Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

Information about wildfires, prescribed burns, and other fire related info for the 2022 season.
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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Contact Fire Information at (509) 557-0973

NW Pasayten Wilderness Complex Fires Final Update

September 20, 2022 – 11:30 AM

Wenatchee, WA (September 20, 2022) – Fire activity on the NW Pasayten Complex fires has significantly decreased in the past several days with changing weather conditions.




Although the recent wet weather and increased moisture in the area have slowed the six fires that have been burning in the northwest portion of the Pasayten Wilderness, trail and area closures remains in effect.



The lightning-caused fires have been burning in very remote, steep and inaccessible terrain since September 6. They are located in the northwest corner of the Pasayten Wilderness, south of the Canadian border and east of Ross Lake on the Methow Ranger District.




Firefighters have been monitoring fire behavior and progression and providing point protection measures to wilderness values that are at risk such as cabins, footbridges, the Pasayten Airstrip, Monument 83, and lookout. With the recent increase in humidity and cloud cover, minimal fire behavior has been observed. However, these fires will continue to burn until the fire area receives significant moisture or snow.



Currently, the six wilderness fires have burned a total of 17,998 acres and include the:

· Elbow Fire - 55 acres

· Kid Fire - 3,797 acres

· Parks Fire - 12,163 acres

· Shull Creek Fire - 426 acres

· Skagit Fire - 445 acres

· Three Fools Fire - 1,112 acres



Trails and camps in the fire area will remain closed until forest personnel are able access the area and assess the fire impacts and safety of trail conditions.




This will be the final published update unless there is significant activity to report. For an update on current fire conditions, please call the Forest’s fire information number at (509) 557-0973. To check on the current status of trail and area closures, please visit the Okanagan-Wenatchee NF website at Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - Alerts & Notices (usda.gov), the Forest’s Facebook page at U.S. Forest Service - Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest | Facebook, or contact the Methow Ranger District Office at (509) 996-4000.

-End-
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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Contact: NW Pasayten Fires Information (509) 228-7805, https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8397/
Increased fire activity in Pasayten Wilderness Fires anticipated due to predicted weather
Wenatchee, WA (September 7, 2022) -- Increased fire activity on some of the lightning caused fires, burning in the very remote, steep, and inaccessible terrain in the northwest corner of the Pasayten Wilderness Area, spurred trail and area closures over the holiday weekend. Hot, dry, and windy conditions are expected today as a trough moves into the area which is expected to create conditions for increased fire behavior. The Shull, The Parks, Kid, Three Fools, Skagit, and Elbow fires, located near the Canadian-U.S border, are expected to grow in acreage today.

In a joint delegation with the National Park Service, a National Incident Management Organization Team, NIMO Team 2, assumed command yesterday over the six fires now being called the NW Pasayten Fires, located in the Pasayten Wilderness on the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, as well as the Chilliwack Complex Fires within the North Cascades National Park Service Complex.

A number of closures are in effect including an area closure for the Freezeout Creek basin and a number of trails and portions of trails in the area. Portions of both the Pacific Crest Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail remain closed at this time.

Smoke from these fires, and other fires burning in the region, may impact north central Washington communities over the next few days. Take precautions when recreating outdoors when heavy smoke is present. Learn more at Real-Time Air Quality Map | PurpleAir, airnow.gov or visit https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.

Update on individual NW Pasayten Fires:
• The Kid Fire, located on the ridge between Rock Creek and West Fork Pasayten, is approximately 8 miles south of the Canadian-U.S. border. The fire has been very active with spotting and torching of grouped trees. Yesterday, smokejumpers worked on protection of the historic airport cabin, situated about one quarter mile away from the Kid Fire, utilizing pumps and sprinklers. If conditions allow, smokejumpers will also be burning out unburned brush between the fire and the cabin.

