INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 IS) COUNTY: South Okanogan INVESTIGATION I. On 8/ l9! IS at approximately 12:23 PM (hereinafter, all times are to be considered approximate unless otherwise noted), a report of a wild?re was received by the Okanogan County, WA Sheriff?s Of?ce (OCSO) via a 9] I call from a county resident identi?ed as Mrs. Martha Tazioli. Mrs. Tazioli, residing at 37 Woods Canyon Rd, approximately six miles west of Twisp, WA, reported the wild?re as being in the vicinity of her residence. Immediately thereafter, local, state and federal ?re suppression resources from multiple agencies were noti?ed to respond to the reported wild?re. 2. At 12:52 PM, DNR Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF) INVF John Morgan was dispatched to investigate the wild?re to determine its origin and cause, and he drove to and met with Okanogan Fire District 6 Chief Don Waller and DNR Incident Commander (IC) Donald ?Buck? Sylvester at an Incident Command Post (ICP) that had been established at 591 Twisp River Rd, which was located across the road and directly south of a house that displayed its address as 584. During that meet, Chief Waller stated to INVF Morgan that when he arrived at the wild?re, it was more than two acres in size, and it had already burned, terrain driven, up and over the hill from behind the house located across the road from them. Furthermore, Chief Waller described to INVF Morgan a V-shaped burn pattern that he had observed on the hill behind the house that was indicative to him, based on his ?re training, knowledge and experience, as being in relation to where the origin of the ?re would be located. 3. At 2:20 PM, while at the ICP preparing to begin the on-ground wild?re investigation, INVF Morgan briefly met Mrs. Tazioli who identi?ed herself as reporting the wild?re, and she described to him that the wild?re had gone up the canyon toward her Woods Canyon residence and that she would make herself available to be interviewed later on concerning her observations. (NOTE: Subsequent follow-up interviews performed by INVF Morgan of persons having additional information concerning the wild?re, including Mr. Brett Kokes and Mr. Jeff Kingsbury, were documented by INVF Morgan during his investigation See Attachment A- 1, Supplemental Investigation Report.) 4. At 2:30 PM, after meeting with Mrs. Tazioli, INVF Morgan approached the property on which the house was located and observed what Chief Waller had described to him as a V-shape burn pattern displayed behind the house on the hillside slope?s macro?scale fuels as well as observing that extensive ?re suppression activity had taken place behind the house. Hand dug ?re line was present behind and to the west of the house bordering the backyard, and the slope area displayed erosion from the application of copious amounts of water to contain/suppress the wild?re nearing the house. 5. In noting those observations, and considering the very high to bordering extreme ?re danger level in correlation to the wild?re?s behavior relative to the weather, fuels, and topography, and incorporating an overall view of the burned and unburned fuels, particularly west, north, and east of the house relative to the macro-scale ?re direction indicators reviewed, INVF Morgan identi?ed the general origin area (GOA) of the wild?re as located behind and upslope, north of the house. Macro scale ?re indicators included angle of char, white ash, cupping, degree of damage, curling, freezing, die-out and protection on the effected fuels (deciduous and conifer trees, brush, and grasses). INVF Morgan then placed ?agging at the northwest comer of the house?s west side yard fence, upslope to the north, and then east of the house to include DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April Page of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan cording-off the driveway entering the house via an open gate to de?ne and protect the GOA from unauthorized entry as his investigation continued. 6. After placing the flagging, INVF Morgan returned to the back side of the residence, and he further observed where the point of the macro-scale ?re direction indicator V-pattem was located on the slope, and he looked upward and saw deciduous tree branches in contact, rubbing with the overhead power line, but only when there appeared to be a slight sway of the branches with what light wind caused the sway to happen. Using binoculars, INVF Morgan visually inspected the power line closely speci?c to the branch rubbing action and con?rmed what he had observed as tree branches in contact with the power line?s neutral cable. During that visual inspection, he also observed one branch occasionally touch the power line's outermost, northern conductor; no sparking between the branch and the conductor was observed by INVF Morgan as the power line had been de-energized by Okanogan County Electrical Cooperative (OCEC). 7. INVF Morgan took photographs of the described branch-to-conductor contact and then departed the area once establishing that the ?agged-off area would remain secure with assistance provided by a ?re crew staged nearby for the wild?re. INVF Morgan left the area due to having no cellular service to place an order to receive an upgraded camera to aid in his investigation. and he returned to the secured site shortly after 3:00 PM. INVF Morgan maintained security of the GOA, and at 4:40 PM the camera upgrade was delivered to him by DNR Natural Resource Specialist Eric Dawson. 8. At 4:58 PM, NRS Dawson, accompanied by INVF Morgan, took one photograph of suppression activity that had taken place adjacent to the dirt driveway east of the house, and they continued their discussion regarding the wild?re?s progression and reviewing the wild?re?s direction indicators relative to the GOA. No additional photographs were taken of the power line conductor-to-branch contact by the INVFs. (See Attachment A-2, Supplemental Investigation Report by NRS Dawson.) 9. At 5:32 PM INVF Morgan and NRS Dawson observed that the tree branches previously observed by INVF Morgan making contact with the power line conductor were continuing to make contact, speci?cally with the northernmost conductor. Soon thereafter, both INVF Morgan and NRS Dawson departed the area to make contact with IC Sylvester after designating a nearby engine crew to guard the GOA. After returning to the GOA, NRS Dawson remained as guard for the GOA until relieved by INVF Morgan at 7:37 PM. IO. At 5:34 PM, DNR NE Region Assistant Region Manager (ARM) Chuck Johnson noti?ed INVF Daniel Gregory of the existence of the Twisp River Fire and requested further assistance to ensure that there were two investigators handling the investigation. INVF Gregory informed ARM Johnson that he and INVF Steve Fraidenburg would provide the requested assistance. In conjunction to con?rming an estimated time of arrival to meet with INVF Morgan, INVFs Fraidenburg and Gregory initiated their travel to provide the assistance. I I. At 8:50 PM, while en route to meet with and assist INVF Morgan, IC Sylvester informed INVFs Fraidenburg and Gregory telephonically that the meet location was near where the wild?re was suspected to have started, which was approximately six miles west of Twisp, accessed by a two-lane paved county road identi?ed as Twisp River Road. IC Sylvester also provided a brief to the about the wild?re stating that it was reported that day at about l2z30 PM and estimated to be two acres in size. IC Sylvester DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page IS 01'38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan further stated that when he arrived at about 2:00 PM, it was estimated to be at 80 acres, and the wild?re?s run began at about 2:30 PM. IC Sylvester described the wild?re area as having light surface fuels along a tree line near a suspected origin with open pine stands, but south of the wild?re, across the road by the (Twisp) river, the area was wooded and suppression resources were posted there to prevent the wild?re?s spread across the road. (See Attachment A-3 and A-3a/b, Call Detail Report and Cards.) 12. At 1:06 PM, the INVFs Fraidenburg and Gregory met INVF Morgan at the location where the ICP was originally located even though it had relocated elsewhere earlier that evening, and INVF Morgan identi?ed the location of the GOA that he had determined was on the property directly across the Twisp River Road from them behind a single-story house. In viewing the house from the meet location at a distance with the aid of vehicle and ?ashlight illumination, it showed as being situated on a ?at bench setting positioned near the base of a south aspect hillside slope. A gated driveway that led into the property from Twisp River Road was located east of the house along the base of the slope, and the house's surrounding grassy yard was enclosed by a chain-link fence that was located along its west, south, and east boundaries; no fence was apparent on the north side of the yard. INVF Morgan further described that the ?agged GOA boundary that he had placed included the house and its fenced yard, the driveway to the gate and upslope from there, and then north, upslope from the where the fence terminated at the northwest corner of the backyard area at the base of the slope. l3. INVF Morgan then briefed INVFs Fraidenburg and Gregory regarding what he had been told by Chief Waller earlier that day and described what he (INVF Morgan) had observed and accomplished during his preliminary on-ground investigative review that resulted in determining the GOA. In doing so, Morgan added that although the wildfire had already burned upslope and west past the fenced yard and advanced to the northwest and north behind the residence before he had arrived that afternoon, the wild?re had not yet laterally spread east to a large diameter, uprooted tree stump located east of the residence on the slope above the driveway, nor was ?re backing down slope from there with ?re debris roll-down to the driveway. INVF Morgan then showed the the stump, which was then on ?re, for the INVFs to consider as a reference when reviewing and evaluating the wild?re?s easterly progression in continuing the on-ground investigation that INVF Morgan had initiated in determining the location of the GOA. 14. Prior to concluding the briefing, INVF Morgan also informed INVFs Fraidenburg and Gregory of the distribution power line running across the property east-to-west, uphill, north of the house, and that it was safe to work around since being de-energized incident to initially attacking the wild?re. However, INVF Morgan further informed the INVFs that during his preliminary investigation, he had observed the power line in contact with the end of a nearby tree?s branches behind the house. When asked by INVF Gregory about the wind condition, he stated that when he got to the house there was negligible wind, if any, other than what he observed with the wild?re?s smoke column drift to the northwest. Relative to the wind and the branches contacting the power line, he said he spent a couple of minutes looking at the branches near the power line and on occasion saw the branches contacting the power line, but only when there appeared to be a slight sway of the branches with what light wind caused the sway to happen. He said that he did not take weather/wind measurements, nor could he estimate wind speed other than what direction the smoke was blowing. However, based on the weather recorded at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base (NCSB) Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS), that represented the ignition area, the area temperature at l2:00 PM was 9 ?Fahrenheit (F), the relative humidity (RH) was 2 percent DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 16 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan and the average wind speed and direction was six miles per hour from the south-southeast. The RAWS is located approximately ?ve and one-half miles