Cub Creek 2 Fire Evening Update July 17, 2021 Evening Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Fire Information Line – (541)-670-0812 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

Winthrop, WA — Cub Creek 2 – Extended attack of the Cub Creek 2 Fire continued today with retardant drops from large air tankers, water scooping/dropping planes, helicopters with buckets and various ground forces of hand crews and engines. The fire burned vigorously throughout the day on Washington Department of Natural Resource and Okanogan County Fire District 6 protected lands and also the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The majority of the left flank of the fire is lined with dozer line from the heel of the fire to First Creek Road which ties into Forest Road 140 leading to Buck Lake. The north flank remains unchecked at this time. The northeast flank is backing down toward West Chewuch Road where it had crossed north of the junction of the East and West Chewuch Road to Heaton Homestead. The fire is also located east of Boulder Creek Road and is burning towards the north being pushed by diurnal winds. Northwest Incident Management Team 8 assumed management of the fire this evening at 6 p.m.

Tonight, a night shift of firefighters include a 20-person handcrew, five engines, and multiple overhead.

The Washington State structure strike team has been reassigned to protect properties in the Cub Creek 2 Fire. 8 Mile Ranch is the designated staging area. Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) evacuations for the Chewuch River drainage effected by the Cub Creek 2 Fire remain. Please see the OCEM website for further information. For the most up-to-date evacuation levels see the OCEM’s website. The Red Cross Evacuation Center is located at Methow Valley Elementary School.

Resources for additional information: Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2021 Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/ Email: [email protected] Highway Information: https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/default.aspx Evacuations: https://www.okanogancounty.org/government/emergency_management/index.php Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness): https://methowconservancy.org/discover/fire-prep- recovery%20 Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments): https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/

Resources: Total personnel – 152: 2-type 2 initial attack hand crews, 3-type 2 hand crews, 2- heavy helicopters, 9-engines, 3-dozers, 2-water tenders, and 15 overhead.

Closures: For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting these fires, a temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been placed over the area. Please consult the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) for specifics. Wildfires are a “No Drone Zone” and any drones sighting in a TFR will immediately ground aerial firefighting resources and delay suppression actions. Forest Service Campgrounds have been swept and closed along the river drainage. Additional, the following roads accessing the fire area will be closed: • Rendezvous, Banker Pass, East and West Chewuch, and at the junction of the Forest Service Roads 39 and 37 due to down powerlines, rolling debris, and falling trees. • Goat Creek Road at the junction of the 52 and 5225 Road • 100 spur of West Fawn will be closed at the 5217 Road • 100 spur of East Fawn will be closed at the 5217 Road • 5215 Road • 5008 Road 100 spur road in Bear Creek • 5009 Road 100 spur road in Ramsey Creek • 5009 Road 100 spur road in Pearrygin Creek • 4225 Road • 4235 Road

Weather: The skies will become clear with temperatures 55-64 degrees in the valley and 48-55 degree on the ridges. The relative humidity will be near 45-55% in the valleys and 50-60% on the ridges.

Air Quality: Nighttime smoke may flow down into the Hwy 20 corridor overnight with some visibility restrictions possible. Smoke will lift later Sunday morning. Please monitor the air quality on the incident FS page above WA Smoke Blog and take appropriate actions.

Fire Restrictions: Campfire restrictions are in effect. Campfires are prohibited throughout the Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest, including developed campgrounds and congressionally designated Wilderness — call local ranger district offices for more information. https://tinyurl.com/yby4oysq

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