July 27, 2006 at 4:30pm
This is an update on the Flick Creek Fire, which was reported the afternoon of July 26. The fire is burning in steep rocky and forested terrain above Lake Chelan, from Flick Creek in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area southward on the east side of the lake. Flick Creek is about 3 miles south of Stehekin Landing.
The fire is estimated at about 2,000 acres as of mid-afternoon today. Most of the fire growth fire has been towards the south; that is, down lake. It has also continued to back slowly down hill, at some points approaching cabins along the lake shore. In all cases, firefighters have succeeded in protecting these structures, burning out the area up to the approaching fire.
The northern edge of the fire continues to be on the ridge between 4-Mile Creek and Flick Creek. As it moves southward the fire is burning into the area of the Wenatchee National Forest where the Rex Creek Fire occurred in 2001. The U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service are jointly managing and staffing the fire.
Two helicopters borrowed from the Tin Pan Fire in the Glacier Peak Wilderness have been dropping water to protect cabins along the lake shore. Thirty National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service firefighters continue to work on cabin protection, which they began yesterday shortly after the fire was reported.
Four 20-person crews are on order. Management of the fire will transition Friday morning to a Type 1 team.
In Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, the Lake Shore Trail, Summit Trail, and Purple Pass Trail are closed, as is Flick Creek Camp on the lakeshore. U.S. Forest Service trails in the vicinity of the fire are also closed.
For more information contact:
Tim Manns 360-856-5700 ext.365;
North Cascades National Park Complex