northeast of the house. As for the area?s ?re danger rating that day, it was listed by the USFS Wildland Fire Assessment System as very high, meaning the area fuel moisture levels combined with the given weather produced dangerous burning conditions with the probability of ignition being greater than 85 percent. (The probability of ignition is the chance that a firebrand will cause an ignition when it lands on receptive fuels.) Regarding the area?s ?re weather forecast, it predicted a 20-foot wind at two-to-?ve miles per hour (mph) in the valleys and lower slopes; the house was located at a lower slope with an elevation of 2,006 feet, and the power line-to-branch contact area above the ground was later measured as approximately 50 feet above the that elevation. Following that meet, INVFs Fraidenburg and Gregory maintained a security watch of the GOA location with INVF Morgan throughout the remainder of that evening into the following morning. (See Attachments Section B: Weather Table and Graphs, Fire Weather Forecast, Lightning Maps, and Drought/Temperature, and Precipitation Information.) l5. On 8/201] 5 at 4: IO AM during the security watch, INVF Fraidenburg and Gregory observed a ?re develop adjacent to unburned fuels between Twisp River Road and the wild?re?s initial southwest perimeter, west of the residence?s fence line, as it backed south and east to the roadside, with a noticeable cool, down canyon breeze, into weed, shrub, brush and deciduous tree fuels. The ?re then progressed east, parallel to the road, increasing in its intensity, consuming the fuels and igniting holes of several conifer trees while spreading in needle cast surface fuel to a flat area adjacent to the fence until ?re personnel patrolling the road suppressed and contained the spread of the fire from entering the house's yard. What was notable as signi?cant to the INVFs in observing the ?re behavior activity relative to their investigation was the ease in which the fuels ignited and rapidly spread with intensity, even at a time when the Twisp area temperature was at (62? at NCSBNCSB), with a slight local estimated down canyon wind. That observation indicated to the how volatile the available fuels in the area were during the previous day concerning the wild?re?s ignition, spread, and early phase of progression. (See Attachment B-2, Fire Behavior Information, and B-2a, Fire Origin Sketch by INVF Gregory.) l6. At 6:20 AM, INVF Gregory initiated a systematic review of the wild?re, beginning in the vicinity of the house and the surrounding area relative to the burned and unburned fuels and the macro-scale ?re direction indicators to con?rm the GOA in conjunction with determining the wild?re?s advancing area, its lateral transition areas, and its backing area in furtherance of the investigation. The review, aided at times by the use of binoculars, began at a location in front of the house while positioned between the Twisp River Road and the house?s front yard fence line near the southwest fence comer. The area west of the house?s fence line from the road to the base of the slope to the north was where INVFs Fraidenburg and Gregory had observed ?re develop and be extinguished earlier that same moming. From there, after entering the yard from the west fence?s access gate, the review continued east, skirting the wild?re's perimeter at times within the fence line and walking the driveway that accessed the property, further walking approximately 75 yards to Woods Canyon Road and returning, and then continuing on west past the house for approximately 60 yards, and returning to the house?s front yard southwest fence corner. 17. During the review, the hillside's topography west and northwest of the flagged GOA appeared to be a 60+% open burned slope, and there was a ditch line that contoured the lower slope east-to-west. The DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 20l3 DISH Page 17 ol'38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 (15-V-JIS) COUNTY: South Okanogan remnant surface fuels observed on the open slope consisted primarily of grass, weeds, and scattered brush, and there were a few sparsely spaced conifer trees as aerial fuels. The macro-scale ?re direction indicators observed, consisting of angle of char and freeze displayed on the conifers. indicated that they were exposed to ?re progression laterally from a southeast direction. 18. The area on the hillside east of the west boundary that was ?agged, which included the area north of the house, appeared to be a continuum of like topography but steepening from its upper-mid slope to the top of the hill, and it displayed remnant surface fuels, a dense amount of aerial fuels, brush, a deciduous tree grove of sorts, and several conifer trees. Some trees and brush were scorched, and others were burned high above the ground, while the foliage crowns of some deciduous trees were completely consumed by the wild?re. The crown consumption was pronounced at the center of the grove, beginning low to mid-slope and widening further upslope, typifying an early progression of a ?re?s head, advancing upslope, gaining in its intensity with ?re spread laterally, and in this case, west and east as its ?anks. The macro-scale ?re direction indicators reviewed on the remnant fuels consisted of angle of char, degree of damage, white ash, freeze, and the V-pattern (with the open end of the pattern being upslope), which collectively indicated that the fuels were directionally exposed to an intensifying ?re progression advancing from the south with lateral spread to the west and east as displayed overall by the V-pattem. Along the base of the hillside west of the house, the slope transitioned gradually to the house?s backyard from the flagged GOA toward the house with a hand dug ?re line present along the sloping base. However, the section of slope closer to and behind the house showed as steepening into a partially eroded cut bank that lessened east of the house to a less steep slope (as compared to the cut bank's slope) that continued on east. The macro-scale, and at times micro-scale, ?re direction indicators reviewed for that area west of the house on the remnant fuels, consisting of grass, weeds, and brush with a few deciduous trees, included degree of damage, angle of char, depth of char, curling, grass stem, white ash, die-out, and staining on rock, indicating that the ?re had burned as a low intensity fire, burning less of the available fuels closer to the ground, backing south to the backyard from further upslope nearer the ditch where the remnant fuels were more intensely burned higher above the ground. The remnant fuels behind the house at the base of the cut bank consisted of grass and weeds that continued upslope and included brush from the yard to the crest of the cut bank, including sparse, limited amounts of ground fuel consisting of roots from the vegetation bordering the crest of the cut bank. The ?re direction indicators reviewed on those fuels were as previously stated including protection and also staining and seating on exposed rocks, which further indicated that a low intensity ?re had burned downslope, consuming less of the available fuels closer to the ground, backing in its spread to (where) the ?re?s perimeter was located in the backyard in conjunction with laterally progressing in its spread west and east along the slope. 19. In continuing with the review of the hillside area northeast of the house within the GOA, it appeared much the same as the previously described area to the north of the house, fuel wise, including the ?re direction indicators, but with an aspect towards the south-southwest with what appeared to be 60+% slope. However, downslope from the hillside?s surface and aerial fuels, where the terrain steepened as a south facing slope in the vicinity above where the ditch line contoured, and weeds, burned or scorched and some not, were also observed. Scattered burned brush was present across the slope and continued east across the property to Woods Canyon Road with few deciduous and conifer trees. The exception to the presence of surface fuel on the steepened south facing slope was where it was eroded in DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page I8 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan areas primarily below the ditch line contour and where the uprooted stump, which originally de?ned and benchmarked the ?re?s lateral progression to the east and its backing to the south, had since been consumed by ?re. The macro-scale ?re direction indicators reviewed on the remnant fuels, consisting of brush, weeds, and included angle ofchar, curling, grass stem, protection, die-out, and staining and sooting on exposed rock, indicated that as the ?re progressed east on the hillside, it had also backed downslope with low intensity, burning less of the fuels available closer to the ground as it spread to the base of the slope, aided by ?re debris roll-down. At the base of the slope north of the driveway, the backing ?re spread outwardly, burning the remnant fuels located between the gate and Twisp River Road. Pockets of fuel adjacent to the driveway indicated that the backing ?re?s intensity increased as the available fuel was burned higher above the ground, based on the same fire direction indicators reviewed as stated above, including white ash. 20. At 8:00 AM, INVF Gregory met with USPS representatives and was informed that two of their INVFs, Law Enforcement Of?cers Michael Kujala and William Markwardt, would be arriving that day to assist in the origin and cause investigation as well as members of the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) who could provide a digital image of the ?re scene as needed. Soon thereafter, INVF Gregory met with OCSO Detective (Det.) Kreg Sloan at the parking lot across the Twisp River Road, south of the house, and received a copy of the OCSO Call Report. While brie?y discussing the previous day?s activity in reference to the report and the ?re?s location and its progression that was known to him relative to OCSO alerting residents during the evacuation process, Det. Sloan indicated that based on information available to him at that time, three residences local to Woods Canyon had been destroyed by the ?re. Det. Sloan also advised that the house, which displayed its address as 584, was actually listed in the county's property records as 591, the same address as the property with the acclimation pond located directly south of the house across the road, and that both properties were owned by the Douglas County, WA District 1 Public Utility Department (PUD). (See Attachment C-l, Property/Parcel and FFPA Information and Vicinity/Location Map.) In conclusion to the meet, Det. Sloan showed INVF Gregory a representative photograph of pictures that Mrs. Tazioli had taken of the wild?re at its early stage of progression. The picture showed light grey smoke airborne, appearing as carried by an easterly wind (an east to west direction), including that from the already burned open slope, west and northwest, and north of the house; tan to dark grey smoke was shown rising from the tree grove area mid to upper slope behind the house, and darker grey smoke along with what appeared to be a burning conifer tree was shown at or near the top of the slope, north of the house. Near the bottom of the slope, west of the house, low intensity ?ame was shown as a backing ?re spreading downslope, south through light surface fuel (including weeds, grass, and de?ning the ?re?s south perimeter. Upslope behind the house in proximity to where the ditch and the crest of the cut bank were located, a more intense ?re was shown as spreading laterally east and progressing upslope burning within the brush and deciduous trees. The described photograph documenting the wild?re visually aided in corroborating the early progression stage of the wild?re, and Del. Sloan indicated that members of the USFS would interview Mrs. Tazioli on 8l2l/l5. (See Attachment A-4, MOI oers. Tazioli by USFS SA Ted Rainville.) 