[ArcDome]

[pasayten]

All the way down Eightmile canyon to Copper Glance... :-( https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/WAOWF/2017-07-24-1144-Diamond-Creek-Fire/picts/2017_08_13-08.48.41.129-CDT.jpeg

[BeyondLost]

Sorry to see the fire down to Copper Glance but happy that there has not been growth into the Lost River drainage. Even a trace of rain in Mazama last night with cooler cleaner air. That NW wind is pushing the fire down 8 mile but not so much into the Lost River.

[BeyondLost]

Fire Update - August 13 Incident: Diamond Creek Fire Wildfire Released: 1:09 hrs. ago Fire Location: Diamond Creek Fire is burning within the Pasayten Wilderness approximately 12 air miles north of Mazama, Washington and 5.5 miles (8.9 kilometers) south of the Canadian border. Fire History and Activity: On Saturday, August 12, 2017, the fire advanced over Eightmile Pass, into the upper headwaters of Eightmile drainage. A firing operation was completed from handlines in the Eightmile drainage, south of Billy Goat Trailhead, reducing heavy fuels in the path of the fire. Structure protection assessments have been completed on over 500 structures south of the fire. Current Status and Projected Operations: The fire has grown by 1,788 acres since last mapped, on August 12, 2017. On Sunday, crews will be used in holding operations on the blackened fireline in Eightmile drainage. Contingency handlines and dozer lines in the Eightmile, Falls Creek, Cub Creek and Ortell creek areas will continue to be scouted and constructed. A Type 2 Team is enroute to help manage the additional resources that have been ordered. Caution is advised when traveling nearby roadways, as fire-related traffic is heavy at times. Weather, Fire Behavior, and Air Quality: Due to cloud cover and higher humidity, fire movement and intensity was moderate Saturday. Cooler weather may allow for similar conditions in the next few days. Temperatures tomorrow are predicted to be in the 60’s and 70’s, with possible showers and gusty winds. Closures and Restrictions: A large fire area closure is in effect. Eightmile Creek 5130 Road is now closed from West Chewuch 51 Road to Billy Goat Trailhead. The closure includes the Ruffed Grouse, Honeymoon, Nice, Flat, and Buck Lake campgrounds. The Ortell 5220 Road is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with the Sweetgrass Butte 5220-100 Road, to the Eightmile 5130 Road. Sweetgrass Butte 5220-100 Road is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with Ortell 5220 Road, to Sweetgrass Butte. The entire Falls Creek 5140 Road is closed. Visitors should check conditions before traveling in the area and to register at trailheads. This fire does not currently affect access to the Pacific Crest Trail or Pacific Northwest Trail. Maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, and use of charcoal briquette barbecues, or other devices that use solid fuel is prohibited across most of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Approximate Acreage :25,438 Start Date and Cause: Sunday July 23, 2017, Human Caused Resources on Fire: Crews: 4 Helicopters: 1 Engines: 7 Water Tenders: 5 Total Personnel: 166

[ArcDome]

After the big run on Fri/Sat it appears that the fire spread may have slowed down due to the small rain yesterday and cooling temperature. MODIS has not shown any hot spots since Sat and VIIRS only shows a few hot spots yesterday near the bottom of 8 mile canyon just up valley from the Copper Glance TH. Neither MODIS or VIIRS show any recent fire activity on the rest of the fire perimeter so I'm not sure if they are accurate. Inciweb has not updated the fire perimeter since yesterday but the fire perimeter on Gmap4 appears to be newer and shows a finger of the fire climbed up and over Billy Goat pass and the flank of Burch mountain. This runs up against the old Falls Creek fire perimeter so it'll probably stop there. Air Quality is still good in the Methow Valley with a little smoke drifting down 8 mile into the Chewuch drainage.

[BeyondLost]

New IR map this PM on InciWeb with growth mainly in NW area of the fire due to prevailing south wind today which switches to NW overnight when smoke will return to the Methow and the fire will push down 8 mile again. 27,200 acres as of this AM. Clean air was nice for a couple of days but will end tonight.

[MangyMarmot]

The map on inciweb now shows the fire on the side of Big Craggy all the way to the Copper Glance trailhead. I hope the fire didn't get that far South.

[BeyondLost]

[ArcDome]

The southern fire perimeter on GMap has changed from a complete burning of the Eight Mile TH area to a much spottier character. Hopefully it's true and is not allowed to fill in the possibly unburned areas. The GMap map shows that most of the Eight Mile and Billy Goat Pass trails are mostly unburned over to Drake Creek and Three Fools Pass. Currently there's hot spots popping up in the Three Fools Pass area so I would not be surprised to see that area become mostly burned over. The Lost River area is also not showing the extensive burned area that was shown on Inciweb maps. Hopefully this is true.

