9/27/2017 Norse Peak Fire Update

Date Started:  Aug. 11, 2017; Cause:  Lightning; Acreage:  52,056 (Norse Peak) and 3,853 (American) Percent Completed:  80% (Norse Peak) and 99% (American). Total Personnel and Resources:  85 personnel, 2 Engines and 13 pieces of assorted equipment for chipping, loading and hauling. 

Fire Summary:  Minimal fire growth is expected.  Isolated pockets of slow surface spread where the fire is sheltered by the tree canopy and continued burning in the larger dead or down trees is still possible.

The southeast side of the fire is under the command of the Naches Ranger District’s Type 4 organization.  The northwest side of the fire is under the command of a Type 3 organization with the Incident Command Post located at the Expo Center in Enumclaw.

Norse Peak Fire:  On the northwest side of the fire, cleanup and fire suppression restoration work continues along Forest Road 70.  Fire personnel are monitoring fire movement within the containment lines. 

American Fire: Any fire activity is expected to be minimal. 99% of the indirect lines are complete.

CLOSURES: Incident management personnel on both sides of the fire are working closely with local agencies on decisions regarding road, campground and area closures.  The safety of incident personnel and the public is the primary concern.   

Forest Roads 462, 1800 (Bumping River Road) and 1900 (Little Naches) are now open to the public. Campgrounds (CG) on Bumping river road are closed, with the exception of Lower Bumping Lake and Soda Springs CG which have both re-opened.  Campgrounds along the Little Naches (1900) will remain closed with the exception of Kaner Flats CG which has re-opened.  Dispersed camping is permitted along 1900 Rd. Campfires are restricted to developed campsites only.

Boulder Cave Recreation Area is closed for the season.  

Highway 123 remains open. 

State Route 410 is open.  In the section of highway within the fire area (roughly from Morse Creek on the west to Hell’s Crossing on the east) the Forest and campgrounds remain closed and only through traffic is permitted. 

Forest Road 70 on the northwest side is closed while cleanup work continues. 

Crystal Mountain Boulevard remains closed. 

The Pacific Crest Trail is open from White Pass to Chinook Pass but remains closed from Chinook Pass north to Snoqualmie Pass. 

EVACUATIONS:  All Level 3 Evacuations have been removed for the Norse Peak and American Fires.  

PIERCE COUNTY: LEVEL 1:  FS 7160 eastbound on SR 410 to Crystal Mountain Blvd.  All other evacuation levels in the Greenwater area, to include Gold Hills and Crystal Mountain Resort, have been lifted. 

YAKIMA COUNTY:  LEVEL 2:  Goose Prairie along Bumping River Road.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Over the coming days and weeks, local Forest Service officials will be completing Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessments. Together with local emergency management specialists these forest hydrologists, soil scientists, and other experts will be assessing the potential for future flooding or debris flow on public lands effected by this fire.