22. In returning to the southwest corner of the fenced yard to continue the wild?re investigation, INVF Gregory walked to the northwest comer of the yard where the fence ended, entered the wild?re?s perimeter DNR Wildland Fire Investigation chort.doc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 19 of 18 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan and proceeded up the open sloped hillside passing an OCEC power line pole (TI 89), approximately 10 yards northwest of the fence, arriving at the dry ditch running cross slope east-to-west while observing reviewing the macro-scale and, at times, micro-scale fire direction indicators. As previously described, the remnant surface and aerial fuels consisted of grass, weeds, brush, and a few conifer and deciduous trees; T189 was included as a remnant pole-type fuel. The ?re direction indicators reviewed on the remnant fuels for that area included angle of char, white ash, degree of damage, cupping, grass stem, protection, curling, and freeze. Staining and sooting were also observed on exposed rocks which indicated the remnant fuels and rocks were first exposed to wild?re that had progressed along and adjacent to the ditch from an area east and southeast of that location with backing spread south of the ditch, downslope, toward the wildfire?s perimeter with less intensity, burning less of the available fuels closer to the ground. 23. The review continued, crossing the ditch and walking in a north direction approximately 20 yards further up the hillside. The remnant surface and aerial fuels observed consisted of weeds, grass, brush, deciduous trees and two conifer trees, and the macro-scale fire direction indicators reviewed included angle of char, degree of damage, depth of char, freeze, curling, cupping, protection and white ash, and staining and sooting on exposed rocks. In following the described ?re direction indicators, a distinct transition area relating to a southeast-to-northwest directional axis defining the westside of the V- pattem previously observed at a distance was recognized. Within the V-pattern, the fire direction indicators were more pronounced in their level of intensity, and the wild?re had consumed more of the available fuels higher above the ground than those fuels adjacent to and west of the V-pattem. Further review of the described fire direction indicators relative to the transition indicated that the fire's spread was less intense from the pattem?s west ?ank outwardly and consumed less of the available fuels closer to the ground. The spread progression of the widening V-pattem, including the described fire direction indicators reviewed, indicated overall that the ?re had progressed to this area from a location further downslope, southeast of that area. 24. INVF Gregory then walked approximately 40 yards to the east, crossing the open end of the V-pattem, the obvious head of the wildfire?s advancement, while contouring the south facing hillside?s upper slope north of the house, and south, and downslope from a residence located at 9 Woods Canyon Road, in continuing the review. The topographical contour along that walk curved into the hillside, and it continued downslope more as a bowl-like depression on the hillside?s mid-slope, which was situated within the center of the V-pattern. The remnant surface and aerial fuels for that area included deciduous trees and brush, further upslope from the bowled area, and a conifer tree. Besides the V- pattern, the other macro-scale ?re direction indicators observed and reviewed for that area consisted of degree of damage, depth of char, angle of char, white ash, cupping, freeze, and protection, including staining, sooting, and spalling on the exposed rocks. The review indicated that the wildfire had extensively burned more of the available fuels higher above the ground throughout the-bowled area with extreme intensity, and it advanced upslope and north toward a conifer positioned at the top of the hillside above the bowled topography, directly north of the house as well as advancing in its progress on toward the northwest, past distantly observed conifer trees sparsely located west and southwest of the 9 Woods Canyon Road residence. 25. From that location INVF Gregory?s review continued, walking approximately l5 yards to the southeast following the ?re direction indicators, exiting the V-pattem?s northeast side while entering an DNR Wildland Fire Investigation FORM UPDATE April 20l3 DEl-l Page 20 ol?38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan obvious transition area. In doing so, the hillside?s aspect was also recognized as previously noted as being oriented towards the south-southwest, and the ?re direction indicators reviewed on the remnant surface and aerial fuels, which included weeds, brush, and deciduous trees, consisted of degree of damage, depth of char, white ash, angle of char, curling, cupping, freeze, protection, and grass stem, and also staining, sooting, and spalling, were observed on the exposed rocks. The review indicated that the described fuels within the transition were ?rst exposed to ?re from a southwest direction that progressed upslope, burning less intensely away from the V-pattern, leaving more of the available aerial fuels closer to the ground along the east and northeast edge of the tree grove. In continuing south, skirting past a topographical bench area to the east, the hillside?s slope steepened down, arriving at the area where the uprooted stump had been located. The ?re direction indicators reviewed in continuing to that area were those as previously described, minus spalling on rocks, but included die-out, which indicated that the ?re burned with a lower intensity while laterally spreading south as a backing ?re, downslope toward the house?s dirt driveway below. While at that location, looking west at the distant tree branches INVF Morgan previously referred to as being near the power line, a limited section of branches observed situated high above the house?s backyard, above the cut bank area, showed that their branch ends were in close proximity to the northemmost power line conductor. Speci?cally, that limited section of branches appeared noticeably squared off, hedge-like in appearance, with missing foliage leaving much of the ends of those branches as bare ends and twigs. Immediately below and west of the hedge-like section were abnormal appearing branches as they displayed a noticeable patch of tree foliage crown that was largely rust-brown in color, which indicated possible die-off from an exposure to either heat or from disease or a reason unknown to further elaborate on at the time of this report, other than noting that it being unlike any of the same surrounding shade of green tree crown foliage in the immediate vicinity to the hedge-like section of branches located above it. Furthermore, three conductor splices were noted along the power line: two splices were observed in the vicinity where the stump was located, one on the southernmost conductor, one on the northernmost conductor, and the third splice was located in the vicinity above the northwest corner of the house on the southernmost conductor. 26. From there INVF Gregory walked south, down the burned and partially eroded slope and proceeded across the driveway, walking east to west around the burned eastside yard to further review the ?re?s direction indicators for the burned side yard located east of the house. INVF Gregory circled south around the burned side yard in a clockwise direction, passing around the house due to the side yard that was burned up to the east side edge of the house, to continue reviewing the burned side yard from a location between the northeast corner of the house and the hillside slope near where the driveway appeared to end. During that walk the remnant fuels observed included cured grass and weed, and the ?re direction indicators observed on those remnant fuels reviewed included grass stem, degree of damage, angle of char, protection, and die-out, and there was staining observed on exposed rocks, which showed that the wild?re had progressed spreading as a backing ?re of low intensity to the south, across the driveway from an upslope ?re, backing downslope with debris roll-down to and along the base of the slope, while laterally spreading west to the house and east toward the driveway gate. The overall area of the low intensity side yard fire appeared to have been extinguished by the application of water to stop its progression and spread across the yard; the suspension of ?ne organic matter showed water lines on areas of bare soil indicative of the water application to suppress and contain the wild?re as no perimeter ?re line was present. Dual wheel DNR Wildland Firc Investigation chort.doc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 2] of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 IS) COUNTY: South Okanogan tire track impressions were observed through the yard grass and weeds that indicated a vehicle had driven in front of the house from the driveway to the west side of the house. Subsequent information received indicated that the vehicle tracks were created during the initial attack in suppressing the wild?re near the house. In conclusion to reviewing that area, INVF Gregory backtracked, again reviewing the macro-scale fire direction indicators in a counter-clockwise direction working toward the ditch area on the west side of the GOA, arriving where two OCEC linemen, subsequently identi?ed as Mr. Chris Zahn and Mr. Dan Foussard were noticed inspecting T189. 27. Lineman Chris Zahn was contacted soon thereafter by INVF Gregory who identi?ed himself as a DNR employee. INVF Gregory asked Lineman Zahn if their interest at the site had to do with inspecting T189 because of the wildfire. Lineman Zahn informed INVF Gregory that their inspection concluded that there was no sign of damage to the transformer, insulators, or fuse link on the pole. INVF Gregory heard the linemen discuss that if there was a problem with the transformer, there would be peeling paint, staining, and/or charring on the transformer, and there was none, nor was the integrity of the pole diminished. INVF Gregory informed Lineman Zahn that he was looking for a cause of the wild?re and pointed to the branches adjacent to the northern outermost power line conductor located behind the back of the house which displayed a section of ?at, squared-off shape ending in its growth relative to its close distance to that conductor as though the branch ends had been in touch, chafing the power line at that location. The branch(es) displayed green leaves, although a majority of its outermost ends appeared to be lea?ess in their appearance in proximity to the conductor. Lineman Zahn acknowledged the branch ends pointed out to him as ?at, squared-off ends being close to the conductor, and he advised that when vegetation like that comes close to an energized power line, it will stop its growth and not grow close to it because it senses to keep it from doing so. Without asking Lineman Zahn to further elaborate on that descriptive explanation, INVF Gregory then asked Lineman Zahn that if the branch vegetation had touched the power line, would it be enough to trip a fuse or switch and cause the power line to de-energize itself to prevent sparking, and Lineman Zahn stated that it would not, and in this case, the referenced vegetation did not appear to Lineman Zahn as being in touch with the power line, which it was not at that time. INVF Gregory also asked that if the vegetation had come in contact with the power line, would it be recorded as happening. Lineman Zahn stated that a branch would have to cross two of the conductors simultaneously to cause the power line to de-energize and then re-energize, thus producing a record of an interruption in the service. In concluding the contact with Lineman Zahn, INVF Gregory asked him who at OCEC could provide the interruption record and the power line maintenance and repair record for the section of power line east of and including Lineman Zahn provided OCEC's General Manager (GM) David Gottula?s name and his phone number as 509-996-2228 at OCEC to direct the records request. In concluding their visual inspection of T189 and its components, the linemen departed, and INVF Fraidenburg met with INVF Gregory shortly thereafter to continue the investigation. 