The calendar says October but the smokey skies reminds us that its still fire season in North Central Washington. It was another weekend of hard work on the firelines in Chelan and Kittitas Counties but managers say they are nearing full containment of the Table Mountain Fire. Spokeswoman, Haven Cook says firefighters made good progress over the weekend despite Saturday's gusty winds. .
The Table Fire is now over 50 percent contained with full containment expected by Friday. Crews also continue mop-up work and rehabilitation work on the Wenatchee Complex Fire which is now 55 percent contained. But, spokesman, Mick Mueller says incident commanders are holding off with an estimated date for full containment.
Mueller says the four major fires that comprize the Wenatchee Complex (Poison Creek, Peavine Canyon, the Canyons Fire and the Byrd Canyon Fires, are now 100 percent contained. But, there remain a few wilderness area fires that continue to burn The cost of suppression has climbed to 28 million dollars. Meanwhile, Gov. Chris Gregoire has extended the burn ban east of the Cascade crest for another week to help with fire containment efforts. Outdoor burning is prohibited in all counties east of the mountains through midnight Sunday, Oct. 7. She extended the ban because of a weather forecast calling for more warm and dry conditions. Gregoire says she doesn't want to lose the momentum fire crews have right now as they gain control over several large wildfires near Yakima. The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including campfires, bonfires, yard debris clean-up and fireworks.
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