Panther Creek Fire Update III

Date: July 8, 2009
Contact: Kerry Olson, 360 854-7303

 NOTE: This is the last Panther Creek Fire update pending further fire activity.

The Panther Creek Fire is located within Ross Lake National Recreation Area. The fire was detected on June 28. It was started by lightning during a series of electric storms that moved through the area in June.

Firefighters hiked the Panther Creek Trail July 6 to the base of the fire. Through their on scene work, it was determined that the fire is 139.7 acres in size. The fire, following a steep drainage, has burned down to Panther Creek. The cool, rainy weather has greatly slowed fire growth.

Due to the steep and dangerous terrain, firefighters are not on the mountain at the wildfire. The fire is being closely managed by North Cascades National Park’s fire management team.

The fire is in an area of North Cascades National Park Complex which is a fire adapted ecosystem. While wildfire is a beneficial natural process to the Park’s diverse ecosystems, the safety of firefighters and protecting the public, as well as any infrastructure, are park management’s first priorities.

TRAIL CLOSURES:

The Panther Creek Trail is closed from the trailhead on Highway 20 to Fourth of July Pass until further notice.

HIGHWAY 20:

Highway 20 is open. Park visitor facilities have not been affected.

For current fire information, contact the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem (206-386-4495), the Wilderness Information Center (360-854-7245) in Marblemount or visit www.nps.gov/noca/parknews/ 

To learn more about wildland fire in the National Park System go to: www.nps.gov/fire/fire/fir_wildland.cfm