28. From the ditch walking upslope, the INVFs collectively reviewed the fire direction indicators following them along the west lateral transition area, and then they contoured the bowled hillside walking east, crossing through the open end of the ?re?s advancing V-pattern area, aning at the previously identified east lateral transition area. The fire direction indicators observed and reviewed by INVF Fraidenburg in arriving at that location coincided with INVF Gregory?s previous review concluding the same: the wild?re had burned with an increase in its size and intensity from further downslope, south of DNR Wildland Fire investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 22 01'38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 (15-V-JIS) COUNTY: South Okanogan the bowled topography, consuming the bulk of the surface brush fuel and more of the available aerial deciduous tree fuel higher above the ground as it advanced upslope to the northwest, north and northeast, leaving the remnant fuels appearing as black skeletal stubs and tapered stems with consumed vegetation foliage and litter left as a deep layer of light grey and white ash deposited over the terrain throughout the V-pattern and largely within the bowled area. 29. In concert to INVF Kujala?s an-ival and his review of the macro-scale ?re direction indicators also con?rming the ?re?s V-pattern location as the advancing area of the wild?re, widening with its run upslope, and the wild?re?s lateral east and west transition zones bordering the pattern, the INVFs proceeded with their review to locate the speci?c origin area by entering the northeast area of the V-pattem starting at the upper third of the hillside?s slope. From there, the crossed the advancing area within the V-pattem, moving back and forth, east to west between the lateral transition area boundaries in a zigzag fashion, reviewing and following the wild?re?s advancing direction indicators and patterns, while gradually proceeding downslope into the bowled area and continuing in the same manner, arriving further downslope at the dry ditch running east-to-west. Prior to an?iving at the ditch, the noticed that the ground below the ash layer, in the area adjacent to and along the east transition area north of the ditch, was saturated to a mud-like consistency, indicative of ?re suppression activity utilizing copious amounts of water to stop the ?re spread. As for the ?re direction indicators reviewed along the way and in arriving at the ditch, they consisted of degree of damage, angle of char, depth of char, cupping, and white ash, and sooting, staining, and spalling on exposed rocks, which indicated overall that the remnant fuels consisting of brush and deciduous trees were exposed to a ?re that burned more of them higher above the ground from the ditch upslope within the narrowing shape of the V-pattem than like fuels, including weeds, twigs, sticks, and foliage litter, that were observed downslope from the ditch to and along the crest of the eroded cut bank, located approximately l2?-15? from the ditch. 30. The macro-scale ?re direction indicators reviewed on the remnant fuels below the ditch on its bank and upslope from the bordering crest of the cut bank where the V-pattern ended overall, consisted of degree of damage, white ash, depth of char, cupping, angle of char, curling, and protection, and sooting on a rectangular piece of corroded metal screen and sooting and staining on exposed rocks and a semi- exposed, buried, square glass bottle. The review for that area collectively indicated that the described remnant fuels and rocks were exposed to a less intense ?re that had backed to the crest of the cut bank from an area below the ditch on its bank and advanced from the ditch bank, upslope, north and northwest, and laterally progressed spreading west and east from that area increasing in its intensity. Pending further investigation, that area was preliminarily identi?ed as encompassing the speci?c origin area. 31. At that point in the investigation, INVF Markwardt joined the INVFs and was briefed concerning the INVFs progress after he had performed a systematic overall review of the GOA himself. INVF Markwardt concurred with the evaluation of the ?re?s advancing, lateral, and backing vectors based on his own review of the macro?scale ?re direction indicators. Then incorporating red, yellow, and blue pin ?ag markers signifying advancing, lateral, and backing ?re direction indicators and patterns, respectively, the initiated the flag placement accordingly to those indicators identi?ed during the review process. In conjunction with the review, and relative to follow-up concerning a rumor that a squirrel had been in contact with the transformer on the power pole near the house, the area in the vicinity along and adjacent to the power line, from TI 89 to an area on the steep slope just east of the house past the cut bank was DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEl-l Page 23 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 (15-V-JIS) COUNTY: South Okanogan reconnoitered by the INVFs, and no animal or bird carcasses or feathers were observed or discovered either on the ground, in the brush, or in trees that would indicate the ?re was caused by the electrocution and combustion of an animal such a squirrel or a bird making contact with the power line, falling down, and igniting the surface fuel. However, during that reconnaissance, INVF Markwardt also observed that the tree?s branch end(s) were making contact with the northernmost power line conductor above the preliminarily identi?ed speci?c origin area. With the aid of binoculars, he further observed what appeared to him as sooting on that conductor adjacent to the branch end contact area that was indicative of combustion taking place in close proximity to the sooting as witnessed by the INVFs. 32. Subsequent to INVF Markwardt joining the investigation, initiating the flag placement, and performing the reconnaissance, CID Det. Sergeant John Huntington and Del. Rodney Green arrived to assist in the investigation by digitally imaging the vicinity, particularly the area behind and upslope from the house, including the location of the overhead power line. After the CID concluded the imaging procedure, the scene was secured leaving INVF Markwardt to guard the area from unauthorized access until proceeding with the investigation on the following day with INVFs Markwardt, Kujala, and Gregory. (See Attachment Site Diagram by Det. Green.) 33. On 8121/ I6, the investigation continued with the aid of DNR Forest Pathologist (FP) Daniel Omdal who examined the trees in the vicinity to and behind the house, including the tree with its branches in close proximity to the OCEC overhead power line. During that day at approximately 1:50 PM, Mr. Daniel Stanley, who was near the house?s driveway gate and conversing with the INVFs, introduced himself to INVF Gregory as a resident local to the area and stated that he had observed the wild?re on August 19. Mr. Stanley stated that he was with his neighbor, Mr. Jerry Merz, and his friend, Mr. James Elvig, who met him at the parking area located south of the house, across the Twisp River Road, and Mr. Stanley said he saw the wild?re near the power pole located west of the house and burning up the hill. Mr. Stanley also identi?ed himself as an experienced career electrician who retired as an electrical inspector, and he stated that at the time he saw the wild?re?s ?ames near the power pole (T189), he considered that its cause may have been attributed to a squirrel coming in contact with the power line, or that the transformer on the pole had malfunctioned. Mr. Stanley further stated that since then, he had decided that it was probably not the case after all concerning a squirrel being the cause of the wild?re. Mr. Stanley stated that he did not know what the cause of the wild?re was, and neither he nor his friends took any pictures of the wild?re. (See Attachment A-S, by USFS SA Phillip Huff.) 34. Later during that same day, with assistance provided by the OCEC at the request of the USFS, FP Omdal was lifted via an OCEC bucket truck operated by Lineman Foussard to an elevation to visually inspect the branches that were in close proximity to OCEC's de-energized power line, speci?cally the northemmost conductor. During that inspection, the section of branches previously observed at a distance as hedge-like in their appearance displayed numerous charred stubs with beveled ends and recently broken ends that displayed char at the break. There were other recently broken branch ends that did not display char. There were also weathered, broken branch ends, some displaying char and some not. The estimated diameter of the branch ends that were observed charred, not counting the twig ends, ranged between one- quarter inch to inch in diameter as observed by FP Omdal and subsequently INVF Gregory who was also lifted to view the branches. As the inspection continued, several branch ends were observed coming in contact and chaf?ng the northernmost conductor with sway from a slight breeze, and a black DNR Wildland Fin: investigation chort.d0c FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 24 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 (15-V-JIS) COUNTY: South Okanogan char-like substance was observed on the conductor?s surface nearest the hedge-like branch section. Both FP Omdal and INVF Gregory also noticed independently that in rubbing one of the numerous charred ends, a charcoal-like residue was left on their ?ngers, which was further indicative that the ends were obviously exposed to the presence of enough heat to ignite a fire to cause the char. No other chaning was observed farther down the branches leading up to the charred ends that would otherwise indicate that ?re had burned toward the charred ends rather than from contact with the conductor as a competent ignition source causing the branch ends to burn resulting in the char. 35. During the lift and inspection, GM Gottula and OCEC Staking Technician (ST) Deanne Melton were present, and in conjunction with the inspection, OCEC assisted FP Omdal in collecting a lea?ess branch that displayed the char from the end of the hedge-like section as well as a leafed branch and also a control sample of like vegetation off a nearby branch for identi?cation purposes. Following the inspection, a short section of the power line conductor was removed by Lineman Foussard, assisted by ST Melton, that was adjacent to the hedge-like branch ends, and a section of replacement conductor with two Hotline Automatic Splice connectors was installed in its place. The section of conductor that was removed was further cut by Lineman Foussard into pieces of which two of the pieces were red-tape wrapped and marked with a by Lineman Foussard to identify which end was positioned toward the west, and then they were provided to INVF Markwardt as witnessed by INVF Kujala, FP Omdal, and INVF Gregory and secured as evidence by INVF Markwardt pending transport to the DNR Evidence Storage Facility (ESF) in Olympia, WA. The two pieces of branch ends were designated as Item E-l and Item El, and the pieces of conductor were designated as Item the control sample was not designated as evidence, but was maintained by FP Omdal for his examination in con?rming the tree species. In addition to collecting the described evidence, OCEC also collected branch sample(s), one of which was photographed by INVF Gregory when shown to him by ST Melton. Subsequent to inspecting the branches and departure, the scene was secured and the INVFs left the site leaving USFS Patrol Captain Robert Moelder as guard until relieved by Del. Sloan and later LEO Kujala, pending their return the following day. (See Attachment A-6, FP Omdal?s Narrative Report and Photo Log.) 36. On 8/22! 