Single Publication

Swauk Creek Fire 

September 21, 2024

Estimated size: 348 acres

Containment: 58%

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: Overnight, crews completed their last evening of night shift. Crews monitored the fire lines, watching for anything smoking or smoldering. There has been no change in the perimeter of the fire.

Today, crews continue to improve containment lines around the fire’s perimeter, concentrating on the north and northeastern flanks. Throughout the dayshift, firefighters will evaluate for hazards such as trees that could fall across the line causing the fire to spread outside control lines.  On the west and south of the fire, crews continue to look for hot spots and mop up as needed.

Transition continues with the incoming Type 4 incident commanders from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - Cle Elum Ranger District and the WA Department of Natural Resources – Southeast Region Kittitas County Unit.  Shadowing the current Southeast Washington Type 3 Incident Management Team today helps with a smooth and steady transition, as the outgoing team prepares to head back to their home units tomorrow afternoon.  The local teams will stay and mop-up, patrol, and complete repair to areas as needed until the fire is 100 percent contained.   

Smoke: While the interior burn area continues to consume dry and downed fuels, smoke impacts from this will be limited to the immediate area. 

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. Fire vehicle traffic will still be traveling in and out of the area, we ask that people drive using caution.

Weather: A flat ridge of high pressure returns today, which will keep winds across all divisions of the fire at less than 10 mph.  Mostly sunny conditions will have temperatures rebounding from the early morning 40s, to nearly 70 degrees by the afternoon. The air mass will remain dry with afternoon humidity values between 25-30%.  Relative humidity levels will raise overnight as scattered high clouds, light winds, and cool temperatures return. 

Evacuation Levels: 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.