205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 08/07/2013 - Effective at 6am on Thursday, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office expects to reduce the Level 3 Evacuation to a Level 2 for Colockum Road, Sheep Creek, Trail Creek, Tucker Creek, Secret Canyon to the end of the paved road. These areas will be open to property owners and fire crews only. Residents are advised to use caution as they return home and keep the roads clear for fire apparatus moving through the area.
The Level 3 Evacuation remains in place for Secret Canyon beyond the paved road and upper Parke Creek Road, including Hilltop Lane.
All current road closures will remain in effect through the weekend, with a reevaluation of these closures scheduled for Monday, August 12th.
The fire team has been completing back burns and aerial ignitions on the western flank of the Colockum Tarps Fire, with more aerial drops expected today. Residents in the Kittitas Valley can expect to see more large smoke plumes to the north as this work is continued.
The Emergency Operations Center would like to acknowledge the frustrations and concerns of residents eager to return to their homes. The EOC and fire management team have communicated regularly regarding evacuation levels, and changes are made once all safety considerations are accounted for. Please contact the EOC if you have an urgent need to access your home.
Residents affected by the fire can contact the EOC with questions or concerns, at 509-933-8305, or visit the county website for updates and evacuation maps at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/. For fire information, please visit http://inciweb.org/incident/3567/, or contact the Colockum Tarps Fire at 509-662-9984.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Jill Beedle, PIO 509-933-8308 jill.beedle@co.kittitas.wa.us