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FINAL UPDATE Upper Ruby Fire 08-30-2024
Publication Type: News - 08/30/2024 - 09:00
FINAL UPDATE Upper Ruby Fire
August 30, 2024
Quick Facts
Containment: 94%
Fire Perimeter: 280 acres
Initial Start: 08/20/24
Location: Ruby Creek Drainage - approximately 16 miles northwest of Cusick, WA
Hazards: hot ash pits, timber snags, bees, and narrow roads
Values at Risk: Private residences, ongoing timber sales
Cause: Undetermined
Personnel: 186
Structures destroyed: 0 Evacuations: None
Road Closures: Ruby Creek Road (5.5 miles in from Hwy 20), Tacoma Creek Rd (about 11 miles west of Hwy 20), and Tacoma Divide Road (about 4 miles south of Hwy 20)
Ione, WA
PUBLIC AND FIREFIGHTER SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
Final update for Upper Ruby Fire
The Upper Ruby Fire is in central Pend Oreille County approximately 16 miles northwest of Cusick, WA. It is burning in fuels remaining on the ground following logging activities and in heavily forested areas.
OPERATIONS: Yesterday, 7 crews, 7 engines, 4 water tenders, and 2 pieces of heavy equipment continued mopping up along the fire perimeter to strengthen control lines. This included digging by hand, using hoses to apply water to the ground, and using heavy equipment. Portable handheld infrared technology was used to identify heat near the fire perimeter. Crews continued to mop up around the fire perimeter with containment reaching 94%. Excess resources were released from the incident.
TODAY: Crews will continue to mop up along the fire perimeter and remove firefighting equipment no longer needed. Portable handheld infrared technology will continue to be used to identify heat near the fire perimeter so that crews can work to extinguish those areas. Local resources will be shadowing the current team and will assume command of the fire Saturday morning. Excess resources will continue to be released.
SATURDAY: Local resources will assume command of the fire and will continue to mop up and monitor the fire.
HAZARDS: Hazards to firefighters include hot ash pits, unstable footing, fire-weakened and standing dead trees (snags) and a very high population of ground nesting bees.
WEATHER: Sunny with a high temperature of 82 degrees and winds of 2 to 6 mph. Temperatures over the weekend are expected to be in the high 80’s.
This is the final update.
NE Region IMT3 Team 3, wants to thank the local community for your support during this wildfire.
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wacof-upper-ruby
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newfireinfo
Phone: 509-990-6218 (hours 8 am – 6 pm)
