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Fire Evacuation - Gold Creek
South Fork residents need to leave immediately
Monday, 9/10: Residents in the South Fork of Gold Creek have been told to leave immediately because of fire danger. The Level 3 evacuation order went into place Monday evening. A Level 2 Evacuation is in effect for the North Fork of Gold Creek: residents need to prepare to leave when notified.
Hunter Mountain Fire, north of Hunter Mountain, is estimated at about 166 acres, burning in timber, grass and brush. The Buckhorn Fire is estimated at 198 acres and burning in timber, grass, and brush. The Texas Creek Fire has grown to 500-600 acres in the Texas Creek and Leecher Mountain areas. Monday's high winds pushed the fires, which grew significantly.
Chad Bresnahan is leading the Type 3 incident management team working on the Hunter and Buckhorn fires . Methow Valley Ranger District personnel and smokejumpers are incident commanders on the remaining fires.
Additional resources and a Type 2 team have been ordered to manage the complex of fires on the Methow Valley Ranger District. Air support will assist crews as they work on the fires. Firefighters and dozers will be constructing fireline along the perimeter of the fires.
A Red Flag warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for high winds of 50 to 55 mph through 11pm Monday. High winds can result in rapid and erratic fire growth.
Road Closures:
- North Fork Gold Creek FS# 4340 is closed to public traffic, open to local residents and emergency vehicles only from the intersection with the South Fork Gold Creek Road FS #4330 to the intersection with FS # 4300-700 road.
- The South Fork Gold Creek Road FS #4330 is closed to all traffic from the intersection with FS #4340 to the intersection with the FS Road # 4330-200.
- Road closures in the Leecher Mountain and Texas Creek area include Benson Creek Road, #4150 and 4150200 are closed at the Forest Boundary. The closure continues along the 4150 and 4150300. The South Summit road #4100 is closed at the intersection with the 4150300, also called the Four Corners. To the south, 4100 is closed at the southern boundary of the National Forest, with resident traffic only advised beginning at Gambles Mill, at the intersection of County Roads 1706 and 1709.
9/10/2012
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