Manila Creek Fire Update - September 14, 2007
Incident: Manila Creek Wildland Fire
Released: 9/14/2007
MANILA CREEK UPDATE
September 14, 2007 - 11:00 AM
ACRES: 17,653
CONTAINMEMT: 30%
FIRE CAUSE: Under Investigation - Suspected Arson
LOCATION: The Manila Creek Fire started on Monday, September 10, at approximately 11:30 a.m. The fire is burning 7 miles southeast of the town of Keller, Washington on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The fire cause is under investigation.
VEGETATION TYPE AND TERRAIN: The Manila Creek Fire is burning in scattered grasses and heavy timber, in steep, rough terrain. Access into the area is limited and roads that do exist are narrow with few turnouts for fire apparatus.
YESTERDAY'S FIRE ACTIVITY: Firefighters made good progress on the Manila Creek Fire. Containment lines were completed from the western edge of the fire to the southern perimeter. Fire crews conducted burnout operations on the northeast perimeter to secure and reduce the fuels around the Mount Tolman Fire Center. The fire has moved little to the north and is holding at the old Buffalo Lake burn of 2000. During the morning hours, the winds pushed the fire in a southwesterly direction with heavy smoke moving into the communities of Elmer City, Grand Coulee Dam and Electric City. By late afternoon, the wind direction had changed, moving the smoke in a northeasterly direction toward the community of Keller. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) power line that supplies power to the Mount Tolman Fire Center and the community of Keller had to be shut down for approximately 6 hours in the late afternoon because of firefighter safety concerns. Aircraft worked throughout the fire area cooling hot spots and slowing the spread of fire.
TODAY'S PLAN: Firefighters will concentrate on the southeast perimeter where hot shot crews will work to establish a line. Extensive air support activities will continue throughout day with retardant and water drops where necessary to cool and slow the fire spread. A combination of dozer work and handline crews will take be constructing line along the northern perimeter. Fire suppression activity has increased traffic along the nearby roads and highways. Additional roads leading into the fire area have now been closed by Colville Law Enforcement. Public and firefighter safety are the top priority on the Manila Creek Fire. The public is urged to drive the area with caution.
***A community meeting for the town of Keller has been scheduled for Saturday, September 15 - beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Little Memorial Park next to the Post Office.
WEATHER: Sunny and warm, 77-85 degrees. Relative humidity 14 to 24 percent. Valley winds east 3 to 5 mph and in the afternoon northeast to east 8 to 10 mph.
EMERGENCY NOTICE LEVEL 3 remains in place for the Swawilla Basin structures along the Columbia River, the Mount Tolman Fire Center located to the east of the fire, and scattered structures along the southern border have been evaucated.
ROAD CLOSURES: Peter Dan/Manila Creek Road between Highway 155 and 21, Old Manila Creek Road, Meadow Creek Road, Lower Jack Creek Road, Upper Jack Creek Road, Keller Butte Road, Joe Moses Road, Buffalo Lake Road to Keller Butte Road, Buffalo Lake Road to Keller Butte Road.
COOPERATING AGENCIES: The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation the Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Incident Management Team 2 are working closely with the communities affected by the Manila Creek Fire.
RESOURCES: 15 Crews, 6 Helicopters, 30 Engines, 4 Dozers, 15 Water Tenders, 47 Overhead, Total Personnel - 409
