North Cascades Fire Update Sept 7

Date: September 9, 2009
Contact: Kerry Olson, 360 854-7302

Brush Creek Fire, Sept 2, 2009

Evelyn Greiner

Overview: Fourteen fires ranging in size from a single tree to 400 acres have been burning in the North Cascades National Park Complex since late June. All were started by lightning. The total acreage for all fires combined is over 800 acres. Six of these fires are being suppressed to protect the public and infrastructure in the area. The other eight fires are being allowed to burn because they pose no threat to Park facilities or adjacent resources, or are not safe for firefighters.

Current Situation: A new fire, the Airport View fire, was discovered on Thursday afternoon, after a lightning storm. It is located in Company Creek, above the Stehekin Airstrip. Four firefighters from the Park and one firefighter from the Stehekin Fire District hiked into this small spot fire and suppressed it. The Brush Creek fire is 219 acres. There is a small spot fire north of the main fire, closer to the mouth of Brush Creek. The Brush Creek fire is still burning within parameters established by fire managers. The other two larger fires that are still burning, the Panther and Elija fires, 220 and 400 acres respectively, have not shown any recent increased growth. However, both fires continue to smolder and smoke.

Conditions and Fuels: Fires are burning in fire adapted ecosystems. Fires are in subalpine and mixed conifer forests. Weather and Fire Behavior: Cooler and wetter weather through the weekend, with possible warming after the middle of the week.

Resources Assigned to the Fires:
Personnel: Park staff supported by additional single resources. Aircraft: 1-Type 3 (light) helicopter. Expected Actions: Fire personnel will continue to monitor the fires, and take actions as appropriate. Fire managers have developed plans should future fire movement warrant additional action on any of the fires.

TRAIL CLOSURES: The following trails are CLOSED, until further notice.
The Panther Creek Trail is closed from the trailhead on Highway 20 to Fourth of July Pass.
The Brush Creek Trail is closed from Whatcom Pass to the Chilliwack River.
The Chilliwack River Trail is closed from the Copper Creek Camp northward to the Copper Ridge Loop Trail.
The Copper Ridge Loop Trail is closed from the Copper Lake Camp to the junction with the Chilliwack Trail.
The Company Creek Trail is closed from the Stehekin Valley into the Glacier Peak Wilderness due to a fire in Sable Creek managed by the USFS.

HIGHWAY 20 is open.

Park visitor facilities have not been affected by the fires, except for the trail closures.[