Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 20th
WENATCHEE, Wash. - Firefighters continue to secure fire lines and limit the spread of fires at the north and east ends of the complex that previously threatened homes in the Wenatchee, Cashmere, Entiat and Chelan areas. These fires include First Creek, Byrd Canyon, Canyons, Poison and Peavine fires.
Wednesday, Evacuation Levels for Granite Falls and First Creek Roads in Chelan County were reduced from a Level 3 to Level 2.
However, the fire situation continues to present challenges to firefighters. Fires have grown in size in the high country near Lake Wenatchee (Sears, Basalt and Maverick fires), in the upper Entiat River drainage (Klone and Pyramid fires), and Cashmere Mountain.
Fires in the Table Mountain Complex have grown rapidly over the last few days, sending large smoke columns with burning embers north and east toward the Mission Ridge area.
This extreme fire behavior prompted Chelan County Sheriff officials to issue Level 3 Evacuation Notices for Squilchuck and Mission Ridge Roads from the Wenatchee Heights Road south to the Mission Ridge Ski Area and including Halvorson Canyon and Hampton Road.
The Klone Fire continues to burn and is approximately 1,000 acres. Shady Pass and Tommy Creek roads are still being cleared with most of the fire activity on the south end of the fire. A sprinkler system installed around the recreation cabins continues to provide protection should the fire move in that direction. Additional resources have been moved from other fires to assist in the suppression effort on this fire.
The Maverick Fire is approximately 30 acres and firefighters will continue to build a fire line Thursday.
The Canyons Fire, directly west of Wenatchee is estimated to be 7,600 acres in size. While, the Byrd Canyon Fire, located just north of Entiat is estimated to be 14,000 acres. Both fires are 90 percent contained and crews continue to mop up into the perimeter of the fires.
The Peavine Canyon Fire, located southwest of Wenatchee in upper Mission Creek/Devils Gulch, is 6,233 acres in size. Line construction and burning operations have been conducted on this fire and it is currently ten percent contained.
The Poison Canyon Fire, located south of Cashmere, is approximately 6,000 acres and 30 percent contained. Crews successfully completed a burnout operation Wednesday along the dozer line constructed between the fire and properties in Camas Meadows on the west side of the fire. Crews continue to improve and mop up the fire perimeter. Structure protection is in place for the Tripp and Mission Creek areas.
The First Creek Fire, located 10 miles west of Lake Chelan in Chelan County, is approximately 1,240 acres and is 30 percent contained. It is burning in very difficult and steep terrain, but firefighters have had success building a direct fire line, implementing structure protection, and constructing contingency lines. This fire is almost completely lined and crews will continue mop up efforts Thursday.
Evacuation levels have been reduced to a Level 2 for First Creek and Granite Falls Creek Roads.
The Pyramid Fire, north of Entiat, is estimated to be 40 acres in size. The fire continues to move slowly down slope. Fire line improvements along Entiat River Road and County Road 19 will continue.
The Basalt Fire, approximately 10 miles north of Lake Wenatchee in the Chiwawa drainage is approximately 140 acres in size. The management team is in the process of developing a strategy to manage this fire.
The Sears Creek Fire, located in the White River drainage above Lake Wenatchee, is slowly backing downhill. The lower road has hose lines in place and the structures have been prepped.
The Cashmere Mountain Fire, which is approximately 650 acres, does not pose a danger to structures at this time. A group of smoke jumpers continue to put in control lines where possible in order to keep the fire from crossing the Eightmile Trail and from reaching Eightmile Road.
The area is extremely dry and conditions are right for rapid-fire growth on existing fires and for new fires to start. There is a ban on all outdoor burning in Chelan County, as well as, a ban on fires, campfires, or stove fires on all National Forest Lands within the Chelan, Entiat and Wenatchee River Ranger Districts.