16, INVFs Markwardt, Kujala, and Gregory continued to further investigate the micro-scale ?re direction indicators and bum patterns to con?rm the suspected speci?c origin. After circling the perimeter of the area that contained the suspected speci?c origin in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, they carefully worked up toward the crest of the cut bank behind the house beginning at the base of the slope, rather than beginning at the top of the ditch bank, to prevent from dislodging material and soil as roll-down and disturbing what was eventually con?rmed as the speci?c origin. While doing so, and in continuing up the slope for approximately six feet, the INVFs utilized an approximate 18 inch grid lane search method and employed the use of magnets, whereby no ferrous objects were located or detected, and there was no non-ferrous metal observed, although a semi-buried, light green, weathered in appear appearance tennis ball was observed near the slope's base. The described ball displayed degree of damage and angle of char indicating the same as what was already reviewed during the initial investigation for that area on the overall remnant fuels, which was that the ?re in that area had backed down the cut bank from the crest of the cut bank as a low intensity fire, consuming less of the available fuels closer to the ground. 37. The INVFs then returned to the ditch above the cut bank, east of the suspected speci?c origin area, and carefully walked down the ditch bank to a narrow bench-like shelf that bordered the top of the cut DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 25 of 18 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan bank running parallel to its crest. While walking the described shelf, the INVFs reviewed the micro-scale ?re direction indicators consisting of angle of char, degree of damage, white ash, grass stem, curling, sooting, and protection on the remnant fuels, including grass, weeds, vegetation foliage and litter such as leaves, twigs and sticks, branch pieces, and brush, and staining on exposed rocks, along and adjacent to the shelf where the ditch bank transitioned to the shelf. During the review and in carefully moving up the ditch bank, an approximate 12 inch grid lane search and use of magnets continued to be employed. The review indicated that the fire had backed from low on the ditch bank area as a less intense ?re across the shelf to the crest of the cut bank and past the crest, backing downslope, consuming less of the available fuels closer to the ground. In conjunction with the review, the search revealed a corroded metal 15 ounce (estimated) food type can and a corroded metal can-like object, larger, that were located on the shelf beneath the ash layer and below the soil?s surface. Based on the corroded condition and location of the objects buried, they appeared to have been there for an extended period of time, more than a week, and further indicated that area had been utilized as a garbage dump in the past and then covered beneath soil and an accumulation of vegetation litter. Upslope from that location, below the top third to mid-slope on the ditch bank, the screen, estimated as approximately 12 inches by 48 inches in size, and another corroded metal, exposed, l5 ounce can, and the semi-exposed, buried, square glass bottle, were observed, further indicating the remnants of the suspected garbage dump. 38. In continuing with the micro-scale ?re direction indicator review and grid search (with magnet use) of the ditch bank from the shelf up to the ditch, the INVFs confirmed a specific origin, beginning at or below the ditch bank?s mid-slope, where a ?re of lower intensity had initially occurred on the previously described remnant fuels and exposed rocks, within an approximate ?ve foot by six foot surface area adjacent to and upslope from the shelf. From there, the fire spread outwardly and increased in its intensity, consuming more of the available fuels as it advanced predominately north and northwest, upslope toward the ditch, and further advanced laterally west, likely in?uenced by a slight east-southeast cross slope wind, and east and upslope, progressing to the northeast, and backing downslope to the south, southwest and southeast with a less intensity increase. The INVFs further reviewed the described micro- scale ?re direction indicators and patterns and determined that the ignition area was within that speci?c origin where a lower intensity ?re had begun and progressed spreading outwardly from between and below the two referenced objects (screen and bottle) as it progressed upslope with the terrain to the north with lateral spread northwest and lateral spread toward the northeast, and backing to and across the shelf to the south. During the review and grid search of the ignition area, no ignition source or device was discovered or gleaned from within the speci?c origin or ignition area amongst the remnant surface fuels, which included brush, deciduous tree branch pieces, sticks, twigs, and foliage litter. However, the location above the speci?c origin, where the contact had been occurring between the overhead distribution power line conductor and the branch ends that had combusted due to their contact with one another (resulting in the combustion of the branches ends which displayed char from no other competent ignition source nor from the wild?re burning up the tree to the branch ends) was determined to be the ignition area (point of origin) for the wild?re. 39. In concluding their on-ground investigation that day, the returned to the area immediate to and in the vicinity of the TI 89 power line pole and re-reviewed the ?re direction indicators on the remnant fuels, consisting of grass, weeds, scattered brush, several conifer and exposed rock(s), to DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Report.doc FORM UPDATE April 20 3 DEH Page 26 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan con?rm or refute information originally put forth by Mr. Stanley concerning the location where he (Stanley) indicated the ?re started near pole T189. The re-review results were as previously investigated: the ?re direction indicators on the remnant fuels, including pole T189, showed that the wild?re progressed laterally west from the GOA with backing from below the ditch, downslope to the pole, and not outwardly from the area at or around the pole as being a speci?c origin. Subsequent to concluding the on-ground investigation, INVFs Kujala and Markwardt provided INVF Gregory with a copy of their reports and associated attachments and photographs regarding the assistance they provided in determining the origin and cause of the wild?re. (See Attachment A-7, Supplemental Incident Report, including Evidence Field Record and Diagraming Measurements by INVF Kujala, and Attachment A-7a, Supplemental Incident Report by INVF Markwardt.) 40. On 8/23/15, Evidence Items E-l, 13-2 and 13-3 were transferred from INVF Markwardt to INVF Gregory as witnessed by INVF Kujala and transported to and secured at the ESF in Olympia, WA pending further investigation. During the transfer process, which took place at a parking lot (285 Riverside Ave) in Winthrop, WA, ST Melton contacted the INVFs to con?rm their identity and obtain their contact information, which was provided to her at that time. (See Attachment A-7b, Supplemental Investigation Report by INVF Gregory.) On 8/25/15, Douglas County District I PUD provided USFS Special Agent (SA) Ted Rainville access to the house (located at 59l Twisp River Road) to search it for signs of recent occupancy or being inhabited relative to the wild?re investigation. The results of the search indicated that the house had not recently been occupied or inhabited, nor was there any sign of tampering or forced entry to any of the doors or windows that would indicate an unauthorized entry. Furthermore, SA Rainville observed no sign indicative of children or transient activity being in the vicinity of the house relative to the wild?re investigation. 42. On 8/31/15 at approximately 12:05 PM, INVF Gregory, accompanied by INVF Dennis Heryford, contracted by DNR, returned to the vicinity of the house for the purpose of achieving an independent review of the wild?re?s GOA from INVF Heryford. Prior to an'iving, INVF Gregory had telephonically contacted OCEC to speak to GM Gottula to inform him of their purposed return to the location of the wild?re behind the house. At that time OCEC Of?ce Manager (0M) Northcott advised that GM Gottula was not available, but based on the noti?cation received from INVF Gregory that the investigators were returning to the wild?re speci?c to the location behind the house, she would relay the INVFs arrival to Operation Manager (OP) Glenn Huber. Before concluding that contact, 0M Northcott further advised INVF Gregory that the location that the INVFs were going to was free of any safety concerns as the power line behind the structure was in full service and functioning properly. 43. Shortly after arriving at the wild?re and parking across the road to the south of the house, the INVFs were met by ST Melton and soon thereafter were introduced to OP I-Iuber who was with ST Melton. During that meet, ST Melton advised INVF Gregory that the power had recently been restored to the power line that ran behind the house on the previous Thursday (August 27), and she further advised that prior to energizing the power line, OCEC had trimmed/cut-back the vegetation that was close to that power line behind the house. After that meet, INVF Heryford reconnoitered the GOA, reviewing the ?re direction indicators on the remnant fuels within and adjacent to the GOA, including observing the unburned fuels DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoe FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 27 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan adjacent to the GOA, and concluded his independent review with identifying the wild?re?s speci?c origin as previously determined during the original joint DNRIUSFS investigation. During the review, the INVFs were contacted by Mrs. Kim Frey and her daughter, Ms. Erin Frey, regarding what Ms. Frey observed relative to the wild?re and where she saw the smoke and the flame when she and her passenger, identi?ed as Ms. Kyla Colon, observed it while driving past the wild?re as Ms. Colon videoed it on August 19. Along with hearing a brief of Ms. Frey?s view of the wild?re during its early stage of progression and her activity before observing the smoke, Mrs. Frey informed the INVFs that during the many years that they resided in the area west of the house, it had been more than a year since she had seen a vehicle parked at the house. In concluding the contact with the Freys, a copy of the video was requested via the Freys and later made available to INVF Gregory for review, which showed the wild?re?s location as Ms. Frey had described it (during its early stage of progression north and northwest from behind the house). In conjunction with completing INVF I-Ieryford?s review, recently cut branches that were discovered by the INVFs below the power line behind the house, which appeared as being the same branches cut from the tree whose branch ends had been in close proximity to the northernmost conductor, above and east? southeast of the speci?c origin, were examined by the INVFs. Following the examination and assisted by INVF Heryford, INVF Gregory collected a representative sample of several of the cut branches as Evidence Item E-4 for transport to and securing at the ESFF. (See Attachment A-8, Supplemental Investigation Report by INVF Heryford, and See Attachment A-9, USFS MOI of Ms. Colon by INVF Kujala, and See Attachment A-10, Supplemental Investigation Report concerning the Collection of Evidence Item E-4 by INVF Gregory.) 