Local News

Fire Crews Responding to Lightning Strikes on National Forest

By NCBI
Aug 11, 2011

Forest Service firefighters have responded to reports of smoke since the lightning storm moved through Okanogan County yesterday afternoon and evening.

Smokejumpers responded to a fire reported by the Goat Peak Lookout. The small fire was in the Bridge Creek area, southwest of Winthrop Washington and fireline has been constructed around its perimeter.

Firefighters also responded to reports of smoke in the Nicholson Creek area, northeast of Tonasket, Washington.

For Okanogan County, most of yesterday's lightning was on National Forest Land west of the Okanogan River. In some places, the lightning was accompanied by rain, so there is an expectation that it may be a few days before smoke is visible.

Quick response is important in catching fires while they are still small. Firefighter patrols, fire lookouts, aerial reconnaissance, and reports from citizens are all helping. There is a flight planned for this
afternoon to look for new fire starts.

To report a fire, please call 911 or 1-800-258-5990.


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