U.S. FOREST SERVICE FIRE UPDATE
Lake Wenatchee, Washington— A new wilderness fire resulting from lightning storms the previous week was confirmed Saturday. The fire is located approximately ten miles northwest of Lake Wenatchee in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The Ibex Creek Fire, located in the White River watershed, is burning in extremely steep terrain in light timber and brush. The fire is about five acres in size and smoke is visible from the Plain and Lake Wenatchee communities.
The Ibex Creek Fire will be managed for multiple objectives. There will be three primary objectives: firefighter and public safety, protecting values at risk including campgrounds and trailheads, and allowing fire to play its role in wilderness ecosystems. The steep, inaccessible terrain poses high risk to firefighter safety relative to values at risk.
- For public safety concerns, FS Trail #1521- Mt David Trail is closed.
Three other small fires in the Chiwawa River Drainage are now contained. The 8 acre Finner Creek Fire (formerly referred to as the Basalt Peak Fire) is lined and staffed by the Entiat Hotshots fire crew, 6 smokejumpers, and 8 rappellers. Supplies for crews will be flown in by helicopter today. The fire is located midway up the Chiwawa Drainage, approximately 12 miles north of Lake Wenatchee and east of the Chiwawa River Road (FS Road #6200) near Basalt Peak.
Two other small fires in the same vicinity, the McCall Mt. and Schaefer Creek Fires are in mop-up status. All fires are holdover lightning strikes from storms earlier in the week.
Several closures are in effect for firefighter and public safety.
Please respect the following trails and road closures:
- Basalt Ridge Trail #1515
- Basalt Pass Trail #1530
- Minnow Creek Trail #1539
- Chikamin Road #6210
- Rock Creek Tie Trail #1538
Visitors are reminded that campfire restrictions are in place and danger of wildfire is high; please check at local ranger district offices for current conditions and restrictions.
For more information contact the Wenatchee River Ranger District:
Leavenworth office- (509) 548-2550, open Monday-Saturday, Lake Wenatchee Office- (509)763-3103 open Thursday- Saturday or go to: www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee.
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