• The Parks Fire is also very active. It crossed the border into Canada a couple of days ago. There is a Canadian Incident Management Team assigned to the Canadian portion (called the Heather Fire north of the border) of the Parks Fire. The fire is about one half mile from the Monument 83 Fire Lookout at the time of this release. Firefighters have prepared the lookout by wrapping the base with fire protective wrap.

• The Skagit Fire, located in Freezeout Creek 6 miles south of the border, spread northward and crossed over the top of the ridge and down the other side.

• Three Fools Fire, located 8 miles south of the border, is actively backing down the ridge and through an old burn scar, it has spotted north of the ridge.

• The Elbow Fire, located 6 miles south of the border, is actively backing down the slope near Skagit Peak.

• Tuesday, fire activity increased on the Shull Fire located 11 miles south of the border.
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

Post by PAL »

Thanks for explaining. I know they are planning some controlled burns, in the fall, and maybe not even this year. Depends on moisture. Alot of limbs on the ground however, dead now, so like a tinderbox. But of course, that is what happens with logging.
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

Post by just-jim »

‘Control’ is a category of suppression action, if you want to think of it that way, Pearl.
Wildfires are reported as contained, controlled, then ‘out’ as they go through suppression action. So, ‘control’ means it isn’t going anywhere, with a very high degree of confidence. It may or not have people actually staffing it, but if not, it would be in a patrol status and be checked regularly. At a future time -in a day or two, or a week, or after some rain - it will listed as ‘out’.
It doesn’t have anything to do with a ‘controlled burn’….and that wouldn’t normally occur in an active timber sale area anyway.

I wouldn’t worry about it.

Hope that helps…..jim
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

Post by PAL »

"Black Pine Fire is 1/10 of an acre and located south of Black Pine Lake Campground and 6 miles southwest of Twisp, WA. The fire is in control status, meaning that the fire is not likely to get outside the fireline."
Does this mean that they are sort of doing a controlled burn up there? This I know is a question most probably for the FS. Bunch of logging going on up there too, so there are enough people around, I supppose
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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Increased fire activity prompts trail and area closures

Wenatchee, WA (September 1, 2022) -- Due to increased fire activity on some of the lightning caused fires burning in the very remote, steep, and inaccessible terrain in the northwest corner of the Pasayten Wilderness Area, trail and area closures will go into effect today. Hot, dry, and windy conditions yesterday caused the Shull, The Parks, Kid, Three Fools, Skagit, and Elbow fires, located near the Canadian-U.S border, to spread with one growing to over 1,000 acres.



“Because of public safety concerns related to the increased fire activity and growth, some trail closures, and an area closure around the Freezeout Creek basin, are going into effect,” said Methow Valley District Ranger Chris Furr. “This closure will also affect through hikers on the Pacific Northwest Trail.”



The following trails will be closed--Chuchuwanteen Trail #482, Heather Lake Trail #490, The Parks Trail #495, and Castle Pass Trail #749.



Partial closures are planned for segments of these trails:

• Boundary Trail #533 (part of the Pacific Northwest Trail) from the junction with Robinson Creek-Middle Fork Pasayten Trail #478 to the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) #2000

• Rock Creek Trail #473 from the junction with Robinson Creek-Middle Fork Pasayten Trail #478 to 0.6 miles east of the PCT #2000 (Coney Basin is not closed)

• West Fork Pasayten Trail #472 from the junction with Robinson Creek-Middle Fork Pasayten Trail #478 to the junction with Holman Trail #472.1

• Devils Ridge Trail #752 (part of the Pacific Northwest Trail) from the junction with the PCT #2000 at Holman Pass west to Devils Pass



An area closure will be in effect for the Freezeout Creek basin. This closure will include Castle Pass Trail #749 north to the Canadian border, east to the Whatcom County border, and west to boundary with Ross Lake National Recreation Area.



“As of now, the Pacific Crest Trail remains open but we encourage trail users to check for updates before leaving Harts Pass Guard Station,” Furr said. “PCT users need to be aware there are fires in this area and that they will see and smell smoke in this vicinity. With the Labor Day weekend coming up, all forest users should be aware of fires burning in the forest and plan accordingly.”



