems to reduce wildfire risk on 13 million acres of private and state forestland protected by the agency. Activated when needed during the summer fire season, one closure system applies to woods workers and other industrial forest users. Due to extreme wildfire danger, as of midnight Thursday, Aug. 20,

2015 the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) in northeast Washington will increase to a Level 4 general shutdown with a prohibition on all industrial activities in zones 684, 685, 686, 678W, 678E,

687, and 688. These zones include portions of Pend Oreille, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, and

Stevens counties. - See more at:  http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl#sthash.rVSicCV7.ZGKMsIAJ.dpuf

Closures: Deer-Boulder County Road 602 is closed; Highway 20 is recommended as an alternate. Colville National Forest is closed from the Canadian Border to Deadman Creek. All trails, roads, and access are temporarily closed due to extreme fire activity. No campfires, charcoal or chainsaw use are allowed.

Cooperating Agencies: Department of Natural Resources Northeast Region, USDA Forest Service Colville National Forest, Ferry County Fire Districts 13 and 14, Joint Fire Protection District Ferry 3 and Stevens 8, Ferry County Sheriff, Ferry County, City of Republic, Washington State Patrol, Washington State Fire Marshal, US Border Patrol, Washington National Guard