Single Publication

Swauk Creek Fire 

September 20, 2024

Estimated size: 348 acres

Containment: 51%

Start Date/Time: 9/8/2024 at 3:54 PM

Area of Origin: Adjacent to Highway 97, 14 miles east of Cle Elum, WA

Cause: Human                                                      

Structures Damaged: 0

Update: Today’s forecast will continue to challenge the fire perimeter as wind gusts up to 22 mph are expected across the area. While cooler temperatures are expected, humidity levels will remain in the 30’s allowing fuels to continue to dry out. 

Dayshift crews are monitoring the strength and security of the fire perimeter and control lines, improving containment lines, gridding areas to identify hot spots and mop-up as needed. Crews will be patrolling throughout the day, checking for any smoke or hotspots that could threaten fire control or containment lines.

Some resources are demobilizing from the fire throughout the day. Due to the busy fire season, resources are timing out and needing to return to their home units to rest and prepare for other incidents that may develop.  Over the weekend, resources remaining at the incident will be transitioning the response to the local units with Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest - Cle Elum Ranger District and the WA Department of Natural Resources – Southeast Region Kittitas County Unit that will continue to mop-up, patrol and repair the fire.  

Smoke: While the interior burn area continues to consume dry and downed fuels, citizens and travelers in local communities and along Highway 97 may still see smoke coming from the fire. The fire remains fully staffed to monitor and maintain control lines.

Forest Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has area, road, and trail closures due to the Swauk Creek Fire. For a detailed list of closures, including a map of the closure area, please visit the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices/?aid=90533.

Road Closures: Highway 97 remains open. Due to the increased flow of fire vehicle traffic traveling in and out of the fire area, we ask that people drive slowly through the area using caution.

Weather: Dry, northwest flow will continue over the fire today as cooler air continues to move into the region.  Temperatures will lower back into the low to mid 60’s.  The air mass will remain unseasonably dry so despite the cooler temperatures, afternoon humidity levels will continue to dry out near 30-36%.  Winds will be elevated from the west to northwest with speeds of 9 to 13 mph and gusts of 15 to 22 mph. 

Evacuation Levels: Evacuation levels have been lowered effective yesterday, September 19, 2024, at 6:00 PM.  There are only Level 1 (Be Fire Aware) evacuations in place.  These can be found on the interactive map. Many Forest Service roads are affected in this area; please review the map if you want to know about a specific location/road. Live map of active fires from Kittitas County:

https://kitcogis.maps.arcgis.com/.../minima.../index.html...

The First Creek area is currently closed to the public.

As always, conditions can change quickly; please stay alert and avoid the area if you feel unsafe.

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