8/3/2014 8:00 AM Lone Mountain 1 Fire Daily Update

Lone Mountain 1 Fire

Daily Update August 3, 2014

There was no significant fire growth on Saturday on the Lone Mountain 1 Fire.  Higher humidity and some brief precipitation kept fire activity limited to single tree torching.  While ridgetops were experiencing wind gusts up to 40 mph in the afternoon, down in the bowl of upper Boulder Creek things remained much calmer.

Several members of a wildand fire module from the Huron-Manistee National Forest have joined the efforts on the fire, based out of the Juanita Lake spike camp.  The remainder of the module is in Stehekin for initial attack readiness now that the Apache-Sitgreaves crew has headed home.  They will do miscellaneous resource work for the National Recreation Area.

The Methow Valley experienced a dust storm on Saturday as high winds picked up ash and dirt from the Carlton Complex.  Shortly after an electrical short caused a small fire at Liberty Bell High School that prompted a brief evacuation of the Incident Command Post, downed trees across powerlines temporarily cut power to Winthrop.

The "Type 3 Team" will assume responsibility for the fire today as the Northern Rockies Wildland Fire Management Team has completed their fourteen day tour.  John Thompson will remain as the Incident Commander to maintain continuity of leadership.

A public meeting is planned for Monday, August 4^th at 6:00 pm at the Twisp Grange Hall located at 344 West 2nd Avenue in Twisp.  Fire officials and National Park Service personnel will discuss the most current information on the Lone Mountain 1 Fire activity and will present the long-term strategy for the fire.

All services are available in Stehekin, which has been experiencing only light levels of smoke from the Lone Mountain 1 Fire.  The Boulder Creek Trail in the Stephen Mather Wilderness is closed. Campfires are banned in all Stehekin Valley campgrounds from Purple Point to Tumwater.  On National Forest Lands, War Creek and Williams Creek trails remain closed.