With the hot temperatures and windy conditions this Labor Day weekend, the Chikamin Fire has spread into the Garland Creek area on the Entiat Ranger District. It is still within the confines of the old Wolverine Fire burn scar but smoke is now visible from the Cottonwood Campground area. The fire is estimated to be 1,200 acres in size.

The Chikamin Fire is located in the Chikamin Ridge area 22 miles north of Leavenworth, Washington. This fire is burning in heavy timber in steep inaccessible terrain. Crews are utilizing natural features, existing roads and trails, and the footprints of past fire areas to contain the spread of the fire. 

To provide for public safety and firefighter safety on the Chikamin Fire the following road and trails are closed to public entry:  
- FS Road #6210 (Chikamin Road)  
- Lower Chiwawa Trail #1548
- Chikamin Tie Trail #1534
- Minnow Ridge Trail #1524
- Basalt Ridge Trail #1515
- Basalt Pass Trail #1530
- Rock Creek Tie Trail #1538
- Garland Peak Trail #1408
- Upper Mad River Trail #1409.1
- Alder Ridge Trail #1523
- Chikamin Tie Trail #1561
- Minnow Creek Trail #1539
- Shetipo Trail #1429

 Leavenworth, WA – Today the Chikamin Fire was turned back to the local District Type 4 IMT, led by Incident Commander Mike Barajas and IC trainee Ross Boots. Updates will be issued as conditions change.Yesterday’s Activity- Fire crews continued to improve containment lines on the west flank as the fire slowly backed down toward a wet ravine. Fire crews patrolled the southeast flank and east flanks. With warmer temperatures the past couple days the fire grew slightly to the north and northeast into the 2015 Wolverine Fire scar..  

August 12, 2020

Leavenworth, WA – Good progress was made yesterday to reinforce and secure the fireline on the east flank of the fire. It is 65% contained and 391 acres. On Friday at 6:00 p.m. the Type 3 team will hand the fire back over to the local District to manage for the duration. The next fire update will be Saturday morning.

Yesterday’s Activity- Firecrews continued to improve containment lines on the west flank as the fire slowly backed down toward a wet ravine. Fire crews patrolled the southeast flank, while the Entiat Hotshots continued to bolster firelines along the northeast flank. With yesterday’s gusty winds the fire grew slightly to the northwest, however there was no infrared flight to get updated perimeter and acreage.

Week’s Operations- Controlling the line and mopping up on the east flank will be the primary focus for this week’s efforts. Fire crews will monitor and patrol the west flank. Brushing and chipping will continue along the 6210 road, all the way down to the Chiwawa River Road. This work will continue through Friday, then transition into suppression repair.

Weather and Fire Behavior- Cooler temperatures are expected today with increasing relative humidity. No precipitation is forecast through the week. Fire behavior is expected to be low to moderate, with fire backing down the west flank and isolated torching. Aerial support is available to aid firefighters as the winds pick up.

Safety- Our highest priority remains the safety of the public and all wildland fire personnel. Fire operation protocols include best management practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 within the firefighting crews, fire managers and general public.

Closures- Today unfinished work will continue on the FS 6210 road and surrounding trails/areas. With heavy equipment and firefighter traffic on the 6210 road, closures will remain in effect for public and firefighter safety.

Public Use Fire Restrictions- On the Wenatchee River Ranger District Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. However Friday, August 14 fire restrictions will increase to a Stage 2. This means that campfires will not be allowed anywhere on the National Forest, including campgrounds and Wilderness areas. For more information on fire restrictions on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, visit Fire Restrictions 

For fire information please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6901/ or contact 2020.chikamin@firenet.gov

  August 11, 2020

Leavenworth, WA – Good progress was made yesterday to reinforce and secure the fireline on the east flank of the fire. It is now at 65% containment and 391 acres.

Yesterday’s Activity- helicopter bucket drops were used to cool down hotspots along the west flank as the fire slowly backs down toward a wet ravine. Fire crews patrolled the southeast flank, while the Entiat Hotshots tied in the northeast flank into the 2015 Wolverine Fire scar.

Today’s Operations- Controlling the line and mopping up on the east flank will be the primary focus for today’s efforts. Fire crews will monitor and patrol the west flank. Brushing and chipping will continue along the 6210 road.