44. On 9/ 10/ 15, CID provided information to INVF Gregory, which calculated the northernmost conductor was located approximately 57 feet above the backyard behind the house, based on the imaging performed by them in the vicinity of the house on August 20. Additionally, the imaging provided an approximated azimuth from the location where the branch ends had contacted the northernmost conductor to the speci?c origin as 3102", which was consistent with the south-southeast and east-southeast wind direction recorded at NCSB one hour prior to when the wild?re was reported on the day of the wild?re. This was similar to the smoke drift depicted in the video taken by Ms. Colon, time stamped as 1 1:48 AM, and in the picture taken by Mrs. Tazioli at approximately 12:28 PM from her residence located approximately 350 yards north of the GOA. 45. On 9/23/15, INVF Gregory met DNR INVF Albert Kassel in the vicinity of the house for the purpose of obtaining additional GPS coordinates from the GOA pending the arrival of DNR Land Surveyor Engineer (LSE) Jake Edminster and Engineer Aide (EA) Ryan Tessier, who performed a survey that day to document the location of the OCEC's power line in relation to several notable locations within the GOA, including its distance to the water birch tree and the reference points (RH and RP2). Once they arrived, LSE Edminster and EA Tessier surveyed the location of several of OCEC power line poles in the vicinity of the house, including T188 and T189, and the location of the power line splices relative to the location of the subject tree whose branches had contacted the northernmost outer conductor behind the house. In reference to the survey, power line pole T188 is located east of the house, and power line pole T189 is located west of the house, and the distance span for the conductors between the two poles was measured as being approximately 322 feet. A total of ?ve splices were observed on the two existing conductors between the two poles (T188 and two were located on the southernmost conductor and three were located on DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 28 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan the northernmost conductor, including the two splices that OCEC had installed on August 21. The results of that survey, utilizing the scale noted on the survey site diagram. showed the height of the northernmost conductor as being approximately 49 feet above the ground slope, and the horizontal distance measured from below the northernmost conductor to the center area of the tree?s clustered base showed as being approximately 29 feet; the diagonal length of the tree from its base to the splice location was estimated as being 40.9 feet. Furthermore, and continuing to utilize the survey scale, the distance measured from the splice location on the same conductor to the speci?c origin area showed it as being approximately 42.4 feet diagonally down and approximately 12 feet horizontally on an approximated 310.2" azimuth take-off from the power line conductor?s position across the property, pole-to-pole. (See Attachment A-l 1, Supplemental Investigation Report by INVF Albert Kassel, and See Attachment C-2, Survey Map.) 46. In review of OCEC's ?Electrical Service Handbook - Speci?cations Drawings", page 26, it describes (and diagrams in the drawings) the clearance distance on either side of a primary overhead power line as having a seven and one-half feet right-of-way for a total cleared corridor of 15 feet. OP Huber stated that OCEC actually clears all debris ten feet on each side of the power line for a total conidor of 20 feet. The water birch tree, such as the one in this case with its contributing branches in contact with the power line, is considered a low growing tree based on information received via FP Omdal. The tree?s approximated 29 foot horizontal distance from the northernmost conductor, as calculated from the survey map using the scale, indicates that the clustered center of its base is 19 feet outside of clearance conidor. However, the tree angled, leaning south in its growth on the south aspect slope, toward the direction of the power line, allowing its branch ends to come in contact with the northernmost outer conductor. (See Attachment A-12, SA Rainville?s MOI re the Electrical Service Handbook excerpt - Speci?cations Drawings, page 26.) 47. On 10/8/15, at approximately 1:30 PM, INVF Gregory, accompanied by FP Omdal, entered the ESF for the purpose of obtaining a representative sample of Evidence Item ?4 for FP Omdal to examine it for age dating. The sample consisted of an approximate 10-14 inch length of limb removed from a branch, including a cross section disk cut from that same branch. The sample was designated as E-4A. FP Omdal?s examination of the sample indicated that the branch was four and one-half years of age in its growth. 48. On 10/20/15, USFS SA Rainville contacted OCEC and met with GM Gottula and other OCEC members, including 0P Huber, at the OCEC of?ce located in Winthr0p, WA regarding vegetation maintenance and documentation concerning interruptions in service relative to their power line located in the Twisp River area. During the meeting SA Rainville was informed by OCEC members present that their distribution power lines servicing the Twisp River are 12kV, three-phase power supply system, and OP Huber described the supply as 7,200 volts phase to ground and 12,470 volts phase to phase. Later on during the meeting, OP Huber also described the type and construction of the power line conductor material used by OCEC for the Twisp River location as cable structurally comprised of a steel core with an outside stranding of aluminum for conducting the electricity. In addition, as stated by the OCEC, the vegetation maintenance for their power line corridors are performed by OCEC to clear out vegetation and debris to ten feet on either side of a conductor, equating to a 20 foot total corridor width; they do so on or about a three year cycle. As for the Twisp River area, it was indicated to have been last cleared during the winter of 2012/2013. OCEC further stated that its power line monitoring system records service interruptions to their customers as ?blinks,? and each "blink" equates to a ll 1 2th DN Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoe FORM UPDATE April 20 3 DEH Page 29 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 IS) COUNTY: South Okanogan second of interruption in service. Per OCEC, the monitoring system does not provide a time of day when an interruption in service has occurred, but only how many ?blinks? occurred during that day of service. In review of OCEC's ?blink? data for the day the wild?re occurred, it showed that their monitoring system recorded only one ?blink? which was relative to OCEC de-energizing the subject power line because of the wild?re threat. During the meeting, OCEC members explained to SA Rainville that had there been an interruption in service such as a ground fault for that power line before it was de-energized, there would have been more than one ?blink? for that day the ?re occurred. In reference to branch samples collected by OCEC from the tree that was in contact with the conductor, OP l-Iuber explained that if an interruption in service was caused by an electrical current grounding with the earth via a tree branch, there would have been evidence of the fault displayed such as ?tracking,? which would be indicative of an electrical path created through the twigs and branches from the electricity grounding to the earth, and he stated it was clear to him that electricity had not passed through the sample branch ends collected by the OCEC, Prior to concluding the meet, SA Rainville was provided with a copy of the electrical service handbook, a diagram map of the location of the Twisp River power line, a maintenance-related piece of correspondence concerning a Twisp River area customer, and a print-out of power interruption ?blink? data for the Twisp River area from August IO through August 28. (See Attachment A-12, MOI of OCEC by SA Rainville.) 49. In review of OP I-Iuber?s statement to SA Rainville, and in consideration of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 921 Chapter 9, Electricity and Fire, it is apparent that there was enough electrical current between the conductor and the tree branch ends to cause ignition, but not enough to cause an interruption in service with a display of ?tracking? due to high resistance in a small branch like those that showed the char damage. (See Attachment C-3, Electricity and Fire, for a list of Sections regarding electricity and high resistance faults.) 50. On 1 1/2/ 15, SA Rainville telephonically contacted Mr. John Davis, a person identi?ed to him by OCEC as a witness who had seen the wild?re immediate to the ?rst moments of its existence. During that contact, Mr. Davis explained that he and his wife Mrs. Davis had been horse backing riding at a location called Coal Creek, and at about 1 1:30 AM after their ride, Mrs. Davis drove past the location where the wild?re started without noticing or detecting the presence of the wild?re. However, at about l2:15 PM, Mr. Davis, while at his residence, detected the presence of a wild?re when he saw smoke on the opposite side of Twisp River Road, northeast of his residence and west of the (house) located across from the ?sh rearing ponds. Mr. Davis further described the wild?re as being 30-50 feet across, partially on the ?at and partially up the hill, near a power pole and Cyclone fence with an upriver wind blowing the wild?re away from the house, causing the wild?re to race up the hill toward the northwest. Mr. Davis explained that in reporting the wild?re to 9 1 at approximately 12:30 PM, he was informed that the wild?re had already been reported. (See Attachment A-13, USFS MOI of Mr. Davis by SA Huff and SA Rainville.) 51. On 12/2/15 at approximately 1:00 PM, INVF Gregory met with Chief Waller to discuss what he observed relative to his arrival as the ?rst ?reman on scene at the wild?re. In summary, the following bulleted information describes what Chief Waller provided during the discussion: 0 While in route to the incident, driving west on Twisp River Road, he could see at a distance the wild?re?s smoke column and also flame on the hillside once he reached Flume Grade, approximately DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reporlxluc FORM UPDATE April 20l3 DEH Page 30 01'38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 (15-V-JIS) COUNTY: South Okanogan two miles east of the incident. Based on that observation, the wild?re appeared to him as being west of Woods Canyon Road, north of Twisp River Road. Upon arriving at the Woods Canyon Road intersection and seeing the wild?re on the hillside behind the house (59] Twisp River Road) located immediately west of Woods Canyon and that it was terrain driven, advancing to the north with no wind as the smoke was going straight up, he turned onto and proceeded driving up Woods Canyon to notify the residents to evacuate. - Once up Woods Canyon Road, he could see looking to the west that the wild?re had already advanced to the first residence located on the left at 9 Woods Canyon Road (which was situated north, upslope from the house), and he saw the forest fuels burning with such intensity that it appeared the 9 Woods Canyon residence was near destruction. After ensuring that the two residents he met evacuated, he returned to further assess the wild?re incident from Twisp River Road and establish a command post at an area known as the Fish and Wildlife Twisp Fish Acclimation Pond, west of Woods Canyon and across from the house, as his and other FD6 station units, including that from DNR, were arriving at the wild?re. His assessment of the wild?re continued on past the house to a point where he turned around after passing a slight right-hand curve in the road, and he further observed a V-shaped burn pattern near the back of the house, which he saw during his initial assessment when he arrived at the area. Chief Waller stated that observation indicated to him where the wild?re?s origin area was possibly located and that it (the wild?re) had progressed as the pattern indicated, spreading upslope away from behind the house with the terrain to the north and the northwest. Chief Waller stated that it was not long after that when an east wind, strong enough to move the smoke column, began up the Twisp River drainage, and his ?re engines along with others were used at various locations as they arrived on scene along the Twisp River Road from Woods Canyon Road west to the area past the described slight curve for structure protection and to prevent the wild?re from spreading south across the Twisp River Road. Chief Waller stated that their protection included the house as it was within the ?re district?s area of jurisdiction as were the Woods Canyon residences. 