Smoke from these fires, and other fires burning in the region, may impact north central Washington communities over the next few days.



“All of the fires in the northwestern part of the Pasayten Wilderness gained some acreage yesterday,” said Assistant Fire Management Officer Brian Campbell. “As hot and dry weather continues, we will see increased fire behavior on most of the fires."



Update on the 11 fires burning on the Methow Valley Ranger District:

• The 3 acre Kid Fire is a new fire located on the ridge between Rock Creek and West Fork Pasayten, approximately 8 miles south of the Canadian-U.S. border. The fire has been very active with spotting and torching of grouped trees.

• Yesterday, water dropping helicopters were able to slow the fire spread of the 1 acre Tower Fire, located 13 miles west of Mazama, WA. Smokejumpers are working on the fire.

• The 1,000 acre Parks Fire is active on all sides and has crossed the border into Canada.

• Skagit Fire, located in Freezeout Creek 6 miles south of the border, is 40 acres and has spread northward and crossed over the top of the ridge and down the other side.

• Three Fools Fire, located 8 miles south of the border, is estimated at 100 acres. The fire is actively backing down the ridge and through an old burn scar, it has spotted north of the ridge.

• The 100 acre Elbow Fire, located 6 miles south of the border, is actively backing down the slope near Skagit Peak.

• Fire activity has increase on the 20 acre Shull Fire located 11 miles south of the border.

• The 4-acre Castle Fire is located 8 miles south of the border.

• Smokejumpers are assigned to the 2-acre Tamarack Peak Fire located 5 miles northwest of Harts Pass.

• Black Pine Fire is 1/10 of an acre and located south of Black Pine Lake Campground and 6 miles southwest of Twisp, WA. The fire is in control status, meaning that the fire is not likely to get outside the fireline.

• There is no smoke showing from the 1/10 acre Powder Mountain Fire; this will be the last update on that fire.



-End-
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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Lightning Fire Update
Wenatchee, WA (August 26, 2022) -- Lightning storms came through parts of North Central Washington this week igniting nine new fires in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.



New Wenatchee River Ranger District fires:

1. The ¼-acre Cady Ridge Fire, located 25 miles northwest of Plain, WA, is staffed with six rappelers. Cady Ridge Trail remains open.

2. The 4-acre Meander Fire is being monitored due to its location in steep terrain, and concerns about firefighter safety. This fire is located a couple miles south of the Cady Ridge Fire. We ask the recreating public to be aware that it will continue to burn over the next few weeks.

3. The half-acre Grasshopper Meadow Fire is burning in the White River drainage 3 miles northwest of the White River Fire and 18 miles northwest of Plain, WA. The fire is staffed by the Lakeview Hotshot crew and a couple of fire engines.

New Methow Valley Ranger District fires:

There are six fires burning on the Methow Valley Ranger District in the northwest corner of the Pasayten Wilderness Area. Most are small and all are being monitored due to their remote locations. All received some rainfall on August 24, and currently, there are no trail or area closures associated with these fires. Smoke from these fires will be visible to users of the northwest Pasayten trails:

1. Parks Fire is 20 acres and is located just a mile and a half south of the Canadian/U.S. border. Twelve smokejumpers initially responded to this fire; the fire is now being monitored.

2. Schull Creek Fire is three-quarters of an acre and is located 2 miles northwest of Deception Pass and 9 miles south of the Canada/U.S. border.

3. Big Face Creek is 1/10 acre and is located 4 miles south of the border.

4. Three Fools Fire is 1/10 acre and is 7 miles south of the border.

5. Power Mountain Fire is 1/10 acre and 8 miles south of the border.

6. Skagit Fire is 1/10 acre and 5 and a half miles south of the border.

There is potential for new fires over the next few days due to high fire danger and lightning that is forecast for the area.

