Cub Creek 2 Fire
Evening Update
July 19, 2021
Public meeting notice: Wednesday, July 21, starting at 6 PM. The meeting will take place at the "Red Barn" (Mack Lloyd Park) on the west side of Winthrop.
Fire Information Line – (541)-670-0812 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)
The fire is burning on Okanogan County Fire District 6 and Washington Department of Natural Resources protected lands and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Winthrop, WA — Cub Creek 2 – The fire remains split into two arms and continued to grow actively to the north and northeast into the evening hours. The east arm has burned over Valley Creek and is approximately 1 mile from First Butte Lookout. The objective is to keep the fire from moving out of the Boulder Creek drainage. The west arm is burning northeasterly paralleling the Chewuch River where it has crossed Forest Road 5140 and is moving towards Falls Creek. The fire has reached the Eastside Chewuck Rd along the 8 Mile Ranch. The majority of the left flank of the fire is lined with dozerline from the heel of the fire to Buck Lake. The portion of this line to First Creek Road is considered contained. The south line is being reinforced to prevent spread with water resources. Multiple water dropping aerial resources including heavy lift helicopters with buckets provided support to firefighters in all locations of the fire.
Today, firefighters looked for opportunities to tie existing dozerline on the west arm into Cub Creek and prepare Cub Creek Road as a holding line. On the east arm, firefighters worked and scouted opportunities to tie the south flank up to Ramsey Peak and tie the line into Pebble or Boulder Creeks. Private inholdings with structures and other infrastructure along the drainage to the north of the fire and near 20 Mile received preparations.
Local resource advisors provided input to protect natural and historical values on all fires.
The Cub Creek 2 Fire is estimated at 8,255 acres with a 5% containment. The fire is burning north pushed by diurnal winds during the day and south during the late evening and morning. Please only call 911 if flare-ups are near structures.
Evacuation Information: The Okanogan County Emergency Management (OCEM) evacuations for the Chewuch River drainage have been reevaluated and remain in effect. One Level 3 (Go) evacuation area is present for residences along East and West Chewuch Roads starting from approximately 4 miles north of Winthrop to just past the confluence of the Eight Mile Creek and the Chewuch River on the east and north, and along both sides of Cub Creek Road in the west. Two Level 2 (Set) zones are present: one for residences along East and West Chewuch Roads approximately 2 miles north to approximately 4 miles north of Winthrop, and one for residences on the north end of Rendezvous Road and along both sides of Little Cub Creek in the south, the 5215 Road in the north and wets. Please see the OCEM website for the most up-to-date evacuation levels and further information. The Red Cross Evacuation Center is on stand-by if needed at the Methow Valley Elementary School.
Resources for additional information:
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CubCreek2Fire2021
Smoke Blog:
https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
Email:
2021.cubcreek2@firenet.gov
Highway Information:
https://www.wsdot.com/traffic/traffical ... fault.aspx
Evacuations:
https://www.okanogancounty.org/.../emer ... /index.php
Methow Conservancy (Wildfire Preparedness):
https://methowconservancy.org/discover/ ... ecovery%20
Wildfire Ready Neighbors (House Assessments):
https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/
Resources: Total personnel–218 4-type 2 initial attack hand crews, 4-type 2 hand crews, 2- heavy helicopters, 1-light lift helicopter, 5-engines, 3-dozer, 3-water tenders, and 24 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. Additionally, the following roads accessing the fire area have been 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: Monday was warmer and drier with southwest winds on ridges. There was heavy smoke in the valley this morning. Winds were west 5 mph turning to slope/valley at 3 - 7 mph after 10:00 am. West winds were 5–10 mph starting down Hwy 20 and aligned drainages around 1600 hrs. Temperatures were near 90 plus degrees in the valley and 80 degrees mid-slope and ridges. Relative humidity was very low at 14–20%.
Air Quality: Expect similar smoke impacts tomorrow in the upper Methow Valley. Increased impacts will occur in the lower Methow Valley and the Columbia River drainage toward Omak. Smoke will settle into valleys overnight resulting in unhealthy to hazardous air in Winthrop and Mazama between 4:00 am to mid-afternoon. Mazama may be worse due to increased fire activity yesterday and west winds this afternoon. Please monitor the air quality on the incident FB page above and the WA Smoke Blog and take appropriate actions. All vehicle traffic is advised to travel with lights on for safety.
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
Northwest Incident Management Type 2 Team 8, led by Incident Commander Kevin Stock, is the team responsible for management of these fires.
-End-