0 Chief Waller further described that during his assessment, he believed the gate on the driveway that accessed the house was originally closed as none of his ?re units were observed parked there as the house was not immediately threatened. Soon thereafter, a Mel-[ugh Excavation water tender truck that was either passing by or working in the area was seen by him parked at the house to assist in providing structure protection for the house. Chief Waller identi?ed Mr. Jeff Mel-{ugh as one of two persons who was with the water truck and further stated that it was not long after the water truck had arrived that a ?re station Type I truck (with crew) working in the same vicinity arrived there, too. Chief Waller was not sure as to which station truck was working at the house at different times, but indicated they were who likely placed the hand dug ?re line, including wet-lining the ?re spread at and to the east side of the house?s yard, to protect the house as there was also a Type I truck working the ?at area west of the house. Chief Waller described a Type 1 track as con?gured with a monitor (also known as a deck gun) that is capable of dispersing 1,000 gallons per minute to a distance of 200-300 feet. Prior to concluding the meet with Chief Waller, he drove Gregory to the vicinity where the wild?re had originated, near the house located at 59] Twisp River Road, and described, while showing INVF DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Report.d0c FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page ?il of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 (15-V-J IS) COUNTY: South Okanogan Gregory, where it was he observed the wild?re?s V-shape burn pattern and the ?ame(s). In doing so, he placed the V-pattem as being more to the west of the house, but behind the house, and placed the ?ames as being nearer to power pole (T189). He further said that with the east wind change that became noticeable soon after he arrived at the wild?re (on the day the incident occurred), it progressed toward Meyer Creek as its (left) ?ank spread toward the Twisp River Road. (See Attachment A-l4, USFS MOI by SA Kurt Marine.) 52. On 1/6/16 at 1:28 PM, Mr. Jeffery Mcl-Iugh and Mr. Scott Mortland were interviewed by LEO Kujala at McI-lugh?s Excavating, Twisp, WA relative to the assistance they provided in the suppression of the Twisp River Fire, speci?cally in reference to what they observed and what work they performed in the vicinity of the house on 8/19/15. In summary, Mr. MCI-[ugh and Mr. Mortland estimated that they arrived at the house with their company (McI-lugh's Excavating) water truck at approximately 12:30 PM, and in doing so, they were requested by an unidenti?ed ?re?ghter, who they assumed to be with the DNR, to utilize the water that they had in their truck on the wild?re that was burning behind the house and on the bank behind house. The water truck carried 3,750 gallons of water which they applied ?rst primarily to the slope behind the house by hose and water cannon, and then also along the tree line as directed by the ?re?ghters. While doing so, Mr. Mortland observed what he described as small trees leaning very close to the power line, and he thought that at one point he observed a ?ash concerning the power line, but it was not certain to him if the flash actually occurred; neither of them recalled being advised or cautioned about the power line that was behind the house, directly above where they were working. They estimated that they spent two hours at that location, and during that time they observed ?re?ghters dig a ?re line along the bottom of the sloped bank behind the house, and they re?lled the water truck once at a location they described as the old ?sh hatchery, directly across the road, south of the house. After re?lling, they returned to continue assisting the ?re?ghters behind the house, but were soon told by a ?re?ghter who self- identi?ed himself as an investigator to discontinue their work. They were then redirected elsewhere to continue their work, assisting, which they did along the Twisp River Road just west of the house to prevent the wild?re from further spreading west or from crossing the road. (See Attachment by LEO Kujala.) 53. On 1/20/16, INVF Gregory received Evidence Item E-I and E-3 (the charred branch and the two pieces of conductor) from the WSP Tacoma, WA Crime Laboratory (TCL) that were previously submitted to the TCL for examination; the described items were transported to and secured at the ESF by INVF Gregory that same day. The examination was performed and documented by Forensic Scientist Susan Wilson which indicated that E-l showed the presence of a charcoal-like substance on some of its ends, and E-3 showed the presence of a black waxy type of material on one of the two pieces sides more than the other side. The presence of the same black waxy material substance was on the end of E-l which indicated that E-l and E-3 had either been in contact with one another, or both had been in contact at some point in time with something having the same black material substance. Furthermore and microscopically, 15-1 and E-3 also had similar round brown colored particles on them, indicative of being in contact with one another at some point in time or, as previously described, both being in contact at some point in time with something having the same brown particulates. In review of the results provided by the examination, it indicated that the branch had been exposed to a heat intense enough to raise its temperature to combustion. DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 32 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 COUNTY: South Okanogan As for the described black substance on the branch and the conductor, in and of itself, it indicated a high probability that that E-I and 15-3 had been in contact with one another. (See Attachment A-lo, Supplemental Investigation Report by INVF Gregory, and A-loa, Crime Laboratory Report by F5 Wilson.) 52. On 3/25/16 at 3:15 PM, in response to a voice mail left to Mr. Stanley by INVF Gregory, he contacted and clari?ed for Gregory what he observed relative to the wild?re. Mr. Stanley stated that prior to being informed about the wild?re, he had been telephonically conversing with his friend Mr. Elvig, and after concluding their conversation, Mr. Stanley's neighbor, Mr. Merz, contacted him saying that a Fish and Wildlife employee known to Mr. Merz had called him informing that there was a ?re up Twisp River near the pond used by the Fish and Wildlife. Immediate to receiving that information, knowing that Mr. Elvig lived near the pond, Mr. Stanley called Mr. Elvig informing him of the same, and although he did not know where in relation to the pond the wildfire was, he assumed that it had been reported by the employee who had told Mr. Merz because after the call, while driving toward the wild?re?s location with Mr. Merz to meet Mr. Elvig near the pond, he saw ?re trucks already driving towards the wild?re. Mr. Stanley estimated their arrival time in the vicinity of the pond at about 12:30 PM, and he further estimated that the wild?re would have been burning for at least one-half hour by the time he and his friends arrived at the pond, based on when Mr. Merz informed him of the ?re?s existence and when he (Mr. Stanley) called Mr. Elvig. Once at the wild?re, which was located directly across the Twisp River Rd from the pond and uphill behind a house, he saw ?re trucks parked on the road and a water (tender) truck providing structure protection at the house. The tender was being used by two persons, one he believed was named Mike McHugh, and the other person was unknown to him; they were spraying water at the wild?re behind the house near where they were parked. Mr. Stanley stated that he also observed that there was ?re creeping around behind the tender where it was parked while the spraying was taking place, although the operators didn?t pay much attention to the creep and continued with applying water to the ?re behind and upslope away from the house. Mr. Stanley further stated that he thought the wild?re may have been caused by a cigarette being tossed roadside, but he recognized that the ?re was too far away from the road for that to have been the case. However, in seeing the location of the ?re, which he described as like an arrow that had climbed up the hill, it appeared to him as pointing at the power pole, and due to his background as an electrical inspector, he thought that either a squirrel had been on the power pole and gotten ?zapped? and burned, landing on the ground, or that it was due to a faulty transformer on the power pole, but he did not know for sure. Mr. Stanley stated that he didn't think anyone resided at the house based on what Mr. Elvig may have mentioned to him, but Mr. Stanley said there could have been power to the house although he was not sure. While watching the ?re suppression activity, Mr. Stanley stated that there was a photographer, who Mr. Merz knew was associated with a newspaper, taking pictures, and to his knowledge, none of them talked to the photographer. Mr. Stanley stated that he and his companions left the wild?re scene within an hour after their arrival. 54. In conclusion to this report, refer to the FINDINGS section below, as well as the various attachments listed for additional information and photographs produced in documenting this investigation to date. DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportdoc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 33 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 (15-V-JIS) COUNTY: South Okanogan CAUSES (Included or Excluded): - Lightning: Excluded. There was no lightning strike activity detected or recorded as occurring within a three-quarter square mile radius of the GOA between August 5 and IQ, 2015. Furthermore, there were no reports of lightning seen in the area prior to the ignition of the wild?re, and there was no evidence observed or discovered near or at or within or adjacent to the speci?c origin or the GOA during the on-site investigation that could be attributed to lightning strike activity. The lightning related (evidence) indicators searched for included lightning pathway activity, scarring, spiral bark rips, and precipitated sap on trees and shrubs as well as evidence of fulgurite formation near the inspected trees or shrubs, which there was not. - Camp?res: Excluded. There was no evidence of recent human activity at the ?re's speci?c origin other than the known ?re suppression activity that took place in the vicinity of the unoccupied house as structure protection, There was no evidence of a camp?re or warming ?re located within or adjacent to the ?re's GOA, including the vicinity surrounding the unoccupied house. There was no evidence of recent human activity that could be attributed to transient activity within or adjacent to the GOA. - Debris Burning: Excluded. During the on-site investigation, no evidence was discovered indicating that recent debris burning had taken place near or within the specific origin or within or adjacent to