Washington Fire now 56% contained; 17,787 acres burned

6:00 p.m. update 6/29/15

Firefighters made a lot of progress on the fire lines at the Washington Fire south of Markleeville on Monday, gaining containment of 56% of the perimeter. So far, 17,787 acres have burned.

The lightning caused fire grew quickly a week ago, from 30 acres on June 19 to 6,500 acres by June 21.

At one time, over 1,100 fire personnel were working on suppression of the fire. Those numbers were reduced today to 860 as containment grew.

Rain and thunderstorms affected the fire on Monday. Cloudy skies will clear overnight with another chance of thunderstorms and wetting rain forecast for Tuesday afternoon.

Work will continue to secure fireline. Some fireline construction remains to be completed on the south flank. Mop-up and rehabilitation of fireline has begun. The Structure and Night Groups will be demobilized tonight.

8:00 p.m. update 6/28/15

Over 1,100 personnel remain on the scene at the Washington Fire burning south of Markleeville. They now have 45% of the fire contained.

The fire has burned 17,786 acres.

Work will continue on all flanks to secure the fire line. Direct line construction will continue on the north and south flanks of the fire to check spread. A structure protection group will remain in Markleeville through Monday.

5:00 p.m. update 6/28/15

Washington Fire continues to burn near Markleeville but firefighters continue to get the upper hand.

Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass is now open but Monitor Pass remains closed as of Sunday afternoon.

Fire crews are taking advantage of the higher humidity and lower temperatures forecast for today. They will continue mopping up on the western perimeter Hotshot crews on the eastern fire edge will continue to construct direct handline in steep and rocky terrain while being supported from the air with water-dropping helicopters.

Forest lands adjacent to Highway 4 will remain closed as well Wolf Creek Road until fire activity diminishes in the area.

The Washington Fire is still reported as 37% contained with 1,160 acres burned.

8:00 p.m. update 6/27/15

Rain is expected in Markleeville on Sunday which will help firefighters continue their mop up of hotspots within the Washington Fire burn area. They will continue to extinguish burning material up to 200 feet in from the fire perimeter along the side of the fire nearest town.

37% of the perimeter of the fire is now contained and 17,622 acres have burned. Over 1,100 personnel were on the fire Saturday.

Sunday is a Red flag warning day for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds. Flash flood potential exists with a possibility of debris flow and rock slides on the burned area.

The town of Markleeville and the Grover Springs Hot Springs Campground are no longer under an evacuation advisory and the public may return to these areas. The public is encouraged to use caution when driving in these areas as fire apparatus are utilizing these roads to travel to and from the fire.

9 p.m. update 6/26/15

Firefighters made good progress on fighting the Washington Fire Friday, getting a perimeter around 29% pf the fire.

The fire has now burned 17,622 acres.

The fire, which is burning three miles south of Markleeville was started over two weeks ago with a lightening strike that smoldered until the winds on Friday, June 19 stoked the embers.

Highways 4 and 89 over Monitor Pass and Ebbetts Pass remain closed.

With the camping season in full swing as well as the upcoming holiday, many are wondering if their campground is open. Refer to the following websites for additional information on trails, campgrounds, and travel: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/htnf/alerts-notices http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field.html

The Pacific Crest Trail remains open.

More record breaking heat and a chance of thunderstorms continue through the weekend.

8:00 p.m. update 6/25/15

Firefighters have optimized the lower wind conditions to increase containment of the Washington Fire. Significant progress has been made towards containing the western flank of the fire south of Markleeville.

More accurate fire mapping was used on Thursday so there was a reduction in the fire size. The fire has burned 16,490 acres and is 15 percent contained.

The fire was most active overnight and during the day Thursday on the southern flank west of Wolf Creek Meadows in the Carson Iceberg Wilderness.

As of Thursday, resources on scene include 27 crews, 50 engines and 12 water tenders. Eleven helicopters are supporting the suppression effort, dropping retardant and water, ferrying equipment and supplies, transporting firefighters, and providing aerial surveillance. There are 951 personnel assigned.

