8/23/2015 Kettle Complex Fire Update

Incident Summary: The Kettle Complex includes three fires in northern Ferry County Washington. The Graves Mountain Fire is 4,651 acres, 10% contained and is now being managed by the

Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 2. Information will be available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4537/.

Current Situation:  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 are assisting fire managers to ensure safety of the public and firefighters on the Kettle Complex. There have been no injuries. There are firefighters from 24 states and one Canadian province on this incident.

Stickpin Fire - Stickpin Fire is at 47,544 acres and is burning on the Kettle Crest between Curlew and Orient. The fire is 15% contained. Firelines constructed along the western edge are holding. Crews continue to strengthen the lines. The fire was also active on the southwestern perimeter; dozer lines are being constructed but are indirect (meaning there is unburned fuel between the line and the fire edge). Three helicopters are supporting firefighting efforts if conditions allow. 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 and Ferry County District 3/Stevens 8 with structure protection under the State Mobilization Act. These resources are dedicated to structure protection and free up additional firefighters for wildland fireline construction.

Two hand crews, dozers, and management personnel arrived from British Columbia, Canada today to work in partnership with existing resources fire suppression efforts on the northern perimeter.

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.

Roy Road Fire – The Roy Road Fire is burning west of Republic and is 120 acres and is 45%

contained. Firefighters continue to mop up, locate and extinguish pockets of interior heat.

Renner Lake Fire – The Renner Lake Fire is approximately 7,006 acres and is 0% contained. Firefighters continue to be shifted off of other areas to assist local fire district personnel. Highway

395 has reopened and drivers are urged to use caution and be aware of firefighting equipment in

the area. Evacuations are still in effect and are being reevaluated today. Fire personnel are

working this fire 24 hours a day. Two structures were destroyed and officials are working to confirm if they were primary or outbuildings.

Regional Information Office: DNR and the USFS have established a fire information call center for fires in Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties. Trained staff will answer public questions and/or forward callers to the correct Incident Management Team or County Emergency Operations Center that they need to reach. The phone numbers are; 509-684-7260, 509-684-7261 and 509-

684-7263. These phones will be staffed daily from 7am to 9pm

Evacuation Information: No changes from yesterday. This information is as of 9 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 I 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. Residents are encouraged to make plans if conditions change.

LEVEL II- The level II evacuation is from MM 247 to MM 253 on the EAST side of Highway 395 in the Barstow area. Nancy Creek Rd, 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, Riveredge Rd, Roosevelt Rd and the Columbia Cedar Mill

LEVEL III –The level 3 evacuation is from MM 247 to MM 253 on the WEST side of Highway 395, which is includes the Matsen Creek Community including Matsen Creek Road, Jackknife Road and Deadman Creek Road, Anderson Road, Harter Rd, Pool Rd., Carson Rd, BJ’s Road, and Murphy Rd.

Volunteers: Incredible wildfire volunteer response, but please… only those with firefighting experience. Two triage centers in Northeast Washington handle all the citizen volunteer requests to help with this year’s wildfire fighting efforts. In less than a day, an unprecedented outpouring of volunteers has inundated both centers, far outpacing the few available staff to process and deploy qualified volunteers. DNR reiterated that they are seeking those with firefighting expertise only –

particularly those who currently hold, or have previously held, red or blue card certifications. Those with these particular skill sets may submit their details online at  www.dnr.wa.gov/WildfireVolunteer.

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. There are additional road closures in the area due to other incidents – visit www.wsdot.wa.gov for details.

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