Cooler weather helps wildfire crews push back

CLE ELUM, Wash. – Cooler temperatures slowed wildfire growth in Washington state, enabling crews to attack fire lines before the return of warmer weather expected in coming days.

Three National Guard helicopters were on hand Sunday to drop water on the perimeter of a lightning-caused fire burning in central Washington, focusing on the south and southeast edges of the blaze.

The Polallie fire, which began Sept. 4 15 miles northeast of Cle Elum in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, was 3 percent contained. More than 270 firefighters were assigned to the fire burning adjacent to areas with extensive spruce budworm-killed trees.

Minimal fire activity Saturday helped firefighters to complete structure protection and reduce fuels along the Cooper and Fish Lake roads.

A precautionary evacuation alert remained in effect for residents of about a dozen summer cabins and more than two dozen trails leading into the area were closed.

In north-central Washington, an evacuation order remained for 25 to 30 homes and businesses threatened by a fire burning near Stehekin Landing and along Lake Chelan.

The Flick Creek fire was estimated at 6,511 acres, or about 10 square miles, and was 35 percent contained. It has been threatening the town of Stehekin at the north end of the lake intermittently since it was accidentally started by a campfire July 26.

The Tinpan fire, about 40 miles northeast of Entiat, was burning more than 12 square miles, or 8,197 acres, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. About 108 firefighters were assigned to the blaze.

The two largest wildfire clusters in the state, the Columbia Complex and Tripod Complex, remained relatively calm, showing little increase over the weekend.

The lightning-caused Columbia Complex near Dayton has burned more than 159 square miles of wheat fields, brush and forest in southeastern Washington and was 65 percent contained.

Despite gusting winds, fire lines to the east held Saturday and crews Sunday began cutting lines in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness.

The Tripod Complex about seven miles northwest of Winthrop in north-central Washington burned nearly 267 square miles, including about a mile south of the Canadian border. It was 60 percent contained.

The Tatoosh Complex, 18 miles northwest of Mazama, was estimated at 39,470 acres – about 62 square miles – and extended into Canada.