Lots of help and hard work on the Schnieder Springs Fire and it’s obvious because the fire growth has slowed considerably since last week when it was doubling in size.

BETTER WEATHER MORE PEOPLE ARE HELPING TO SLOW THE FIRE

Today the blaze is 71,907 acres still at 3 percent containment. Fire officials say helicopters were able to keep the fire in check with bucket drops to prevent movement out of the  Little Rattlesnake drainage and closer to Bethel Ridge where firefighters continued to improve indirect containment lines.

MORE FIRE LINES ARE BEING BUILT ON TUESDAY

A press release from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest says Today “fire line construction continues along Bethel Ridge on Washington Department of Natural Resources managed lands moving west toward the William O. Douglas Wilderness boundary on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest today. Crews will continue the construction of indirect fire line, connecting roads with natural features from east to west in anticipation of a firing operation to prevent the spread of the fire to the south towards Tieton Reservoir Road and southeast towards critical infrastructure and Naches.”
They say crews also continue their work to improve Bumping River Road as a containment line to prevent further fire growth to the north.

ALL EVACUATION NOTICES REMAIN IN PLACE

All LEVEL 3 evacuation notices remain the same from Bumping River Road from north to south;
LEVEL 2: Hwy 410 from Bumping River Road to U.S. Route 12.
LEVEL 1: From U.S. 12 at Hwy 410 west to Tieton Reservoir Road; Yakima County Office of Emergency Management’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YakimaCountyOEM.

State officials now estimate full containment by October 1.
Calmer winds and cooler temperatures are expected to help firefighters battle the flames this weekend.
500 people are working to fight the fire.

The officials say check with Yakima County Office of Emergency Management’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YakimaCountyOEM for updates on evacuation information.

The fire was started on August 3 by a lightning strike.
Campfire restrictions remain in place in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

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