Bridge Creek Fire DAILY UPDATE September 4, 2017
Fire Information Keller ICP 509-634-7332
Northwest Incident Management Team 11
Nathan Rabe Incident Commander
For Immediate Release
Yesterday, crews primarily focused on the northeast portion of the fire, the most active part along the top of the unnamed drainage in Division G, interior to the containment lines. This is where there are young regeneration stands of trees mixed with older trees which has resulted in an incomplete burn. Firefighters conducted black line operations. This is a suppression measure usually done in heavy fuels adjacent to the control line during periods of low fire danger to reduce heat and the chance of spotting across the line. Black lining indicates there is no unburned material between the fire line and the fire’s edge. The repair group started work on the contingency lines along the southwest corner yesterday. Personnel working with heavy equipment are replacing exposed soils and repairing the suppression action area to stabilize the lines for fall or winter rain and reduce any public use. In the western perimeter of the fire, crews continued to mop-up along dozer and hand lines. Getting water to parts of the fire line has been difficult, with as much as three (3) hours turnaround time for water tenders to bring in water to some areas. Backhauling equipment has also begun with personnel retrieving equipment from the line or reallocating equipment to other parts of the fire where needed. Firefighters completed searching for hot spots with the use of hand held infrared devices along the southern perimeter in Division Z with one engine continuing to patrol the area. The masticators continue to work on the alternate line moving south along Division T, the southeast portion of the fire. Hand line crews are cold trailing the area, using Palm IRs and looking for heat. Night shift crews worked throughout the fire perimeter patrolling and monitoring for any fire activity. Road graders continue to work on improving all roads in the fire area. The fire continues to burn within established containment lines. At the Gold Mountain fire weather station (RAWS) just south of the Bridge Creek Fire, the last measurable rainfall, 0.31”, was on June 28, 2017. Washington state has nearly reached a record number of recorded dry days without measurable rainfall set 100 years ago. Some rain fell in July and August, but only officially counted as a “trace amount”. Warm and dry weather conditions are expected through Thursday. Air quality remains an issue in many parts of the state. 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: Size: 3696 acres Containment: 75% Location: 13 miles NNE of Keller, WA Cause: Lightning Personnel: 311 Resources: Helo 1 Line Crews 6 Engines 18 Dozers 5 Water Tenders 17 Skidgins 1 Masticators 3 Feller-bunchers 1 Aircraft: 1 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/