Weather and Fire Behavior- Moderate west to northwest winds 8 and 12 mph are projected today with gusts to 20 mph projected in the afternoon. No precipitation is forecast through the week. Fire behavior is expected to be moderate, with fire backing down the west flank and isolated torching. Aerial support is available to aid firefighters as the winds pick up.

Safety- Our highest priority remains the safety of the public and all wildland fire personnel. Fire operation protocols include best management practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 within the firefighting crews, fire managers and general public.

Closures- Today unfinished work will continue on the FS 6210 road and surrounding trails/areas. With heavy equipment and firefighter traffic on the 6210 road, closures will remain in effect for public and firefighter safety. The following trails and roads are still closed to public: 

FS Road #6210 - Chikamin Road 
Trail 1548 - Lower Chiwawa 
Trail 1534 - Chikamin Tie 
Trail 1524 - Minnow Ridge 
Trail 1515 - Basalt Ridge 
Trail 1530 - Basalt Pass 
Trail 1538 - Rock Creek Tie 
Trail 1408 - Garland Peak 

Trail 1409.1 - Upper Mad River 
Trail 1523 - Alder Ridge 
Trail 1561 - Chikamin Tie 
Trail 1539 - Minnow Creek 
Trail 1429 – Shetipo 

Public Use Fire Restrictions- As a reminder on the Wenatchee River Ranger District Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. This means that campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds and Wilderness areas where permitted, campfires are not allowed in dispersed campsites. For more information on fire restrictions on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/home/?cid=FSBDEV3_05360

August 10, 2020

Leavenworth, WA –

The current containment for the Chikamin Fire is at 60 percent and is at 383 acres. Crews will continue to secure the fire’s edge and monitor the fire perimeter for any growth using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). UAS have cameras that allow them to fly into areas of little or no visibility and areas inaccessible to firefighters.  

With continued cooler temperatures and moderate relative humidity (RH) past couple days the fire has seen insignificant growth, which has allowed firefighters to safely secure containment lines along the east flank. As fire line is secured and contingency lines are complete, personnel will begin to demobilize. Fire managers are building on a suppression repair plan, with implementation beginning later this week.

Today unfinished work will continue on the FS 6210 road and surrounding trails/areas. With heavy equipment and firefighter traffic on the 6210 road, closures will remain in effect for public and firefighter safety. The following trails and roads are still closed to public:

FS Road #6210 - Chikamin Road 
Trail 1548 - Lower Chiwawa 
Trail 1534 - Chikamin Tie 
Trail 1524 - Minnow Ridge 
Trail 1515 - Basalt Ridge 
Trail 1530 - Basalt Pass 
Trail 1538 - Rock Creek Tie 
Trail 1408 - Garland Peak 
Trail 1409.1 - Upper Mad River 
Trail 1523 - Alder Ridge 
Trail 1561 - Chikamin Tie 
Trail 1539 - Minnow Creek 
Trail 1429 – Shetipo 

As a reminder on the Wenatchee River Ranger District Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. This means that campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds and Wilderness areas where permitted, campfires are not allowed in dispersed campsites. For more information on fire restrictions on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/home/?cid=FSBDEV3_053600

For fire information please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6901/ or contact 2020.chikamin@firenet.gov

The Chikamin Fire saw negligible growth yesterday and is still currently at 347 acres. The current containment is now at 50 percent. Crews will continue to take advantage of the cooler air and higher relative humidity (RH) to improve and extend containment lines and continue to work on contingency lines as well. 
 

Firefighters completed the handline on the east side of the fire from the FS 6210 road to the north. The Entiat Hotshots will continue working on constructing handline up to the Wolverine scar on the north side of the Chikamin Fire today. On the west side of the fire, crews have constructed the necessary handlines and have a hose lay with sprinklers in place. Containment lines will be patrolled in the coming days by crews, aircraft and UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) to make sure it is secure.

As a reminder on the Wenatchee River Ranger District Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. This means that campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds and Wilderness areas where permitted, campfires are not allowed in dispersed campsites. For more information on fire restrictions on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/home/?cid=FSBDEV3_053600

To provide for public safety and firefighter safety, road and trail closures are still in effect.

