As we all know, the PNW has gradually migrated to a bit of a tinderbox during the Summer months.
To keep up to date with recent fire activity, you can go to this website (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/)
Inciweb has the latest updates on all fire dangers, active wildfires and information regards any regional incident that may affect your travel plans.
Dan
https://tools.airfire.org/websky/v1/run/standard/NAM84-0.15deg/2018082100?
Sunday afternoon...
Damn how recent is that? That picture makes it look perfectly clear over here. If this is clear the east side is really bad...
Here is a satellite image of the proliferation of smoke in the Northwest and B.C.
We're far enough away and it seems to be blowing the other direction away from us so no worries (yet). Marisha Robinson and family live up in Chiwawa Pines or thereabouts so hopefully it doesn't go up a level to full on evacuate in that area. I think they are being abundantly cautious, but you can never be too complacent when it comes to wildfires.
Dang... That is close to you guys! Do you need any help evacuating in the event of?
Cougar Creek Fire - Evacuation Level Changes effective today at 4:30pm:
As of 4:30pm today, 8/20/18, Chelan County is implementing Level 2 (GET SET) evacuation notifications on Chiwawa Loop Rd from Plain out to the intersection with Chiwawa River Rd, both sides of the roadway. This includes Chiwawa River Pine Community and Shugart Flats Community and all roads that intersect with the Chiwawa Loop Road in the affected area. Plain is remaining at a Level 1.
http://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=68a6b7dcbdeb4fe38ae7e6ff3e4254d4
Damn :(
One of my co-workers took this picture from Banks Lake last week. Just to give you perspective of how large the Cougar Creek fire is. This is Steamboat Rock on Banks Lake...
It's not dying down easy. Wind is shifting and now starting to drive it more to the NW. Looks like it's gotten to the Sugarloaf Lookout access road, but not to the lookout itself. Also down to Entiat Ridge Road making its way to Maverick Saddle.
It ain't out till its out and that may not be for some time. A nice soaking rain about now would be good (sure wouldn't hurt the air quality all around WA and the west)
"As of 2:30pm on Sunday, 8/19/18, a Level 1 (BE READY) Fire Advisory Notification will be in place for the following areas:
• Chumstick Road north of Merry Canyon (both sides of the road)
• Merry Canyon; Second Creek and Moon Canyon
• Community of Plain, including Ponderosa Estates, Plain River Rd and other subdivisions
• Chiwawa Loop Road to include Chiwawa River Pines
• All of the Fish Lake and Lake Wenatchee areas to Coles Corner
This is only a fire advisory for residents in the affected areas. The fire management team is working concurrently on both the Entiat drainage and the west flank of the fire. Due to prevailing winds changing from the SW to the N/NW, the fire is currently pushing to the SW. Cooperating agencies and the Incident Management Team have made the decision to initiate this Level 1 Fire Advisory for the above areas."
We were up on Chumstick Mountain Saturday night and could see the fire...eerie
Been watching the Cougar Creek fire, sure isn't slowing down at all. For now seems to be running the Mad River towards Ardenvoir and to the southeast, effecting the whole Entiat area. Ardenvoir is currently under a Level 2 - Be Ready to leave at any time. Anything north of Ardenvoir on Entiat River Road or Mad River Road is Level 3 - Evacuate now. This area is to the east of Sugarloaf lookout, so far that lookout doesn't seem threatened, but the Tyee Mtn Lookout may have been hit.
The smoke from fires can be far reaching and really oppressive. Many times you don't realize how much there really is and how much of an effect it can have on you.
Here is viewer that shows predictions for the region from these fires and how bad it will be in various areas.
https://tools.airfire.org/websky/v1/run/standard/PNW-4km/2018080300/#viewer
There are different projections and also some for the entire CONUS, just have to dig around on the site
A lot more fire activity in the PNW starting to pop up. Oregon and Idaho have been fighting some for some time now, WA is getting more activity too, 4 sizeable ones started since this weekend. According to one of the incident reports, there were actually 22 fires started by lightning strikes from the thunderstorm that passed over the Central Cascades this weekend, most luckily (apparently) self extinguished.
Lot of summer left, hopefully some moisture and cool temps flow in soon.