Single Publication

Size:    11,021 acres                                  Start Date:  18 August 2023, 1600hrs

Point of origin: Under Investigation

Containment: 0%

Cause: Under Investigation

Total personnel: 876

Resources: 43 engines l 32 crews l 9 bulldozers l 38 water tenders l 6 helicopters
 

Current Situation: The strategy continues to be full suppression with direct attack efforts where possible and 24-hour staffing. Activities in the previous 24 hours included structure protection, mop-up efforts, line construction and direct suppression utilizing engines, hand crews, and bulldozers. Airplanes and helicopters were unable to fly yesterday due to weather. Firefighters were able to take advantage of rain and made good progress in multiple areas of the fire.

Today’s activities: Priorities for the next few days remain structure protection, mop-up activities around structures and to minimize acres burned through fire line construction. Engines, hand crews and bull dozers will be active on all segments of the fire perimeter engaging in fire line construction and fortification. Activities across the southern flank of the fire will be connecting existing dozer line and establishing new line where needed. On the eastern flank of the fire crews will be scouting and linking established fire lines, mopping up and taking opportunities for direct attack suppression. Efforts on the northern and western flanks of the fire will be mopping up and line strengthening established line. The dedicated structure group will continue to provide structure protection, complete damage assessments, and gather data. Air assets will remain available to support ground efforts today.

Evacuations: Level 3 Evacuations (Go – Leave Immediately) are still in effect for areas east and southeast of Elk. See the attached map. For updated evacuation maps of Spokane County are available here www.facebook.com/GEGEmergencyMgt and for evacuation maps of Pend Oreille County are here www.facebook.com/pocsheriff. The situation can change rapidly due to weather and other factors, please check these two sources of information regularly for the most up to date information. The evacuation center is currently located at Riverside High School 4120 E. Deer Park Milan Rd, Chattaroy, WA 99003.

Weather: Yesterday’s half inch of rain across the area decreased fire activity throughout the day. Today will be the start of a warming and drying trend with forecasted clear skies and temperatures expected to be in the mid-70s, relative humidity dropping to 30%-40%, and wind gusts of 25mph out of the southwest.

Smoke Outlook: Washington State Department of Ecology has up to date air quality information at: enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/map.