Campfire restrictions remain in effect across the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. For more information, go to the forest’s fire restrictions webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/a ... ev3_053600.
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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There's a smoke check listed on WildCAD from this morning for up in VanderPol Crossing. No updates at WildCAD, anyone heard anything?
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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Katherine Gunn Bennett

When this was listed yesterday the map was wrong showing Whatcom Co, map updated. Not sure status.
North west-ish of Slate Peak.
08/12/2022 20:14 OWF-338
P6 EK2Q (0617)
DEVILS BACKBONE Wildfire 0.5 acre Okanogan County
38N R17E Sec 10 48 48.360, -120 43.404 Timber
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/AohHr2kKd4wyAtyA7
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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U.S. Forest Service - Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Irving Peak Fire Update (Chelan County) 8/13/2022 0930:

This fire is located roughly 16 miles from Plain, WA and is estimated at 45-50 acres.
Forest users advised not to access the Little Wenatchee Road (6500) and the Rainy Creek Road (6700) areas, as well as trails accessed from these roads, due to potential impacts from the Irving Peak Fire. A closure order for the area is pending.
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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Lightning Fire Update
Wenatchee, WA (August 13, 2022) -- Firefighters are responding to numerous fires burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The following is a summary of current fires. New fires may continue to be detected over the next days. An aerial reconnaissance flight this morning will be checking for any new fires.

Wenatchee River Ranger District
A Type 3 Incident Management Team will be taking over management of the Irving Peak Fire and the White River Fire today. Irving Peak Fire is estimated at 40-50 acres and located in very steep inaccessible terrain. No resources are assigned but the fire is being monitored. The White River Fire is 25 acres and 0% contained. It is located in the Sears Creek area. Firefighting resources there include three hotshot crews, two fire engines, and a bulldozer; additional resources have been ordered. Smoke is very visible from both of these fires. Recreationists are advised to stay away from the Wenatchee Ridge area where the Irving Peak Fire is burning, trail closures are pending. Also, a Level 1 fire advisory (stay alert) notice is in place for the White River drainage--https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/emergency-m ... mergencies.

The 1-2 acre Phelps Ridge Fire and the 1/5 acre Buck Creek Fire are both located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness and are unstaffed but being monitored.

Cle Elum Ranger District
There are six fires on the Cle Elum Ranger District and all are located within 2 miles of Thorp Mountain approximately 11-13 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA. A closure is pending for the Thorp Mountain area, please stay clear of that area as helicopters and other fire suppression resources are working there. All the fires are less than an acre in size with the exception of the Thorp Mountain Fire which is 4 acres. Helicopters continue to drop water on this fire to aid in fire suppression efforts. The ¼ acre Malcolm Fire, located 13 miles north of Cle Elum, was contained and controlled this morning.

Naches Ranger District
Firefighters responded to a new human-caused fire located south of Rimrock Lake on the Naches Ranger District last night. It was an escaped campfire which grew to about 1/10 of an acre in size.

Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts
There are two small fires on the Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts, each are ¼ acre in size. The Roaring Ridge Fire on Entiat Ranger District is out, and the Gold Creek Fire on the Chelan Ranger District is contained.

Methow Valley Ranger District
Hikers at Hart’s Pass reported seeing smoke in the Pasayten Wilderness in the Methow Valley Ranger District; rappelers are enroute.

Fire restrictions are in effect on the National Forest!
See fire restriction info at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/a ... ev3_053600)

Forest Service fire crews were out until midnight Friday responding to illegal campfires on the Naches and Cle Elum Ranger Districts. Please obey the campfire ban and don’t put unnecessary strain on firefighting resources. Firefighters are already responding to the fires from lightning that came through on August 11. Responding to human-caused fires pulls resources away from being available to respond to new incidents and puts unnecessary strain on firefighters. Do your part, don’t cause a spark!
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Re: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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Lightning Fire Update
Wenatchee, WA (August 12, 2022) -- Thirteen lightning-caused fires are burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Five are located on the Wenatchee River Ranger District, six on the Cle Elum Ranger District, and one each on the Chelan and Entiat Ranger Districts.