The primary strategic priority is to prevent the fire from reaching Markleeville. The next priorities are to contain the fire in the Wolf Creek and Monitor Pass areas. Firefighters continued to develop and implement contingency plans in preparation for the thunderstorms forecasted Friday through Sunday. They are forecast to be dry storms, become wetter by Sunday.

Friday’s weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with isolated, mostly dry, thunderstorms, well above normal temperatures with 10 – 15 mph winds in the afternoon. Strong and erratic outflow winds may accompany any thunderstorm development near the fire.

9:00 p.m. update 6/24/15:

Firefighters made good progress on the Washington Fire burning south of the town of Markleeville on Wednesday. The fire which began last Friday has burned 17,205 acres and is 10 percent contained.

Resources assigned include 30 crews, 43 engines and 11 water tenders. Twelve helicopters and 3 air tankers are supporting the suppression effort, dropping retardant and water, ferrying equipment and supplies, transporting firefighters, and providing aerial surveillance. Less aerial delivery of retardant was necessary today due to good line construction progress the past three days. There are 900 personnel assigned.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell visited the Incident Command Post for a fire briefing and expressed their gratitude to firefighters for their efforts. CA Resources Secretary John Laird also accompanied Sandoval and Jewell.

The primary tactical priority is to prevent the fire from reaching Markleeville. The next priorities are to contain the fire in the Wolf Creek and Monitor Pass area. Tomorrow’s weather forecast calls for sunny, hazy, and increasing temperatures with northerly light winds in the afternoon. Forecasted dry thunderstorms with strong outflow winds remain a concern Friday.

6:15 p.m. update 6/24/15

Fire officials have updated the acres burned in the Washington Fire to 17,205.

The fire, burning near Monitor Pass south of Markleeville is now 10% contained. 900 people are now working to put out the fire.

8 a.m. update 6/24/15

The Washington Fire remains at 16,543 acres burned with 5% containment.

According to information out of the incident command center at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, the fire behavior on Wednesday won't be as affected by winds today, but high temperatures, dry fuel and a bottomed out humidity level will be a concern.

Fire officials are preparing for the possibility of thunderstorms starting Friday and are keeping an eye on their moisture potential. As of this morning they are looking to be dry storms but the weather forecasters assigned to the fire will be evaluating them as the storms approach.

9 p.m. 6/23/15

The InciWeb description of the Washington Fire Tuesday night made many people very happy when it read "firefighters made excellent progress today by strengthening fire lines and establishing five percent containment on the 16,553 acre fire."

This is good news for the residents of Markleville, CA who have been preparing to evacuate since Saturday.

The lightening started fire has been rapidly growing from 30 acres on Friday, June 19 to Monday's 14,942 burned acres.

State Highway 4 and State Highway 89 in the Monitor Pass area remain closed. Turtle Rock and Indian Creek campgrounds are also closed.

One minor heat-related injury occurred. Once removed from the fireline, the firefighter was treated and is doing fine.

Firefighters plan to continue direct line construction north of Highway 89, as well as utilizing air and ground support. Continuing protection of cultural and historical sites within, and adjacent to the fire area will also be addressed in today's operational period. The tactical priority is to prevent the fire from reaching Markleeville, CA.

Multiple agencies are working on the fire: USFS, BLM, NDF, Alpine County, East Fork FPD, Sparks Fire, North Lake Tahoe FPD, Cal Fire, NPS, Tahoe Douglas FPD, Lake Valley Fire, North Lyon County, Central Lyon County, Truckee Meadows FPD, Reno Fire, Storey County Fire, Carson City Fire, National Weather Service Reno, SFIDC, DEMC, Douglas County, Caltrans, and Alpine County Dispatch and resources from Idaho and Utah.

If fire crews are able to leave the fire areas for food and sleep, they are using the Douglas County Fairgrounds (also the Incident Command Center) and the Turtle Creek Campground. About 500 fire fighting personnel are working the fire.