Single Publication

Swauk Creek Fire

September 13, 2024

Estimated size: 338 acres

Containment: 9%

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: Vehicle Fire/Under Investigation                  

Structures Damaged: 0

Update: The weather was favorable as crews continued to monitor the fire overnight. Hard work continues placing hand line around the edges of the fire perimeter. Crews have established anker points on both the northeast and northwest sides of the fire edge. Air resources are dropping buckets of water on the northeast corner of the fire to keep the fire in check. The terrain in that area is steep and hard to access. Crews have been able to go direction on the eastern side of the fire edge continuing to build hand lines and monitor for hotspots. On the south side of the fire crews have been removing hazard trees and going direct on the fire edge. Masticators continue working on the southwestern edge cleaning up debris. We continue to order more resources and evaluate contingency lines around the fire perimeter. A structure protection group has been established and is working on property identification and evaluation. We want to ensure homes and other buildings are listed on our maps, so we are aware of their presence.

One of the team’s public information officers along with some local officials visited the town of Liberty yesterday. They were able to meet with residents and share updates and maps. They also talked with citizens answering questions and ensuring they know where to find fire information.

Road Closures: Highway 97 is now open with no restrictions.

Evacuation Levels: The evacuations remain the same as yesterday. They were updated as a precaution; there is no immediate residential threat from this fire. Evacuations 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.

Notification Level 3 (Go Now) is shown on the map; however, this area has no residential structures.

Notification Level 2 (Get ready)

• Residences east of US 97 north of fire to Liberty Rd
• Forest Service Road 3506 south of fire to Upper Green Canyon Rd

Notification Level 1 (Be Fire Aware)

• The town of Liberty
• All Liberty Rd
• Forest Service Road 9726 and all of its extensions (including Deer Gulch, Pine Gulch, Robinson Gulch, and Harkness Gulch)

Currently, no evacuation notices are issued for residents south of First Creek or west of US Highway 97.

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

Weather and Fire Behavior: Today we expect dry weather with a chance of light, non-wetting rain this evening into Saturday. Light winds are expected today and will increase on Saturday. Minimal RH values will be about 35-40 percent on Saturday with excellent overnight recovery. Temperatures today are anticipated to be a high around 70 degrees with a low this evening around 50 degrees.