New North Star evacuations issued

NORTH STAR FIRE UPDATE

Wednesday 08/26/2015 –9:30AM

Acres: 168,539 Start Date: August 13, 2015

Cause: Under investigation Location: Approximately 12 miles north of Nespelem, WA.

Containment: 5% Fuels/Topography: Timber, grass and understory

Structures Threatened: 2000 + Total personnel: 648

Today's Actions: A Level 3 Evacuation Order, for areas around Republic, will start at 9 a.m. today for the areas of Copper Lakes/Copper Mountain Area, Mikray Place, Mule Deer Road, White Tail Flats Road, Roby Ridge Road, Eddy Road, and Swan Lake Road south from Family. Fire and law enforcement personnel are working in this area to provide specific information of the route(s) to take. Please call (501) 282-9634 for evacuation information. Burn-out operations will be used, where feasible, along Forest Road 3120 to help in the protection of structures in those areas. Dozer line will be constructed along Lost Creek and the Sanpoil River to establish an anchor point. Scouting and implementation continues building direct and indirect lines to protect the towns of Republic and Nespelem. 

Yesterday's Actions: An air tanker dropped 3,000 gallons of fire retardant east of Owhi Lake to slow fire progression. Fire progressed to the vicinity of Highway 155. The highway is still open; expect delays due to firefighting activities. Visibility will be limited near mile post 50 and 51, please turn on headlights and drive slow. Due to poor humidity recovery and dry fuels, the fire continued to actively burn in the interior and along all perimeters. Dozer lines and burn-out operations were conducted south of Republic enhancing structure protection for the area.

EVACUATIONS:

Stage 3 evacuations for Copper Lakes/Copper Mountain Area, Mikray Place, Mule Deer Road, White Tail Flats Road, Roby Ridge Road, Eddy Road, Swan Lake Road.

Highway 21 from the Colville Indian Reservation boundary north to McMann Creek.

Stage 3 evacuations are still in effect for residents in Moses Mountain Community, Haden Creek, including Owhi Flats, Disautel, along Highway 155, all of Aeneas Valley and West Fork.

CLOSURES:

Okanogan – Wenatchee National Forests closure east of Tonasket and south of highway 20.

Highway 21 from Bridge Creek Road north to the Reservation boundary is closed. Colville Indian Reservation forest and recreational areas are closed to the public due to extreme fire danger.

Volunteer Information: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/WildfireVolunteer

FIRE INFORMATION:

Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4524/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Star-Fire/719347344836918