Approximate Location
Incident Overview
Mt. Cashmere, Basalt, and Mission Creek fire area closure maps were added to this site on Oct. 29, 2012. Go to the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF website for more informaiton about closure areas (see Alerts and Warnings section) www.fs.usda.gov/okawen .
Wenatchee Complex Fire Information
Friday, Oct. 12, 2012
INCIDENT QUICK FACTS
Location: North, west and southwest of Wenatchee, WA
Acreage: 56,478
Containment: 70 percent
Start Date: 09/09/2012
Cause: Lightning
Resources: 1 Hotshot Crew, 1 I.A. Crew, 1 Engine, 2 Helicopters
TODAY'S SUMMARY
A month has past after the severe lightning storm with over 4,000 lightning strikes ignited over 100 fires in the Wenatchee Complex. Dave Nalle's Type 3 Incident Management Team is in the proces of demobbing and the fires are released back to the individual ranger districts for mop-up and fire suppression repair.
The multiple fires of the Wenatchee Complex burned 56,478 acres and are over 70 percent contained as a whole. At the height of the complex, 2,062 personnel, 56 crews, 147 engines, 14 helicopters and 11 dozers were fighting the fires.
Wenatchee, Cashmere, Leavenworth, Lake Chelan and other communities remain open for visitors. Residents and visitors should expect to see some smoke until the area receives significant rain or snow, as interior islands of unburned fuels continue to be consumed.
Fuels remain extremely dry in Central Washington and new starts are still being reported. The Wenatchee Complex supported initial attack on these fires with crews and engines.
A state-wide burn ban remains in effect through midnight, Oct. 15. Hunters entering the area are advised to use extreme caution to avoid igniting fires. All campfires are prohibited, even those in developed campgrounds, until significent moisture occurs.
Information regarding the Wenatchee Complex on http://www.inciweb.org/ will only be updated in the event of increased fire activity. For fire information and area closure details connected with the Wenatchee Complex, please call the Wenatchee River Ranger District at 509-548-2550 or the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Headquarters at 509-664-9201.
For information about fire rehabilitation efforts, please see the Central Washington Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team entry at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3292/. BAER teams rapidly assess burned areas to identify post-fire threats and then take emergency actions to prevent erosion and flooding.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Monday October 01st, 2012 approx. 08:55 PM |
| Location | North and West of Wenatchee, Washington |
| Incident Commander | Dave Nalle |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 264 |
|---|---|
| Size | 56,478 acres |
| Percent Contained | 70% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Saturday December 01st, 2012 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Timber, brush and grass |
| Significant Events | Starting demobilization process, while retaining appropriate resources to support suppression, mop-up and rehab efforts. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Hold and mop up Peavine Fire. Rehab on Peavine, Poison, and Maverick Fires. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Medium |
| Terrain Difficulty | High |
| Remarks | Canyon Fire 7,557 acres (100%). Byrd Fire 14,119 acres (100%). Poison Canyon Fire 5,910 acres (100%). Peavine Canyon Fire 19,467 acres (70%). First Creek Fire 1,402 acres (100%). Pyramid Fire 1,692 acres (0%). Klone Fire 1,476 acres (15%). Cashmere Fire - 2,651 acres (30%). Basalt Fire - 1,193 acres (0%). In the Miscellaneous fire category, 1,011 acres (30%): White Pine 61 acres, Cuitin Lake 290 acres, Sears Creek 617 acres, 469 Fire 21 acres, Upper White Fire 0.2 acres. The Maverick (21 acres), Mule 0.1 acres, John (2 acres), and Signal Peak fire (0.1 acre) are 100% contained. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 2-5 mph NW |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 74 degrees |
| Humidity | 24% |
