Whitmore Fire Update 10:30AM 8.7.2021

WHITMORE FIRE UPDATE
NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12
Incident Commander: Bobby Shindelar

August 7, 2021 The Whitmore fire is burning on the Colville Reservation south of Omak Lake and west of Nespelem, WA. NW Incident Management Team 12 is managing the response to the fire from the Nespelem Community Center. The Community Center is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of firefighters and community members. 

Operations:
Yesterday afternoon, the Whitmore and Hamilton fires merged, creating one larger fire. This incident is now being managed solely as the Whitmore Fire. Firefighters focused on protecting structures along the northwest perimeter of the fire near Kartar Valley Road, as well as on structures south of Columbia River Road. In the southwest portion of the fire, resources secured the Goose Flats area with dozer line and burnout operations. In the southeast corner, the fire remained primarily south of SR115 down to Columbia River Road, although there was some slop over to the north side of SR115, which firefighters are working today to keep from expanding. They will work to prevent continued fire spread to the north. Both helicopter and fixed wing air resources will be available from the Summit Trail Fire. Firefighters will continue to focus on defending homes. In the afternoon, gusty, erratic winds are expected to affect fire behavior. 

Evacuations:
Level 3 (GO NOW): All areas south of Columbia River Road from Panama Canyon to Piniel Ranch. Additionally, areas north of Columbia River Road from Panama Canyon to Omak-Kartar Road
Level 2 (GET SET): All areas south of Columbia River Road from Tum Tum to Piniel Ranch
Level 1 (BE READY): All areas south of SR155 including the SR155 corridor (on both sides of the road) from Colville Agency at the Columbia River Road and SR155 intersection, to Nespelem, to the Mission turnoff 

An Evacuation Shelter has been set up at the Paschal Sherman Indian School at 169 North End Omak Lake Rd, Omak, WA. Animals displaced by the Whitmore Fire can be sheltered at the Nespelem Rodeo Grounds, Schoolhouse Loop Road, Nespelem, WA.Call (509) 634-2472 with all evacuation questions. 

Road Closures:
Coyote Creek Road is closed. Columbia River Road is closed.
All side roads south of SR155 are closed to through traffic from Nespelem to the Mission turnoff.

SIZE: 21,354 acres
CONTAINMENT: 0%
PERSONNEL: 149
CAUSE: Lightning
RESOURCES:
Hand Crews: 2
Engines: 9
Dozers: 5
Water Tenders: 7
Fixed Wing: 1
 
FIRE INFORMATION:509-557-0063

2021.whitmore@firenet.gov

Facebook: @cwafireinfo

INCIWEB:https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7776/

Air quality information: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/