Most of the fires remain small, from 1/10 acre to ¾ acre. Two, however, are larger. The White River Fire is estimated at 20 acres and is burning in the Sears Creek area of the White River drainage, approximately 14 miles northwest of Plain, WA. Firefighting resources on this fire include two Interagency Hotshot crews, rappelers, and a dozer.

The largest fire is the 40-50 acre Irving Peak Fire located 16 airmiles northwest of Plain, WA. Fire behavior there this morning is low, with backing and creeping activity. Due to the very steep inaccessible, terrain, (which is incredibly hazardous to firefighter safety), the strategy for this fire is confine and contain which means that firefighters will use a combination of natural features and eventually constructed fire line to contain this wildfire. Currently, ground-based resources are attacking many other lightning-caused fires located closer to communities.

While smoke from the fire is highly visible in the Lake Wenatchee area, this fire is located in a wetter forest type which generally means the potential rate of spread is going to be slower as it burns through moist duff and woody debris. Fire managers will utilize retardant and water drops where effective and as airtankers and helicopters are released from wildfires nearer to homes and communities.

Reminder to all forest visitors, a campfire ban is in place on the entire Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Find out more about these restrictions at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/a ... ev3_053600
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Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Fire Update

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Forest Service News Release
Media Contact:
Robin DeMario, 509-664-9292

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Fire Update

Wenatchee, WA (August 11, 2022) -- After recent lightning storms that delivered over 2,700 lightning strikes in Washington State, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest firefighters have responded to 12 new wildfires on the forest. Most of these fires are small in size averaging 1/10 to 1/4 acre, and the largest is estimated at 45 acres. Additional fires may appear over the next few days. Following is a brief synopsis of each fire.

So far, three confirmed fires and two smoke reports occurred on the Wenatchee River Ranger District. The Irving Peak and Wenatchee Ridge fires are located within a few miles of each other in the Little Wenatchee River drainage; the White River fire is about two miles over the ridge from them in the White River drainage.

1. Irving Peak Fire is estimated at 45 acres and is located in very steep inaccessible terrain two miles north of Lake Creek Campground. Smoke is very visible. The fire is approximately 19 miles northwest of Plain, WA.

2. Wenatchee Ridge Fire is ¼ acre and located in the Soda Springs area in the Little Wenatchee River drainage and is staffed with three rappelers.

3. White River Fire is 6 acres and located in the Sears Creek area of the White River drainage, approximately 16 miles northwest of Plain, WA. Firefighting resources include two Interagency Hotshot crews, rappelers, and a dozer. Smoke is very visible.

4. There are reports of two smokes near Phelps Ridge and Buck Creek in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, personnel are still collecting information on these incidents.

Five fires have occurred on the Cle Elum Ranger District. Crews are either on scene or enroute hiking into the difficult to access steep terrain where these fires are located 11 and 13 miles northwest of Cle Elum, WA.

1. Thorp Mountain, 5 acres near Jolly Mountain; the fire is burning in timber and grass. Initially it was staffed with 11 smokejumpers, a 14-person crew, and two engines but firefighters have spread out to help with the other small fires in the same general area.

2. Lookout Fire, 2 acres, near Thorp Lookout
3. Knox Creek Fire, 2 acres
4. No Name Creek Fire, 1/10-1/4 acre
5. No Name Ridge Fire, 1/10-1/4 acre

Two small fires were also found on the Entiat Ranger District and on the Chelan Ranger District, both are ¼ acre and are staffed by firefighters.

At 6 a.m. this morning a small smoke column was observed in the Virginia Ridge area, on the Methow Valley Ranger District, but the fire is still unconfirmed. Neither Goat Peak nor Leecher Lookouts were able to see it.

Campfire restrictions are in effect across the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. You can help by continuing to do your part to reduce the risk of human-caused fires and following campfire restrictions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/a ... ev3_053600
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