Press Release of August 21, 2008
Incident: Foam Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 8/21/2008
News Release
Date: August 21, 2008
Subject: Fire Update for Wenatchee Ranger District Fires
Contact: Becky Banker (509) 548-3069
www.inciweb.org
The Jack Creek and Foam Creek fires continue to burn in remote, unpopulated areas of the Wenatchee River Ranger District, though recent moisture, cloud cover, and humidity has moderated fire behavior. A drying trend is forecast to begin Friday, August 22, and continue throughout the weekend bringing with it the possibility of increased fire activity. The Eastern Wildland Fire Use Management Team, Barbara Bonefeld, Incident Commander, is managing these fires on the Wenatchee River Ranger District. The Incident Command Post is located at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery.
A temporary flight restriction remains in effect for the Jack Creek Fire. Trail closures were updated Tuesday, August 19, 2008. Visitors to the Forest are urged to familiarize themselves with fire locations, fire activity, and related closures. As of August 19, the Wenatchee River Ranger District has enlarged the area of restricted access in the vicinity of the Jack Creek Fire. Updated closures, and closure maps, may be accessed on the Wenatchee National Forest Web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee or at www.inciweb.org, or by calling the Wenatchee River Ranger District at (509) 548-6977.
The Jack Creek Fire is located within the Jack Creek drainage of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The fire has not appreciably enlarged over the last 48 hours, remaining 1058 acres in size. Efforts to monitor the fire have been hampered by cloud cover restricting the use of aviation resources. If cloud cover lifts, fire personnel will monitor by air. Public safety, and the safety of fire personnel, will receive continued emphasis for all operations. The remote location of the fire, limited access, jagged rocky slopes, and the steepness of terrain continue to make work on the ground hazardous for fire personnel. Fire behavior consists largely of creeping through surface fuels and short uphill runs ignited by debris that has fallen down slope.
The Foam Creek Fire has advanced through a previously burned area of abundant dead and downed fuels. The fire now encompasses approximately 595 acres within the Glacier Peak Wilderness. This fire will continue to be monitored for wildland fire use with the objective of achieving natural fuel reduction. Rock faces and scree slopes provide substantial natural barriers that should limit the spread of this fire. The Foam Creek Fire is also located in a remote area, well-removed from communities or structures.
Other small fires on the Wenatchee River Ranger District (Meander, Poet, Scoop, and Reflection Pond) continue to be monitored, though no significant fire activity has been noted over the last 48 hours.
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