the GOA. Although remnants of two corroded metal cans, approximately one pint and one quart in size, were located as buried near the speci?c origin, along with a partially buried and partially exposed square broken glass bottle and a piece of corroded metal screen laying on the ground near the speci?c origin, the condition of the described items indicated that they had been there for an extended period of time, liker more than a week, and were not from a recent debris or trash burning activity - Children: Excluded. Other than the known wild?re suppression activity that took place in the vicinity of the unoccupied house as structure protection and that which took place adjacent to the driveway near the access gate leading to the unoccupied house and upslope behind the unoccupied house, there was no evidence of any other recent human activity in the immediate area of the wild?re. That included the unoccupied house and adjacent yard areas within the vicinity of the unoccupied house. There was no indication of child?s play such as discarded candy wrappers or soda containers, or toys, forts, or (playing with) matches present. There was no other activity normally associated with a child being at the speci?c origin other than a partially burned and partially exposed tennis ball that was observed behind the unoccupied house within the GOA at the base of the cut bank that appeared to have been there for an extended period of time, more than a week. Also, no children were reported or seen in the area prior to the start of the ?re, and no evidence was found at the scene that would support this as a cause. - Smoking: Excluded. There were no cigarette butts or evidence normally associated with a person smoking that were discovered at the speci?c origin or within, near or adjacent to the GOA. No evidence of persons smoking in or around the GOA was documented or collected. - Miscellaneous: Included. There was no evidence of any ?reworks, cutting, welding, grinding, ?rearms use, spontaneous combustion, blasting or demolitions involving explosions, spent ?ares or fusee slag, or other devices, nor were there electric fences in the area. The previously described bottle that was located within the outer limits of the speci?c origin, and the micro-scale ?re direction indicators on the remnant fuels immediate to the bottle, including what was exposed of the bottle above the ground, showed that the ?re spread upslope and outwardly toward the bottle, DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Reportxloc FORM UPDATE April 20 3 DEH Page 34 of 38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 (15-V-JIS) COUNTY: South Okanogan further discounting it as the cause for the ignition via refraction or magni?cation of the glass. However, evidencediscovered in the area above the speci?c origin revealed that numerous branch ends of a tree extending to and chaf?ng an uninsulated, energized conductor of an overhead distribution power line were charred. The branch ends had combusted as the ?rst fuel ignited in contact with the conductor as a competent ignition source, becoming the ignition area (point of origin), which caused at least one piece of burning branch debris to be the ?rst fuel ignited and capable of sustaining combustion, and while falling down onto and further igniting the receptive fuels below that was identi?ed as the speci?c origin. - Equipment: Excluded. Other than the known ?re suppression activity that took place in the vicinity of the unoccupied house as structure protection and that which took place adjacent to the driveway near the access gate leading to the unoccupied house and the application of water upslope behind the unoccupied house, there was no evidence of any other recent equipment or equipment-related use in the immediate area of the ?re or reported as occurring immediately prior to the ?re?s ignition that could be associated with or indicative of activity involving equipment operation within or adjacent to the ?re?s GOA. There was no oil or gas located or detected at the speci?c origin, nor fumes of such, and there were no recent signs of any activity or devices that would be capable of transferring heat or carbon particles to the fuel bed within the speci?c origin or the GOA or on the numerous game trails observed on the hillside slope within or adjacent to the GOA, such as those for or ATV use. Furthermore, the regularly used asphalt Twisp River Road that is located approximately 25 yards to the south of the GOA is too far away for equipment or vehicle emitted carbon particles or sparks from metal to asphalt friction to be capable of scattering that distance to support this or any of those mentioned in this category as a cause of the wild?re?s ignition. - Railroad: Excluded. There were no railroads within a mile of the GOA. - Incendiary: Excluded. There were no matches, cigarette lighters, ?reworks, or any other ignition or ignition support related devices, such as rope, wire, rubber bands, candles, accelerants, or chemicals located or detected at or near the speci?c origin or within or adjacent to the GOA. During the investigation, Mr. John Davis stated to SA Rainville during an interview that he suspected that members of the drug subculture were transitorin residing on property (593A Twisp River Road) located south of, west of, and across the road from the unoccupied house. However, Mr. Davis further stated that he had not observed the presence of those he described at the property for approximately one month prior to the wild?re?s occurrence. Besides Mr. Davis?s information concerning the transient occupation, there were no viable reports of unknown or suspicious individuals or related vehicles seen or parked on the roadside in the vicinity of the area between the Twisp River Road and the GOA or at the unoccupied house on the morning before or during the report of the wild?re. FINDINGS The wild?re was determined to be caused by the branches of a water birch tree, being a capable fuel that would sustain combustion, coming in contact with and chaf?ng an uninsulated energized power line conductor. The conductor, being a competent ignition source, ignited the branches' ends and did so DNR Wildland Fire Investigation Report.d0c FORM UPDATE April 20l3 DEH Page 35 01'38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 IS) COUNTY: South Okanogan without having an interruption in service via low current, high voltage resistive heating. The resultant burning branch ends were the ?rst fuel ignited and thus became the point of origin for the wild?re, resulting in burning debris falling down from the branch ends and landing on the receptive fuel below. With sustained combustion, the burning debris further ignited the surface fuel on the slope behind the unoccupied house and became the Twisp River Fire. A visual inspection of the branches and the twig ends, in close proximity and at times in contact with the conductor during the inspection, revealed existing beveling and char, indicative of chaf?ng and burning that had taken place due to contact with the conductor. Pursuant to the inspection, a representative sample of the charred branch and two pieces of the conductor removed from the location where the contact was observed were subsequently examined by a WSP Forensic Scientist who reported that some of the branch tips were blackened and had a charcoal-like appearance. The examination further showed that the conductor had a black material that appeared waxy on one side of one of the two pieces more than the other like side, in addition to the branch also having a similar black waxy appearing material on its tip, representative of both examined items (the branch and the conductor) being in contact with one another or something of the same described material at some point in time. Furthermore, both items showed microscopically similar rounded brown cells present on their surfaces, further indicative of being in contact with one another or something of the same described material at some point in time. Collectively and overall, the information received from the WSP examination and the observations made while visually inspecting the charred branch ends in close proximity and at times chaf?ng the power line conductor, and in conclusion to completing the wild?re investigation, it was determined that the ends of the branches, which were located approximately 50 feet above the ground slope, had only combusted relative to their contact with the energized uninsulated conductor and, which due to the combustion, caused the charring. Neither the inspection nor the ground level investigation of the tree revealed evidence of char or scorch farther down the branches which showed that the fire had not progressed out to the branch ends but had originated at the branch ends. This further confirmed that the combustion of the branch ends, which displayed ?re damage as char, took place beginning at the branch ends. Given the weather conditions and the low fuel moistures, which were magnified by an extreme drought and signi?ed by the very high ?re danger rating for the area (the probability of ignition of fuels was calculated by USPS fire behavior experts to be greater than 85 percent), and the provision of the uninsulated, energized power line conductor (a competent ignition source) in close proximity to and at times in contact with and chaf?ng the tree branches (a capable receptive fuel), in combination with wind sway of the branches and possible conductor sag, a sustainable ignition occurred, which resulted in the Twisp River Fire. All other causes for an ignition source to come into contact with a capable fuel and thereby starting a wild?re were considered and excluded. PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE Branch, lea?ess, approximately 14 inches in length with chan'ing on its ends E-2, Branch, green with leaves E-3, Conductor, section (cut into two pieces; 8 inch and 12 inch) E-4, Branches (three), with leaves (when stored) E-4A, Branch, lea?ess, and cross section disc (from branch) DNR Wildland Fire Investigation FORM UPDATE April 20H DEH Page 36 01'38 INCIDENT NUMBER: 1351 IS) COUNTY: South Okanogan ATTACHMENTS - A-l, Supplemental Investigation Report (includes witnesses Mr. Kokes and Mr. Kingsbury statements) and Photo Log by INVF Morgan A-Z, Supplemental Investigation Report (with Photo Log) by Dawson - A-3, Call Detail Report (OCSO) A-3a, Incident Card (CWICC) A-3b, Incident Card (NEWICC) A-4, Memorandum of Interview Mrs. Tazioli) by SA Rainville - A-S, MOI (Mr. Stanley and Mr. Elvig) by SA Huff - A-6, Narrative Report (and Photo Log) by FP Omdal A-7. Supplemental Incident Report (includes Notes and Measurements) by INVF Kujala - A-7a, Supplemental Incident Report by INVF Markwardt - A-7b, Supplemental Investigation Report by INVF Gregory - A-S, Supplemental Investigation Report (and Photo Log) by INVF Heryford - A-MOI (Ms. Colon) by INVF Kujala A-IO, Supplemental Investigation Report) by INVF Gregory 0 A-l 1, Supplemental Investigation Report (and Photo Log) by INVF Kassel - 2, MOI (OCEC employees) by SA Rainville - MOI (Mr. Davis) by SA Huff and SA Rainville 0 A?l4, MOI (Chief Waller) by SA Morine - MOI (Mr. McHugh and Mr. Mortland) by INVF Kujala - A-16, Supplemental Investigation Report by INVF Gregory 0 A?l?a, Crime Laboratory Report by F3 Wilson - B- Weather Table and Graphs - Fire Weather Forecast (with Red Flag Warning) - B?lb, Dry/Potential/Detection Lightning Map(s) - B~lc, Drought/Temperature, Precipitation Information 0 3-2, Fire Behavior Information (with Drought Index and Fuel Model Maps) Fire Origin Sketch (with Perimeter, Progression, and Acreage Maps) 0 B-2b, Site Diagram (includes Branch/ConductorfI?ree Base imaging C-I, Property/Parcel and FFPA Information and Vicinity Location Map 0 C-2, Survey (Topographic and Cross Section) - NFPA Electricity and Fire (I998 and 2014) - C-4r Specific Origin Area, Charred Branch, and Areas of Interest (Photos) DNR Wildland Firc Investigation chort.doc FORM UPDATE April 2013 DEH Page 37 of 38