UPDATE 10am Wednesday

The Canyon Creek fire is now 100% contained. Just before midnight Tuesday night, the jurisdiction was handed over to local units. The fire burned about 12-hundred acres.

 

UPDATE 10am Tuesday

There was no growth in the Canyon Creek fire Monday night and is now at 75% containment. There is a fire line around the entire perimeter of the fire. Crews were mopping up the fire about 300 feet from nearby homes to protect the buildings. The Type 3 team will transition to a type 4 team tomorrow. At that point, some of the firefighters will be pulled from this fire. They hope to have full containment in a day or two.

 

UPDATE 2:30pm

The only area under evacuation notice for the Canyon Creek fire is the Level 2 evacuation area now defined as (see map) Canyon Creek on the North, State Route 153 on the West,  Vinten Road on the South and a line between Vinten Road and Canyon Creek on the east.  The fire started on Saturday at 12:18 pm, one mile north of Carlton on the east side of State Route 153.  As of today it has burned 1,192 acres, with 10% containment.  A three mile portion of SR-153 has been reopened near Carlton to one lane piloted control traffic and the road will be reopened completely by tonight.

A public information meeting is set for 7pm tonight (MON) at the Twisp Grange Hall

Canyon Creek Level 2 area marked in yellow
Canyon Creek Level 2 area marked in yellow
loading...

 

 

UPDATE 11:34am

The Canyon Creek fire near Carlton has grown to just under 1,200 acres.  Public Information Officer Tracy Baker told NewsRadio 560 KPQ the increased acreage figure is due to better mapping....

Baker said crews are securing control lines today and continuing mop up operations .

80 to 100 homes in the area are under evacuation warnings. The level 3 evacuation alert from Carlton to Benson Creek and up Texas Creek was reduced to level 2.  Level 2 evacuation notices remain in place from Benson Creek to Lower Beaver Creek.   One abandoned home and one outbuilding have been destroyed in the fire.

A three mile portion of SR-153 has been reopened near Carlton to one lane piloted control traffic and the road will be reopened completely by tonight.

A public information meeting is set for 7pm tonight (MON) at the Twisp Grange Hall

 

 

UPDATE 9:15am  

The Department of Transportation reports SR-153 milepost 22 near Carlton to milepost 25 is open to one lane piloted control traffic at the Canyon Creek fire.  Level 3 evacuations still in place from Carlton to Benson Creek and Carlton up Texas Creek. Level 2 evacuation still in place from Benson Creek to Lower Beaver Creek. 1 abandoned home and 1 outbuilding have been destroyed in the fire.  200 personnel are on the fire

ORIGINAL POST

A brush fire near Carlton has surpassed 1,000 acres in size and shut down Highway 153 between mileposts 22 and 29.  Okanogan County Emergency Management says they made good progress on the Canyon Creek Fire Sunday building containment lines which they hope to complete sometime today. The blaze is being battled by 5 hand crews, 25 engines, 11 water tenders, 3 bulldozers, and 3 aircraft.  There are level 2 and level 3 evacuation notices in place for about 80-100 homes in the area.

It is anticipated that all level 3 notices will be reduced at some point today, and Highway 153 could be opened with lane restrictions.  The public is asked not to call 911 if they see smoke, as that is expected with some smoldering hot spots.  Residents can learn more at an informational meeting Monday at the Twisp Valley Grange Hall, 344 West 2nd Ave in Twisp,  beginning at 7pm.

The fire started Saturday and the cause is undetermined.

Canyon Creek Map July 16, 2017
Canyon Creek Map July 16, 2017
loading...

More From NewsRadio 560 KPQ