Chelan County Fire District No. 1

Swakane Fire Sends Up Small Smokes

Entiat, Wash. — Hotter and drier weather is the culprit behind the occasional smoke seen rising from the Swakane Fire. The Swakane Fire, located on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest between Entiat and Wenatchee, remains at 19,291 acres.

Incident Commander, Michelle Ellis said, “A perimeter line is established around the fire, but there is active burning of downed logs, snags, and stumps, creating visible smoke from the interior portion of the burn.” Fire personnel continue to patrol on a daily basis to check smoke sources and to assess any potential affects to un-burned areas along the perimeter.

Fire fighters are still unable to access the deep, steep drainages within the fire parameters because of hazardous conditions. Although the fire is showing very little smoke, it is anticipated that the fire will not be controlled until significant moisture occurs, due to the large amount of unburned fuel inside the confinement lines.

Ellis said, “Management of the fire will change on Wednesday, to match the current fire condition. A smaller team will be engaged, with two engines and a 20-person handcrew assigned to the fire.” The Incident Commander will be John Spencer, and his team will continue to work on improving contingency and perimeter lines.

Road access into the fire area continues to be closed for both public and firefighter safety. Closures include: Swakane Rd from Highway 97A to Nahahum Saddle, Burch Mtn. Rd from the end of the pavement, Mills Canyon at Old Camp Road out of the Entiat Valley, and at the Mills/Dinkelman Junction below the Entiat Ridge & Summit Road.

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The above press release is courtesy of the United States Forest Service (Department of Agriculture) Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests