Carlton Complex Fire Update
July 20, 2014 – 10:00 AM
Bill Hahnenberg, Incident Commander, National Incident Management Team
Nathan Rabe, Deputy Incident Commander, Washington Interagency Incident Management Team
FIRE INFORMATION WEBSITES:
Blog: carltoncomplex.blogspot.com
On Facebook, search for: carlton complex wildfires
Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3967/
FIRE INFO PHONES (7 AM – 8 PM): *** Intermittent or limited service due to utility damage Cell: (360) 688-0560 or (360) 688-0148 (accessible from cell phones or numbers outside the area)
Landlines: (509) 996-9971 or (509) 996-3568 (only accessible from phones with a 996 or 997 prefix – persons calling from cell phones or a long distance number cannot reach these phones)
Email: carltoncomplexfire@gmail.com
Community Meeting at 7 PM tonight (Sunday) at Brewster High School, 503 South 7th Street, Brewster. The Carlton Complex fires damaged the electric intertie serving the area, fiber-optic cables, and affected cell phone service. The Information Office telephones are only working intermittently, and the main power is out.
The Incident Command Post’s immediate needs are being met with portable electric generators.
The 1388 firefighters assigned to the Carlton Complex of wildfires actively worked the north and south ends of fire yesterday, continuing structure protection under cloudy and slightly cooler conditions. The fire was most active in the southeast portion near Malott; though the fire continues to actively burn in many areas. The ground forces are being supported by over 100 fire engines, 34 water tenders, and 13 dozers. Aerial support for this major firefighting effort includes water scooping air tankers plus a heavy air tanker. Four National Guard Blackhawk helicopters dropped water from buckets. Additional firefighting resources are on their way to reinforce those already in place. There have been very few minor injuries on this fire, though a firefighter was injured on Saturday and required transport to a hospital for treatment.
Due to the large growth in both the size and complexity of the Carlton Complex, the fire will be managed as three zones beginning today: the Carlton Zone, Carlton East Zone, and Carlton South Zone. The Washington #3 Incident Management Team (IMT) took the eastern portion of the fire near Omak at 6:00 AM today. A California Type 1 IMT#4 will be taking command of the southern portion of the complex at 6:00 PM today.
The present incident management team will continue overseeing the efforts for the north area and ensure effective coordination continues throughout the complex. Fire information for all three areas will be posted at the locations above. Early Sunday morning the fire was 237,890 acres in size.
Several evacuations have occurred and continue. The Red Cross Shelter in now in the town of Omak at the Fellowship Church. Displaced public can make contact with the Omak Red Cross Shelter at (509) 663-3907. Additional shelters have been opened at The Barn in Winthrop and the Chelan High School.
