07/14/2015 Newby Lake Fire Update

Newby Lake Fire Information Center: 509-486-4003 : 7 am to 7 pm PDT
Yesterday’s Activities: The Fulton and Little Tujunga Hot Shot Crews had been “spiked out” (camped out) in a remote northern area of the fire. Spike camps are used to allow crews to be close to the work without the need for transportation. Hot shot crews are highly trained, self-contained, and have the experience and knowledge necessary to fight a fire in a remote area. They hiked out of the area after five days after constructing and securing hand fire line at the northeast portion of the fire near the international border. Mechanized construction of fire line also continued near the eastern portion of the fire within the Loomis State Forest and south of the fire perimeter and wilderness boundary.

A Hot Shot Crew took advantage of the favorable humid and cooler weather and worked on a spot fire at the southern sector of the fire. The ground crew was assisted by helicopters making water bucket drops. Priority for assigning suppression resources is at the eastern side of the fire on Loomis State Forest and at the south to prevent the fire from moving out of the Pasayten Wilderness. The size of the Newby Lake Fire did not increase

Today’s Activities: Two Hot Shot Crews will be flown into the remote northern side of the fire via helicopter to work with their Canadian counterparts. They will again be spiked out with the objective of preventing the fire from spreading again into the United States. Fire line construction will continue near the eastern portion of the fire to minimize the amount of acres burned in the Loomis State Forest. Firefighters will continue to strengthen fire line at the south by widening and removing
brush.

Yesterday, one tenth inch of rain was measured at the northern section of the fire with only three one hundredths of an inch received at the southern part of the fire. Today, temperatures will begin to increase and the air will be expected to start drying out. Fire behavior is expected to once again become more active. Winds are expected to remain light.

Closures: An area closure remains in place on all National Forest Lands and WA DNR lands affected by the fire.
For the most up-to-date trail, road and campground closure information on National Forest and Washington DNR lands, please contact the appropriate land management agency or visit their websites:
Washington DNR: www.dnr.wa.gov/managed-lands/forest-and-trust-lands/loomis-and-loup-loup-state-forests
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: www.fs.usda.gov/okawen/