Chelan and Okanogan Complexes now under Management Team 5

The Okanogan Complex has reached 95 percent containment and the numbers of residences damaged or destroyed has been lowered t 120, from earlier reports of 123. Costs for fighting the fire to date are upwards of $44.5 million.

“Firefighters have completed all suppression work on this fire. Smoke will continue to be visible near the fire perimeter and in the interior, as fuels ignite and burn until significant rain or snow falls. Parts of the fire area remain in patrol and mop up status, and most suppression repair work is finished,” according to a recent fire update from the Washington Interagency Management Team.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, the WIIM Team 5 assumed command of the Chelan Complex. All fire suppression is complete on the Chelan Complex. On Monday, Sept. 21, management of both the Okanogan Complex and the Chelan Complex will be assumed by the California Interagency Incident Management Team 1. The fire camp for the Okanogan Complex, which had been at the Okanogan county fairgrounds, has moved to the Omak stampede grounds. The fire camp for the Tunk Block and North Star Fires is also at the Omak stampede grounds.

Forest Service roads on the west side of the fire within the area closure are closed to the public. Law-enforcement personnel are enforcing road closures, which are identified with a sign or barricade. Although not every closed road is staffed, fire managers ask the public to respect the closures for firefighter and public safety.

EVACUATIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES

 Call the Okanogan County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 509-422-7348 to report primary residences that were damaged or destroyed in this year’s wildfires. The EOC also provides information on evacuations and road closures https://www.facebook.com/Okanogan.County.Emergency.Management

 The Okanogan/ Wenatchee National Forest area closure, effective September 4, 2015, for National Forest lands in the fire area has been rescinded and replaced by a new closure order effective September 17, 2015. The new order is available at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4534/29987/ or http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices

This was the final update for this complex from the Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 5. For additional information about this fire, see: http://inciweb.nwcg