Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest South Zone Fire Update

AAI just received the following email from the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest:

Everett, Wa. Aug. 4, 2009 — Engines, rappellers, smokejumpers and hand crews are fighting seven small fires in the south zone of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, bringing the total of fires in that area to 17.

“We have two new fires that were detected in the last 24 hours that are probably holdover fires from lightning strikes last week,” said Hans Redinger, assistant fire management officer for the forest. All are less than an acre in size except for Fire 7012, which is two and a half acres in size, near Greenwater off Highway 410 started by a campfire.

Redinger said four of the fires are classified as patrol status, meaning firefighters will observe them until they are completely extinguished. Fire managers continue to monitor the remaining fires. The south zone encompasses Skykomish Ranger District within Snohomish and King Counties and Snoqualmie Ranger District within Pierce and King Counties.

The following fires are close to trails:

Malachite, at Lake Malachite; Trap, one mile west of Trap Lake and a half mile from the Pacific Crest Trail; Delta, at Big Heart Lake; Heart, close to Delta Fire and Big Heart Lake; Necklace, next to Necklace Valley Trail; Deep Creek, close to trail 1196; and, Bullion Basin, close to trail 1156. Firefighters post “fire activity” at trailheads where fires are detected. Weather forecasts predict the potential for thunderstorms and more lightning Wednesday and Thursday this week.

A Type 2 Incident Command team is managing the Gold Hill Complex fire on the north zone of the forest, where more than 40 small fires were ignited by lightning strikes. Daily updates for those fires are posted at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1778 <http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1778> . Mt. Baker District, within Whatcom and Skagit County and the Darrington Ranger District, within Skagit and Snohomish Counties, make up the north zone of the forest.

Report fires on the state wildland fire hotline at 800-562-6010.