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Contact: Denise Bausch, 509-754-7886
The Washington Department of Natural Resources continues to lead interagency efforts fighting the 50 acre Enterprise Fire located along the shore of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area near Fruitland, WA. No structures have been lost at this time but the area remains under a level 2 evacuation. The fire crews are hampered by the steep terrain and primitive road conditions into this area of Lake Roosevelt. Two helicopters and three airplanes are currently assisting ground crews with aerial water drops to help slow the spread of the fire. National Park Service equipment and staff are also working to shuttle fire crews and ensure the safety of visitors to the Lake. To ensure that the aerial fire support has sufficient access to water, a temporary closure of Lake Roosevelt between river mile 52 and river mile 58 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) charts: M650 (GPS Coordinates: N48 degrees, 02.5 minutes;W118 degrees, 22 minutes) –M655 (GPS Coordinates: N48 degrees, 03 minutes;W118 degrees, 15.5 minutes) ) has been issued. All recreational boats are prohibited within this area during daylight hours until further notice. The closure is in coordination with the Spokane Tribe of Indians, The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the US Coast Guard, Bureau of Reclamation, Stevens County Sheriffs, and the Ferry County Sheriffs. The Enterprise boat-in campground is closed and a shoreline camping ban between river mile 52 and river mile 58 (NOAA charts: M650 –655) is also in place. As soon as it is safe, we will lift both bans. We also request that people stay off of the surrounding roadways to reduce congestion and allow fire and emergency vehicles to move as quickly as they can. More information about Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area can be found at www.nps.gov/laro/index.htm.
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Last updated: February 28, 2015