Is Schneider Springs Fire Contained? Not Yet. It Could Be Weeks
More growth in the Schneider Springs Fire overnight.
Officials with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest say the fire grew from 83,657 on Tuesday to 84,509 acres Today. The fire is still at 8 percent containment.
MORE FIRELINES ARE BEING ESTABLISHED
Firefighters did some tough work on Wednesday with indirect line construction on Bethel Ridge in the southern portion of the fire in thick dead and downed timber. Crews worked alongside heavy equipment for to complete the important section of indirect fire line to prevent the fire from moving south towards Highway 12. A press release says Today firefighters along Bumping River Road have been monitoring fire activity as it slowly backs down to the river. If necessary, crews will intentionally bring fire down to the river near the trail at Soda Springs to control fire behavior and ensure that the cabins remain safe and secure.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE PROTECTING CABINS AND PRIVATE PROPERTY
“On the northeast portion of the fire, dozers are still constructing an indirect fire line off FR 250 behind Gold Creek and Cliffdell to provide a better control line. This new line offers better access for firefighters to protect cabins and private property if fire activity increases along the Highway 410 corridor. Firefighters are continuing to patrol Malloy Road and mop up along Bethel Ridge Road, cooling the perimeter to achieve containment. This work is happening just behind the crews that are continuing the firing operation on Bethel Ridge. With the entirety of the indirect fire line constructed from Bethel Ridge to FR 199, crews are now able to coordinate the firing operation from both ends to secure and complete the line. Fire managers will likely continue to use Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS or “drones) to assist the lighting on the interior of the fire area. This tactic helps moderate fire activity but also helps achieve additional depth of consumed vegetation so the perimeter can be more effectively contained.”
MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT ARE ON FIRE LINES
865 people and resources are working the fire with 22 hand crews, 50 engines, 8 dozers, 12 aircraft and 25 other pieces of heavy equipment.
EVACUATION LEVELS REMAIN THE SAME
Evacuation levels were updated on Monday and they have not changed.
Officials at Yakima Valley Emergency Management say Bumping River Road area has dropped to LEVEL 2
From the intersection of Highway 410 and Highway 12 (the "Y") to Bumping RIver Road the evacuation level is now at LEVEL 1. Firefighters say
the evacuation levels pertain to private property owners only, not forest lands use activities or locations.
Tieton River and Rimrock Lake both open Thursday for the Labor Day Weekend but camp fire restrictions are still in place.
While firefighters are hoping the fire will be doused sooner than later they are pushing for an October 1 goal of fully containing the fire on that day.