Local News

Monday’s Lightning Storm Starts New Fires

Jul 15, 2014

The passage of an afternoon thunderstorm on Monday led to many lightning strikes across the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and surrounding lands starting several new fires. Smokes began being reported early yesterday afternoon and new fires were being staffed by mid-afternoon.

The Stokes Road Fire is being managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources near Carlton and the Gold Creek area and is around 600 acres. Four Rappellers were dispatched up Foggy Dew Creek for a 0.75 acre fire around 4:00 p.m. yesterday. Other small fires reported:

South Ridge Methow, Piper Creek, tenth of an acre reported
West Buck Mountain, Methow RD, tenth of an acre, contained at 10:00 pm
Miner’s Ridge, Entiat RD, tenth of an acre, contained at 10:30 pm
French Cabin Junction, Cle Elum RD, quarter acre

Along with these reported fires were numerous smoke reports which fire suppression resources attempted to find in the field. These often can lay undetected in deep litter and duff layers on the ground or within trees undetected for days after a lightning event only to pop up later and spread as wildfires. People should be aware of these conditions and report wildfires as noted below.

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