Bridge Creek Fire DAILY UPDATE September 2, 2017
Fire Information Keller ICP 509-634-7332
Northwest Incident Management Team 11
Nathan Rabe Incident Commander
For Immediate Release
Public and firefighter safety is the highest priority on the Bridge Creek Fire. Firefighters continue to be challenged by the steep, rugged terrain, smoky conditions, and hot, dry weather. Many of the minor injuries on this fire include dehydration and firefighter fatigue.
Size: 3,635 acres
The Bridge Creek Fire is burning within established containment lines and considered 68 percent contained. This means there is a lower probability of escape while firefighters continue to strengthen the remaining portion of containment lines.
Location: 13 miles NNE of Keller, WA Cause: Lightning
Over the next few days, critical fire weather will move through the area. The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening. Weather concerns increase today as high pressure leads to above normal temperatures, low relative humidity and unstable conditions with a strong chance of a Red Flag Warning on Sunday. Low relative humidity is one of the critical thresholds for increased fire behavior potential. Atmospheric instability with a Haines 5 will also add to increased fire activity. The warmer and drier conditions will go through the weekend and into next week. The public is urged to take precautions as fire danger remains extremely high through the weekend and into the coming weeks. In Division A, interior to the western perimeter, crews continue to mop-up and secure the fire lines from the bottom of the draw moving north. In Division G, northeast perimeter of the fire, there was significant fire activity yesterday as the fire continued to back down causing flare-ups and catching pockets of unburn fuel along the west side of the east flank of the fire. In Division T, the southeast boundary of the fire, crews continue gridding and mopup operations. Firefighters are utilizing Palm IRs, hand held heat sensitive infrared devices, searching for any hot spots along the fire line and burn area in Division Z, the southern portion of the fire perimeter. Night shift crews continue to patrol and monitor for spot fires along the fire line. Air quality is expected to degrade later today in Eastern Washington with smoke accumulation into Sunday. Areas close to the fire could see unhealthy conditions. Children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory illnesses are most at risk of serious health effects. For additional information on wildland fire smoke impacting Washington, visit the Washington smoke blog at http://wasmoke.blogspot.com Road/Area Closures: Road closures around the fire, which were installed for firefighter safety, are posted with CCT: DOT road closure signs. Thirty Mile Road remains open northwest of the fire. Road closures are at Daisy Trail/Lynx Creek Road, Red Thunder Cutoff, BIA Road 1045, Oregon City Road, Beaver Dam Road, and Boss Creek Road. Additional closures are at Summit Trail and Oregon City. For information regarding road closure changes, please refer to the Colville Tribal Broadcast, News and Information Facebook page or call the Bridge Creek Fire Information line. You may also find the incident on Inciweb.
Quick Facts: Containment: 68%
Personnel: 428 Resources: Helo 2 Line Crews 12 Engines 17 Dozers 6 Water tenders 17 Skidgins 1 Masticators 4 Feller-bunchers 1 Aircraft: 2 Type 2 medium helicopters (Additional helicopters and other air support have been loaned from Omak, Deer Park, and Wenatchee as available.) Closures: Daisy Trail/Lynx Creek Rd., Red Thunder Cutoff, BIA Rd.1045, Oregon City Rd., Beaver Dam Rd., Boss Creek Rd. Fire Information: 509-634-7332 BridgeCreekFire2017@ gmail.com. Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incid ent/5490/
