Photo: T Lane Dexter/Facebook.View outside from inside the Control Room of the Plant
Newhalem, WA: August 26th, 2015. 10 AM. The Upper Skagit Complex Fires near Newhalem, Washington continued to burn into today with no sign of slowing down. The following information is an update from incident information services.
The Upper Skagit complex of eight fires is now at 6,655 total acres and is still 0% contained. The new Estimated Containment date is October 15th, 2015. Yesterday the fires were around 5,605 total acres. The Goodell Fire, the largest of the fires in the Upper Skagit Complex, is currently at 5,573 acres. The Goodell Fire is continuing to spread slowly east and west adjacent to the North Cascades National Park Visitors Center. A week ago, on August 19th, 2015, the Goodell fire was around 80 acres.
Here is where the seven smaller fires in the Upper Skagit Complex of fires stand in size: The Cat Island Fire is at 0.25 acre, Thursday Island fire is at 481 acres, No Name 15 Fire is at 413 acres, Neve Creek Fire is at .01 acre, Rocky Beaver Fire is at 141 acres, Snowfield Fire is at 37 acres, and The Klawatti Fire is at 10 acres.
Unofficial Map of the thermal fire survey. Diablo is upper right corner, Newhalem and Gorge PH in the notch between upper and lower SW lobes on left. Credit: T Lane Dexter
There continue to be 179 personnel on scene, including 3 hand crews, 2 helicopters, 6 engines, and 1 water tender working the Goodell Fire in the complex. Click here to open an online version of the fire map.
The Estimated Incident Cost to Date is now at $881,000.
Firefighters implemented a protection plan to direct the fire past the North Cascade National Park Visitor Center and adjacent campground and no park infrastructure have been damaged.
The fire along the Goodell Creek was held at the creek with no progression west. The fire continued to move eastward along its northeast and eastern flanks on both sides of Gorge Lake.
Smoke conditions lifted sufficiently for fire managers to utilize air resources to provide logistic support and monitor fire activity. Today, Firefighters are dealing with warmer conditions (up 3-4 degrees )with relative humidities in the upper 20s and low 30s. Inversion to lift at 1400 hours (2 pm) with winds up valley, 4-5 mph.
Structure protection planning for the Diablo area was completed. Structure protection measures are in place in Newhalem. The Newhalem and Diablo areas are evacuated.
The smaller fires in the complex are in remote locations and pose no immediate threat to facilities and infrastructure.
Debris from the steep slopes on the north side of State Route 20 continue to create hazardous driving conditions impacting travel for firefighters and Seattle City Light personnel.
Today, Firefighters will implement suppression tactics to continue directing the fire past the National Park Visitor Center, tying into the Skagit River.
Firefighters will begin implementing structure protection measures including pumps, hose lays, sprinkler systems, and vegetation removal in Diablo.
Fire engine crews remain in place for structure protection in Newhalen and the National Park Visitor Center area.
*Editors note: I am not extremely familiar with these locations, but am including the below underlined, unofficial statement in the article, because several people have asked for this information.
A hydroelectric operator with Seattle City Light who lives and works in the area of the Goodell Fire was answering questions to the best of his ability from members of the community in an online forum.
In the online forum, Erik Krieg asked, “Any guess as to if Newhalem Campground, Trail of the Cedars, and Ladder Creek Falls will be spared when all is said and done?”
The Hydroelectric operator said “They are trying to save Newhalem Campground. Ladder Creek gardens badly damaged, Trail of Cedars burned. Newhalem Powerhouse saved, in part because its deluge is operating. I was sent to shut off that deluge yesterday, but could see fire before I got off campground pavement. Fire crew said road very dangerous, about 11 burning cedars fixing to fall toward it (some have since then), so we decided to leave it on.”
Direct suppression actions will continue in Goodell Creek to keep the fire from moving west.
The State Route 20 closure was moved to ensure public safety as the fire has moved westward. SR20 is now closed from approximately 5 miles north of Marblemount to Rainy Pass.
In addition to the fire activity on the west side, loosened soil, rock, and vegetation continue moving down the steep slopes onto the roadway creating a continuing unpredictable driving hazard. For updated information on the SR20 Road Closure, please use the following recorded message line number, 360-707-5055.
Previously, Seattle City Light said in an article that they have evacuated the company town of Diablo and reduced staffing at Newhalem to essential workers only. Their displaced workers and their families are currently sheltered in the nearby towns of Concrete, Wenatchee and Brewster. No Seattle City Light Employees have been injured. In total, they say they have relocated 13 employees from Diablo, and another 11 from Newhalem. About 49 people remain on site. Read the entire article here:
Please see our previous updates below for maps and photos of the fires.
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