Rattlesnake Fire FINAL Daily Update - Sept. 1, 2020

Fire Information Line: 458-207-0058

Email: 2020.meacham@firenet.gov

Incident Commander: Mike Almas, Northern Rockies Incident Management Team

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7069/

This will be the final Rattlesnake Fire Daily Update issued by the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 3. Contact and other information can be found on Inciweb at the link above.

Forest visitors are asked to drive slowly on the Tucannon Road (FS Road 47) due to heavy fire and recreational traffic. Yield to fire vehicles where possible and avoid distracted driving.

The Rattlesnake Fire is burning in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness on the Pomeroy Ranger District in Washington. It is located approximately twenty miles south of Pomeroy and thirteen miles southeast of Dayton. The fire is burning in a fifteen-year old fire scar which left a mosaic of vegetation and is approximately 486 acres in size.

Some burning and smoldering in heavier fuels remains, particularly in the north east corner where crews will continue to use hose lays to cool heat near the Tucannon River. Some smoke is still visible in the interior as stumps and heavy fuels continue to burn out. However, fire line construction is now complete and suppression repair work continues. The majority of the crews will be working their way out today, adding water bars where appropriate to aid with future run off and minimize erosion. A type 2 crew will remain on the fire for a few more days.

The mastication operation, consisting of clearing and chopping up downed brush, is finished, leaving a good fuel break along the Tucannon Road.

Resources Threatened: Private lands, wilderness, recreation and a threatened and endangered fish species are being protected.

Evacuations and Closures: The Tucannon Road is closed at the Tucannon Campground with no access into Panjab or Lady Bug Campgrounds. Panjab Trail 3127 and Rattlesnake Trail 3129 are closed. Forest Road 4620, known as Patrick Grade, is also temporarily closed at the Forest boundary due to fire traffic. In addition to these road and trail closures there is an area closure south of the Panjab and Tucannon Creek junction. Follow posts on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7069/ for the closure order details and the latest updates. Please respect the posted closures.

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Cloudy with temperatures in the upper 60’s and 70’s. Winds will be from the west at 4 to 9 mph on ridgetops, with gusts up to 16 mph. At lower elevations winds will be upslope and generally lighter. Fuels continue to dry out. Grass and shrubs are curing as autumn approaches.