 

The Chikamin Fire saw minimal growth yesterday and is now at 347 acres. The current containment is at 30 percent. The cooler temperatures and moderate relative humidity values that were left behind by the passing cold front on Thursday have greatly assisted firefighting efforts. Good progress is being made by firefighters as most containment lines are being constructed along existing roads, trail systems and by utilizing natural barriers.
The operations team is focusing its suppression strategy on constructing containment, contingency and direct line where possible to stop the spread of the fire.
 
Yesterday, smokejumpers and the Entiat hotshots finished lining the east perimeter of the fire. Crews will continue to secure and patrol these lines in the coming days. Helicopters will continue to assist dropping water and providing reconnaissance while UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) will also be used to monitor the perimeter of the fire. Helicopters have dropped over 200,000 gallons of water on the fire so far in order to cool the fire down for crews to safely work on constructing line.
 
On the west region of the fire, the masticator, along with crews made advancements in preparing the contingency lines on the FS 6210 road. Additionally, crews progressed building a containment line using natural features and barriers north of the FS 6210 road along the west side of the fire. Crews will continue to improve both these lines in the following days. 

As a reminder on the Wenatchee River Ranger District Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect. This means that campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds and Wilderness areas where permitted, campfires are not allowed in dispersed campsites. For more information on fire restrictions on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/home/?cid=FSBDEV3_053600

Based on infrared data collected overnight the fire is estimated at 340 acres.
 
Yesterday the Entiat Hotshots contained work on east flank of the fire to tie in containment lines with smokejumpers in the northeast corner. These lines are anticipated to be finished by end of shift and smokejumpers will hike out. The Entiat Hotshots will remain spiked out and continue constructing line to the north up to the Entiat ridge.

On the west flank of the fire crews continued falling hazard trees and brushing a spur road off the FS 6210 road, with the help of heavy machinery. The use of UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) continues to be advantageous in assessing the viability of safe line construction and work by crews on the west flank. Three helicopters will be dropping water on the west region of the fire again to restrict the fire’s progression and cool the fire down, allowing for crews to more safely work in this area.
 
The lower temperatures and moderate relative humidity have been beneficial in firefighting endeavors and will continue to be helpful throughout the day.

The team’s number one priority always remains firefighter and public safety. Firefighters continue to engage the wildfire, making decisions about the best approach with the best available information at the time in order to keep public and firefighters safe.
To provide for public safety and firefighter safety, road and trail closures are still in effect.
 
 

Based on a reconnaissance flight last night the fire is now estimated at 327 acres.Due to increased fire activity yesterday, crews on the east flank were unable to work on containment lines. Smokejumpers worked on the northern tip of the fire and scouted the Entiat side of the fire. There was increased heat on the east side, but that has mostly cooled down and the fire is now slowly backing down the east slope. Crews will attempt to confront the east flank again today to tie into the smokejumper’s containment lines on the northeast corner.

Yesterday, crews covered significant ground on the east flank of the fire and will be continuing work on the east side to tie in containment lines with 16 smokejumpers working in the northeast corner. Crews were successful in finishing brush and snag work along the 6210 road. The north side of the fire is burning into the old (2015) Wolverine fire scar, and fire activity is diminishing there.Increased torching and fire activity was observed yesterday on the west flank. Three crews and helicopters dropping water worked on confining this side of the fire. Today, crews will continue to work as far as safely possible and will scout out further options for confinement along the west flank.

Today, fire weather is predicted to be slightly elevated compared to yesterday’s observed weather, with slightly higher temperatures and lower relative humidity. Tomorrow’s forecast is predicted to bring a cold front with gusty winds and a chance of showers. Crews will be monitoring weather and fire behavior as the cold front moves in. According to infrared imaging data taken late last night, the Chikamin Fire is estimated at 269 acres (see map below). Conditions were not ideal for burn-out operations yesterday, so they will commence mid-morning today; smoke may be visible in the area. The goal of this burn-out is to secure a solid line along established fuel breaks to keep the wildfire contained on the southwest edge.

Road and trail closures are still in effect.