[Bedivere]

All the way up to rampart lake. Well shoot, guess I should've got in there years ago. Hope it doesn't get up to Dot or ptarmigan.

[BeyondLost]

Sure sounds encouraging for the 8 mile drainage as all they talk about is mop up. :-) "Diamond Creek Fire Update August 17 Incident: Diamond Creek Fire Wildfire Released: 1:08 hrs. ago Related Information Diamond Creek Fire Update August 17 (pdf 247 kb) Diamond Creek Fire Update August 17 Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 Fire Information: (503) 765-5724 - 8 am – 8 pm Email: diamondcreekfire@gmail Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondCreekFire2017 Smoke Conditions: http://wasmoke.blogspot.com Location: Methow Valley Ranger District on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; 12 miles north of Mazama, WA. Summary: Yesterday afternoon, winds from the west and northwest pushed the fire into an area of unburned fuel, contributing to a smoke column visible for miles. Today’s operational plans include utilizing helicopter bucket drops and handcrews to maintain lines along the fire perimeter, concentrating in the Pat Creek drainage. Mop-up efforts are planned for the east and west side of Eightmile drainage. Contingency line scouting and construction will continue around the southern edge. Expect smoke from burning in upper Drake Creek, north of Billy Goat mountain to be visible again today. The area is surrounded by old fire scars, recent burned ground and natural barriers that are expected to act as boundaries. Weather: Today, will mark the fourth consecutive day of the on-going warm and dry trend. Temperatures are forecast to increase, while relative humidity is expected to decrease. Winds will continue from the west-northwest. Closures: A fire area closure is in effect. Eightmile Creek 5130 Road is now closed from West Chewuch 51 Road to Billy Goat Trailhead. This closure includes the Ruffed Grouse, Honeymoon, Nice, Flat, and Buck Lake campgrounds. The Ortell 5220 Road is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with the Sweetgrass Butte 5220-100 Road, to the Eightmile 5130 Road. Sweetgrass Butte 5220-100 Road is closed from Cub Pass, at the intersection with Ortell 5220 Road, to Sweetgrass Butte. The entire Falls Creek 5140 Road is closed. Closure information can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5409/ Fire Restrictions: Maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, and use of charcoal briquette barbecues, or other devices that use solid fuel is prohibited across most of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. An Industrial Fire Precaution Level III is in effect which does not allow any firewood cutting with a power saw for commercial or personal use. Visitors are reminded to check conditions before travel in the area and register at trailheads."

[BeyondLost]

New perimeter map and a progression map showing changes snce it started, both on InciWeb and their FB page. No growth down Eight Mile since 8/13. Very slight growth in the Lost River drainage toward Pat Creek since 8/13. That is the worrisome area for Mazama and Beyond Lost. They indicated that fire fighters are holding a line there and chopper water drops are being done. They went from one chopper to five choppers. Much less smoke today! https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/

[BeyondLost]

AM InciWeb update certainly indicates Eight Mile Canyon still is at risk with strong winds. If anyone thought it was all over and done in Eight Mile. ;-) "Planned Actions Use aviation resources as needed to keep fire in check in the Pat and Drake Creek drainage. Crews will construct new primary indirect lines and strengthen existing contingency on the southern portion of the fire. Utilization of heavy equipment will greatly help in making progress with line construction. Projected Incident Activity Predicted weather is expected to produce areas of active fire behavior with spread continuing through available fuels. The fire will continue to back to the northwest. Burning will continue in unburned fuels in the Drake Creek area.Afternoon downslope winds will pose a threat for the fire to push south in Eightmile Creek."

[BeyondLost]

29,651 acres last night. Good news from Eight Mile. The line held even with the bad winds! Things are looking about as good as can be hoped. The wind continues to be gusty but in a direction that is not too bad for our risk along LR Rd. Modis Gmap does not show any hot spots at Pat Creek. There was one hot spot north of Billy Creek yesterday. New map on InciWeb (NOT IR) shows no real growth at Pat Creek. From InciWeb: "Handlines in Eightmile held again yesterday despite strong gusty winds. High relative humidity helped keep fire activity moderate. Handcrews will continue to hold lines, mop-up, and reinforce fire contingency lines to lessen the threat of fire growth further south in the Eightmile drainage. Pat Creek, west of the Billy Goat Trailhead, will be assessed for further suppression efforts. Aviation assets will continue to monitor the fire and helicopter bucket drops may be used to keep the fire from spreading."

[BeyondLost]

We spotted a large plume of smoke directly north of us where we have not seen smoke before and the modis Gmap shows multiple new red circles where we are seeing the smoke. It is up the Billy Creek and Pinnacle Creek drainages. Not good! :-(( I do not see anything on the FB page or InciWeb about this yet.