Swauk Creek (WASES)

Wildfire Status:

The Swauk Creek Fire, which ignited on September 8, 2024, is currently active and has burned approximately 369 acres of grass and timber near Highway 97, approximately 14 miles east of Cle Elum, Washington. As of the latest update, the fire is 48% contained, with fire management efforts being led by the Southeast Washington Type-3 Incident Management Team under Incident Commander Leonard Johnson. The incident is being handled under a full suppression strategy, and 314 personnel are currently engaged in firefighting activities.

Fire behavior has been characterized by minimal activity, primarily consisting of creeping and backing, with no anticipated perimeter growth. The suppression efforts involve holding and mop-up operations, with the team preparing for increased winds expected in the coming days. Although the fire has been manageable thus far, the conditions are being monitored closely as weather changes may influence fire activity.

Current weather conditions are relatively favorable for firefighting, featuring temperatures in the 60s to low 70s, humidity levels around 40%, and light winds. However, a dry cold front is predicted to move through the area, bringing breezy west to northwest winds of 10-15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph, which could pose challenges for the firefighting efforts. The outlook for the next few days suggests that while the fire will remain staffed, no significant perimeter growth is expected, and the focus will shift to mop-up operations in recently burned areas. For those seeking evacuation information, updates are available from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office on their official Facebook page.

Visit Inciweb Incident Page for more information. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only.

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