Firefighters make progress on small blazes amid larger fires, new ignitions

OKANOGAN-WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST — The U.S. Forest Service says a number of small lightning-caused fires across the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest have been contained or controlled as firefighting crews focus on new and existing large fires, such as the Lower Sugarloaf Fire. 

The new Tower Fire has burned one acre in steep, rocky terrain in the Icicle Ridge area six miles southwest of Leavenworth. Air tankers dropped retardant on the fire late Wednesday afternoon. Helicopters continued to drop water as needed with 10 smokejumpers deployed to the fire on Thursday.

The Lower Sugarloaf Fire continues to burn 12 miles northeast of Leavenworth. As of Thursday, the fire had over 800 personnel and had surpassed 14,300 acres in size. Level 1 and 2 evacuation advisories are in effect for areas surrounding the fire perimeter. Details can be found on the Chelan County Emergency Management website.

The Forest Service defines “contained” as a fire’s spread stopped by a firebreak but needs to be fully extinguished. A “controlled” fire means that the fire break is strong enough that firefighters are confident it won’t escape, and that all hot spots within the fire perimeter, including those inside the line and any spot fires outside it, have been put out.

Dirty Face Fire, located on Dirty Face Mountain near Lake Wenatchee, is 90 percent contained at 4 acres. It is currently staffed with 37 personnel.

Mac Creek Fire near Icicle Ridge is out, as well as the Augusta Fire in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Three other Alpine Lakes Wilderness fires have been downgraded in severity and resources. The quarter-acre Windy Pass Fire was staffed with two smokejumpers on Thursday, with expected containment by the end of the day. Boggy Fire was less than a tenth of an acre with little visible smoke. Bobs Fire is a half an acre in an area surrounded by rock. Aerial recon personnel are continuing to monitor both fires, which have very low spread potential.

Allen Creek Fire on Blewett Pass, one of the earliest fires to spark, is 95 percent contained. Crews are continuing to monitor the fire, which still has a few smoke points within the interior of the fire.

The Mission Ridge Fire 10 miles southwest of Wenatchee is 100 percent contained. The fire was smoldering in the bluffs and cliffs with two personnel assigned as of Thursday afternoon.

Eight small fires across the Methow Valley and Cle Elum Ranger Districts are reaching controlled or contained status. Located 18 miles southwest of Cle Elum, the Box Ridge Fire is a new quarter-acre sized fire burning in steep terrain. Nearly 250 personnel are also on the larger Labor Mountain Fire, which is at nearly 4,000 acres just 10 miles north of Cle Elum.

Favorable weather has reduced evacuation levels and restored hunting access near the Martin Fire in the Chelan Ranger District, which has burned 175 acres two miles northwest of Holden Village. Level 2 evacuation levels have been lifted for Holden Village and nearby Rio Tinto mine remediation sites by Chelan County Emergency Management; a Level 1 evacuation notice remains in effect for the general Holden area. 

“This high elevation fire received significant wetting rains over the past several days,” said Incident Commander James Honanie, in a Sept. 11 update. “Thankfully work by ground crews and helicopters were successful at stopping growth toward Holden Village.”

Access is now open to popular recreational areas such as Lyman Lake and Hart Lake in the Railroad Creek Valley. The Forest Service is asking hunters accessing high hunt opportunities, hikers, and other visitors to the Railroad Creek area to stay off Holden Lake Trail #1252 and Martin Ridge Trail while active repair work is happening. Additionally, visitors should use caution in any recently burned area, which may include ash pits, stump holes, and other hazards created by fire activity that is not always readily visible above ground.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media