Entiat fire pumping smoke into the valley

[Rideback]

Wenatchee, WA – Smokejumpers responded to a wildfire first reported by a hiker in the Glacier Peak Wilderness on the morning of June 13th. Throughout the day on Friday, a helicopter and two airtanker scooper planes worked continuously to limit new growth on the Pomas Fire. Inaccessible by road, the fire is burning mid-slope at over 5,000 feet in elevation in heavy dead and down timber from the 2015 Wolverine Fire. While there has been no lightning in the area since late-May, it is not unusual for a strike to smolder for weeks, only becoming visible when the right combination of wind, sun, and drying happens.



Saturday, firefighters continued actively suppressing the fire as well as scouting for natural containment lines, such as rock avalanche chutes, that could be effective at stopping new growth. Up to four scoopers worked the fire, primarily dipping out of Lake Chelan. A helicopter also dipped out of the local Fern and Myrtle Lakes for targeted water drops. Steep terrain will likely limit the ability of air tanker pilots to safely fly the fire area even if retardant were effective in dense timber where typically little, if any, retardant reaches the ground.



Throughout the day Sunday, two helicopters and four airtanker scoopers focused on limiting new growth along the Entiat River. Firefighters successfully used a rocky avalanche chute to hold the Pomas Fire from spreading further down valley toward Mrytle Lake. However, the fire was actively torching in heavy dead and down timber moving towards the Pomas Creek area and spotted across the Entiat River below Borealis Peak late in the afternoon due to winds.



“This is an extremely tough piece of ground with all the dead and down timber from the 2015 Wolverine Fire and ten years’ worth of thick regeneration,” said Holly Krake, Entiat-Chelan District Ranger for the Forest Service. “The smokejumpers and pilots are doing everything they safely can to keep fire from becoming established on the east side of the Entiat River and down in Snowbrushy Creek.”

Today, additional firefighters, including two hotshot crews and rappelers, will bolster ground resources to continue suppressing the fire. Scoopers will continue dipping out of Lake Chelan while helicopters will use Fern and Myrtle Lakes for water bucket work. However, heavy dead timber in the area, west winds, and low humidity will continue to challenge safe and effective firefighting efforts.

“There are four months of significant wildfire potential ahead of us in Central Washington,” added Krake. “While the fire is deep in the Wilderness now, we want to make sure the Pomas Fire doesn’t linger to later threaten communities or tie up firefighting resources in July or August.”

Smoke: Smoke is visible from Holden Village and Lake Chelan areas as well as the Trinity/Chiwawa area. For more information on smoke and air quality please visit: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

Closures: The Glacier Peak Wilderness on the Entiat Ranger District, including Ice Lakes, is now closed for fire operations and public safety. Mrytle Lake access is also closed. Specific trail closures include Entiat River Trail #1400 past Duncan Hill Trail #1434, Snowbrushy Trail #1230, and Garland Peak Trail #1408. A closure order and map will be posted to Inciweb once they are available. The fire is 12 air miles from the Pacific Crest Trail and currently poses no threat to that trail.

Evacuations: None, there are no structures or homes threatened at this time.
Fire Information: Updates will occur when there is significant new information on this Wilderness fire.