Area fire update

Lightning storms late Monday afternoon ignited more fires in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.  Four of these fires are currently burning in the Chikamin Ridge area off the Chiwawa River drainage in the Wenatchee River Ranger District, approx. 26 miles north of Leavenworth.  

o        The largest of these fires, Incident 687, is burning on Chikamin Ridge and is estimated to be 10-30 acres in size.  An air reconnaissance flight will be looking at the fire this morning to get an idea of what the fire is doing.
o        The next largest fire is the Pond Meadow Fire at 5-7 acres in size which is burning about a mile or so east of Incident 687.  The Pond Meadow Fire is staffed with 13 smokejumpers.
o        The other two fires (Duey and Mad Lake) are small in size, approx. one tenth of an acre each and are staffed by rappellers.
        Chikamin Ridge Road #6210 has a barricade across it limiting access to the Chikamin Ridge area.
o        Silver Creek Fire on the Entiat District is 5 acres in size; it is burning 24 miles northwest of Entiat (four miles northwest of Silver Falls Campground).  This fire is staffed with a 20 person crew and the Entiat Hot Shot crew is en route to assist. 
o        Additional lightning ignited fires were reported on the Naches and Methow Valley Ranger Districts.  These are all less than one tenth acre in size.
Due to the continued hot and dry weather, additional campfire restrictions may go into effect later this week on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
______________________________
Robin DeMario
Public Affairs Specialist
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Phone:  509-664-9292
Fax:  509-664-9286
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