USDA Forest Service News–White River and Irving Peak Fire Update 8-14-2022

Contact White River and Irving Peak Fire Information at
(509) 676-6558 from 8AM-7PM

White River and Irving Peak Fire Update
August 14, 2022 –8:00 AM

White River Fire

Acres: 341 | Contained: 0%
Cause: Lightning

Location: Sears Creek area of the White River drainage, approximately 14 miles northwest of Plain, WA

Irving Peak Fire

Acres: 143 | Contained: 0%
Cause: Lightning

Location: Approximately 16 miles northwest of Plain, WA

Highlights: Lightning storms that passed over the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest this past week ignited several wildfires in the Wenatchee River Ranger District. Smoke from the fires is highly visible in the Lake Wenatchee area, and recreationists are advised to stay away from the Little Wenatchee and White River Roads where these fires are burning. Aviation resources are utilizing and scooping from Lake Wenatchee; we ask water recreationists to please clear the area and stay away from these aircraft as they work.

Operations: Yesterday, windy conditions increased fire activity, prompting evacuation level increases for the White River Fire on Sears Creek Road (FS Road 6404). A Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the White River and Irving Peak Fires yesterday, August 13, 2022, at 6:00 A.M. The Irving Peak and White River Fires are approximately 4 miles apart but are being managed by the same team. On the White River Fire, crews are implementing contain, confine, and control strategies to stop fire progression to the east of the 6404 road and to the south of the Little Wenatchee River Road. This strategy means firefighters will use a combination of natural features and constructed fire lines to actively contain this wildfire. Firefighters are working on structure protection for properties along road 6404. Aviation resources are assigned to the incident, and fire managers actively utilize their intel to assess safe containment options as they coordinate with local, county, and state personnel. On the Irving Fire today, crews will be working to scout potential control lines and will begin structure protection along the Little Wenatchee Road (FS Road 6500).

Evacuations: Chelan County has issued a Level 3 evacuation (Go Now) for Sears Creek Road, White River Road is at a Level 2 (Be Prepared), and Little Wenatchee Road is at a Level 1 (Stay Alert). Emergency personnel are in the process of advising residents in the area. Five homes were evacuated from the Sears Creek Area.

For an interactive evacuation map of Chelan County, please visit https://tinyurl.com/whiteriverevacuationmap.

To sign up for the Chelan County emergency alert system, please visit https://public.alertsense.com/signup/?regionid=1184

Weather: Temperatures today will be around 77 degrees with west winds of 4 to 8 mph. A drying and warming trend will begin today, with winds expected to become lighter and temperatures warming into early next week.

Closures: An area closure is pending. It is recommended that the public avoid recreating in the Little Wenatchee and White River Road (FS Roads 6500 and 6400) areas. The Pacific Crest Trail is not affected by this fire.

Campfire restrictions: Campfires are not currently allowed anywhere within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Stage 2 Restrictions are now in effect for the entire forest, including campgrounds and wilderness areas.

Smoke: Current smoke forecast outlooks are available at www.wasmoke.blogspot.com

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8329/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/OkaWenNF

USDA Forest Service News–Fire Update 8-13-2022

Lightning Fire Update

Wenatchee, WA (August 13, 2022) — Firefighters are responding to numerous fires burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The following is a summary of current fires. New fires may continue to be detected over the next days. An aerial reconnaissance flight this morning will be checking for any new fires.

Wenatchee River Ranger District
A Type 3 Incident Management Team will be taking over management of the Irving Peak Fire and the White River Fire today. Irving Peak Fire is estimated at 40-50 acres and located in very steep inaccessible terrain. No resources are assigned but the fire is being monitored. The White River Fire is 25 acres and 0% contained. It is located in the Sears Creek area. Firefighting resources there include three hotshot crews, two fire engines, and a bulldozer; additional resources have been ordered. Smoke is very visible from both of these fires. Recreationists are advised to stay away from the Wenatchee Ridge area where the Irving Peak Fire is burning, trail closures are pending. Also, a Level 1 fire advisory (stay alert) notice is in place for the White River drainage–https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/emergency-management/pages/active-emergencies.

The 1-2 acre Phelps Ridge Fire and the 1/5 acre Buck Creek Fire are both located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness and are unstaffed but being monitored.

Cle Elum Ranger District
There are six fires on the Cle Elum Ranger District and all are located within 2 miles of Thorp Mountain approximately 11-13 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA. A closure is pending for the Thorp Mountain area, please stay clear of that area as helicopters and other fire suppression resources are working there. All the fires are less than an acre in size with the exception of the Thorp Mountain Fire which is 4 acres. Helicopters continue to drop water on this fire to aid in fire suppression efforts. The ¼ acre Malcolm Fire, located 13 miles north of Cle Elum, was contained and controlled this morning.

Naches Ranger District
Firefighters responded to a new human-caused fire located south of Rimrock Lake on the Naches Ranger District last night. It was an escaped campfire which grew to about 1/10 of an acre in size.

Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts
There are two small fires on the Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts, each are ¼ acre in size. The Roaring Ridge Fire on Entiat Ranger District is out, and the Gold Creek Fire on the Chelan Ranger District is contained.

Methow Valley Ranger District
Hikers at Hart’s Pass reported seeing smoke in the Pasayten Wilderness in the Methow Valley Ranger District; rappelers are enroute.

Fire restrictions are in effect on the National Forest!
See fire restriction info at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_053600)

Forest Service fire crews were out until midnight Friday responding to illegal campfires on the Naches and Cle Elum Ranger Districts. Please obey the campfire ban and don’t put unnecessary strain on firefighting resources. Firefighters are already responding to the fires from lightning that came through on August 11. Responding to human-caused fires pulls resources away from being available to respond to new incidents and puts unnecessary strain on firefighters. Do your part, don’t cause a spark!

-End-

#flashbackfriday – August 2017, we had our EWE Chuckwagon (which was call Selah Sweets at that time) booth at the Pioneer Power Show & Swap Meet for the second year.

Here are a few photos of then.

Note: We will be back again this year on Aug 20-21 2022. Look for the Shaved Ice banner. Sorry without Fudge.

Click for full photo report!

Fire Update 8-12-2022

Lightning Fire Update

Wenatchee, WA (August 12, 2022) — Thirteen lightning-caused fires are burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Five are located on the Wenatchee River Ranger District, six on the Cle Elum Ranger District, and one each on the Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts.

Most of the fires remain small, from 1/10 acre to ¾ acre. Two, however, are larger. The White River Fire is estimated at 20 acres and is burning in the Sears Creek area of the White River drainage, approximately 14 miles northwest of Plain, WA. Firefighting resources on this fire include two Interagency Hotshot crews, rappelers, and a dozer.

The largest fire is the 40-50 acre Irving Peak Fire located 16 airmiles northwest of Plain, WA. Fire behavior there this morning is low, with backing and creeping activity. Due to the very steep inaccessible, terrain, (which is incredibly hazardous to firefighter safety), the strategy for this fire is confine and contain which means that firefighters will use a combination of natural features and eventually constructed fire line to contain this wildfire. Currently, ground-based resources are attacking many other lightning-caused fires located closer to communities.

While smoke from the fire is highly visible in the Lake Wenatchee area, this fire is located in a wetter forest type which generally means the potential rate of spread is going to be slower as it burns through moist duff and woody debris. Fire managers will utilize retardant and water drops where effective and as airtankers and helicopters are released from wildfires nearer to homes and communities.

Reminder to all forest visitors, a campfire ban is in place on the entire Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Find out more about these restrictions at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_053600