Monday, August 28, 2006 8:00 a.m.

Flick Creek - On Sunday, there was little fire activity and movement in the Flick Creek Fire area. Fire continued to slowly back down the Hazard Creek drainage in narrow avalanche draws and some upslope fire movement occurred at the upper reaches of Fourmile Creek.

Fire crews continued to lay hoses and conduct structure protection around the community of Stehekin and north into Boulder Creek. No bucket drops by helicopters were made on the fire on Sunday due to limited fire activity.

A high pressure system moved into the area this weekend and brought the warmer weekend temperatures as predicted. Temperatures in the fire area on Sunday reached the high 80s with mild winds (3 – 7 mph) out of the southwest. Warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity are predicted to continue on Monday. Winds will continue to be out of southwest and will increase 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon as a low pressure front moves into the area.  Due to these weather conditions, increased fire activity is expected.

Monday the crew will continue to prepare the community of Stehekin with fuel breaks and pump and hose installation.

Stehekin remains in Level I evacuation status, which is notification that a fire exists in the area.  NO EVACUATION is imminent and vacationers and residents are encouraged to take advantage of the final days of summer weather in Stehekin and on Lake Chelan.

In recent days, fire crews were dispatched to two fires caused by careless burning.  Fortunately, both were extinguished.  Forest visitors are reminded to be aware of extreme fire danger and burning restrictions.

Fire Information Center
(509) 784-9039    7 am to 9 pm

www.inciweb.org/incident/360/

If there are any questions or concerns regarding area closures or other restrictions, the public is encouraged to call the Fire Information Center listed above.

The Flick Creek fire is a suppression fire that is being actively managed by a Northern Rockies Wildland Fire Use Team in cooperation with the North Cascades National Park, the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Department, and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Since the start of the fire one month ago, it has burned approximately 5,160 acres. 

Tinpan - On Sunday, there was increased fire activity along the Entiat River at Aurora Creek and in the Snow Brushy drainage on the southern fire perimeter. Fire was also actively moving east/northeast in the Choral Creek drainage. Some single tree torching occurred with an increase in smoke production. One helicopter was used to move gear and fire observers in the fire management area. The Fire Use Management Team also used the helicopter for aerial monitoring of the fire and for perimeter mapping.

Two fire crews were again assigned to the area just north of Myrtle Lake to continue burning of residual brush, initiated on Saturday, as part of a fuel reduction strategy. Fuel reduction work is being conducted in the area to make the Maximum Management Area line more defensible. The burning was done in the middle of an area that has been thoroughly wet by an established sprinkler system. Fire crews will remain in the area overnight in a spike camp.

Fire personnel continued structure protection assessments and installation of water handling equipment in the upper end of the Entiat River Road. Necessary structure protection materials are being ordered and will be installed as resources arrive.

Weather on Sunday continued to be warm and sunny. Temperatures in the fire area were in the upper 90s with relative humidity in the high teens. In the morning, winds (4 – 7 mph, gusts up to 10 mph) were from the northwest, switching to the southwest in the afternoon and into the evening. This weather trend is projected to continue into Monday when winds will increase as a low pressure system moves into the area. Due to these weather conditions, increased fire activity is expected.

The Tinpan fire is a wildland fire use fire burning naturally within the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The fire was started by lightning and has been burning since July 6. To date, the fire has burned 5,750 within the Maximum Management Area boundary which encompasses 25,500 acres. Currently, a Northern Rockies Wildland Fire Use Team is managing the fire in cooperation with the Entiat District of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest, and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Department. This is the first wildland fire use fire on the Entiat Ranger District. If the public has any questions about wildland fire use or the Tinpan fire, they are encouraged to the Fire Information Center listed above or the Entiat Ranger Station.