Reman & Reload Continues to
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SERVING WASHINGTON’S
OKANOGAN VALLEY
SINCE 1905
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Firefighters making good progress on Okanogan and Chelan Complexes
LABOR DAY CLEAN-UP
North Star and Tunk Block fires still a priority BY GARY A. DE VON EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
The Okanogan and Chelan fire complexes continue towards containment with work completed in many areas to increase the fire perimeter on both complexes, according to the California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT 5). So far firefighting efforts have cost nearly $55 million for both fires, with the loss of 123 residences in the Okanogan Complex and 23 in the Chelan Complex. Sixteen injuries have occurred during the battle, with three firefighters giving their lives in the Methow. Katie Teachout/staff photos
Oroville-Tonasket Scout Troop #27 offered to help anyone wanting assistance getting their property fire-wise. Above: Zach Clark throws some branches onto a brush pile while Carson Timm and Michael Green work on clearing a trail from the house to the river. Left: The Scouts took a break from their Labor Day work party just long enough for a photo. Left to right are Carson Timm, Myles Timm, Conner Timm, Michael Green and Zach Clark.
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OKANOGAN COMPLEX In the Okanogan Complex, the Lime Belt Fire, which encompasses the Beaver Lake Fire, is 132,634 acres as of last Tuesday, with 75 percent containment. Containment on northwest tip of the fire is almost complete, and firefighters expected to finish mopping up the area Tuesday. Portions of the western side remained uncontained because crews were unable to conduct firing operations between an indirect dozer line and the fire perimeter near Forest Road (FR) 42. However, the fire is not threatening to escape the fireline, which is secure. Crews are prepared to conduct the defensive firing operation when weather and fuel conditions are favorable. Firefighters continue to remove fire-weakened hazard trees along FR 42. On the northeast side, firefighters are mopping up and patrolling the canyon rim to keep the fire from spreading into the Sinlahekin WildlifeArea. Crews on the southern end are mopping up, patrolling, and assisting the suppression-repair group. CHELAN COMPLEX In the Chelan Complex the fire con-
tinued to be minimally active on the northwest tip near Saint Luise Creek and was being monitored by air. Aircraft were also monitoring the southern half of the fire. On the northern half, firefighters continued to mop up the fire perimeter and repair areas affected by fire suppression efforts. The CIIMT 5 was scheduled to transfer command of the Okanogan and Chelan Complexes on Wendesday to a Type 2 Incident Management Team – Pacific Northwest Team 3, while the CIIMT 5 assumes command of the Tunk Block and North Star Fires.
TUNK BLOCK & NORTH STAR The Tunk Block and North Star Fires are at 162,423 and 209,536 acres respectively as of press time. The North Star fire near Nespelem on the Colville Reservation was at 37 percent contained and the Tunk Block was 70 percent. On Monday, firefighters continued working to ensure that their containment lines were secure as the weather warmed up. Major portions of the Tunk Block Fire and areas of North Star Fire including the southern edge, Warwick Road in Aeneas Valley and Scatter Creek are in mop-up and patrol. The primary focus along the eastern edge of the Tunk Block Fire included continuing line construction and strengthening containment lines in preparation for burnout operations should it be necessary to protect Aeneas Valley. Along the western edge of the North Star fire along Highway 155 north near Moses Meadows then east to Trail Creek, burnout operations took place to strengthen fire lines. Steep rocky slopes along Highway 21 are making it difficult for firefighters to construct containment lines. Hot Shot Crews continue line construction and prepare to burn-
SEE FIRE | PG A8
Okanogan County Fair delayed to Sept. 24 Incident Management Team will move to Stampede Grounds BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
OKANOGAN - The Okanogan County Fair has been delayed to September 24 through 27. After meeting in special session, the Board of County Commissioners moved to postpone the fair based on a recommendation by the Fair Advisory Committee. “I am sure this was not an easy process, and I hope we all can work to make this a great celebration of our Okanogan County community,” said Tonasket Mayor Patrick Plumb. “I hope we can all attend for the sake of our kids, and show a little normalcy for their sake.” “The good news is, people now have extra time to get in non-animal exhibits,” said Okanogan County Fair Advisory Board member Ila Hall. “This gives them an extra two weeks to get last-minute
entries in. We would really like to see place. Cal #5 came in Thursday, Sept. 3 some people enter taxidermy exhibits after the Rocky Mountain Team headed into the Head and Horn Show.” by Dan Dallas timed out. New to the fair this year, the Head and “We will move to the Omak Stampede Horn Show is open to Grounds in time for all anyone who lives in the pre-fair activities Okanogan County and to be completed,” said “This fire season is can include any type of Public Information taxidermy entry of fur Officer (PIO) Nick not a sprint race, it’s or fish from anywhere Mickel. “The Cal Fire a marathon” in the world. engines will need to go The entry deadline Nick Mickel, USFS Public home soon, because Information Officer is now September now their fire season 18. Entries can be is about to take off.” registered online at Mickel was called in Okanogancounty.org or by mailing in by the Rocky Mountain team while they to Okanogan County Fair, PO Box 467, were still managing the fire. Okanogan, Wash., 98840. Registrations He said at it’s peak, the camp held must be received by the fair office no between 1800 and 1900 personnel. later than 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18; at “Some went to the North Star fire, and which time the online registration will then we absorbed some from Chelan,” also be closed. Registration is free, and said Mickel. “We are supporting 650 perthere are no exhibitor fees. sonnel on the Chelan Complex fire and 1110 on the Okanogan Complex.” Mike Minton is the Incident CAL #5 HARD AT WORK The California Fire Team called Cal Commander. The Cal #5 Team travels #5 is occupying the fairgrounds as the with 56 personnel. “They always have trainees with them current Incident Management Team in
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 37
Katie Teachout/staff photo
Incident Management Team California Fire #5 will be moving from the Okanogan County Fairgrounds to the Omak Stampede grounds in time for pre-fair activities to take place before the fair’s new dates of September 24-27. also. We always have to bring new people up through the ranks in this business,” said Mickel. “Our footprint here at the fairgrounds is the same as it has been all along; we just moved some stuff around , including the kitchen.” The kitchen is run by inmates from the Larch Mountain Correctional Facility out of Clark County. “They are supervised by DNR, with the Department of Corrections here for
SEE DELAYED | PG A2
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evening and off-time supervision. They are working long hours, so there are quite of few of them here,” Mickel said, adding that in other instances, DNR inmate crews are out on the fire line. “Back home, they do trail cleaning and other work on state lands and government projects as agreements can be made. They plant trees and run chainsaws. If they do get out on the fire line,
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