Wednesday, August 23, 2023

08/23/2023 Blue Lake Fire Update

 


Blue Lake Fire Update

Contact: (509) 557-0973

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waowf-blue-lake

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Location: Near Blue Lake just a couple miles southwest of Washington Pass, 13 miles southwest of Mazama, and 24 miles west of Winthrop, WA

Size: 315 acres                                           Cause:  Undetermined

Containment: 15%                                    Personnel assigned: 115                         

Start date:  August 14, 2023

State Route 20 North Cascades Highway is currently open. A pilot car will direct traffic between Blue Lake Trailhead parking lot (MP 162) to Rainy Pass (MP 138) from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for the next few days. Expect lengthy delays due to one way traffic through active firing operations. The road is open for through-travel and drivers are not permitted to stop along the highway between MP 162 and MP 158. For public safety, we encourage travelers to take alternative routes. Also, we want to remind visitors that the Blue Lake Fire is under a temporary flight restriction; therefore, no drone deployment is permitted in this area. If you fly, we can’t.

All trailhead area closures remain in effect.

Closed trails and all associated trailheads:

·      Trail No. 2000 Pacific Crest Trail, from boundary of North Cascades National Park north to the junction with Trail No. 728 Snowy Lakes

·      Trail No. 310 Rainy Lake

·      Trail No. 314 Blue Lake

·      Trail No. 426 Copper Pass

·      Trail No. 432 Twisp Pass

·      Trail No. 483 Cutthroat Pass

·      Trail No. 483A Cutthroat Lake

·      Trail No. 535 Lone Fir

·      Trail No. 585 Washington Pass Overlook

·      Trail No. 740 Maple Pass

·      Trail No. 740.1 Lake Ann

·      Trail No. 727 Liberty Bell

·      Trail No. 727A Beckey Spur

·      Trail No. 727B N Early Winters Spur

·      Trail No. 2172 Stiletto Spur

Developed Campgrounds Closed:

·      Lone Fir

For more information, check WSDOT at https://www.facebook.com/WSDOT. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed through this area. Check PCTA for closure information at https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures/washington/ . Closures are also in effect for areas of North Cascades National Park due to the Blue Lake Fire. See https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/fire-closures.htm for more information.

A westerly onshore flow will spread clouds west of the Cascades and as far as the Cascade Range this morning, resulting in areas of light rain. The cooling trend will continue today with temperatures several degrees lower than yesterday, and the relative humidity up to about 5-8%. Winds will be a little stronger today from the west, changing to a more west-northwest direction in the evening.

Blue Lake Fire activity is moderate with backing, flanking, isolated torching, and spotting. Crews had successful burn out operations both yesterday and Monday on the eastern side of Blue Lake Fire near Hwy 20. Strategic firing operations today and tomorrow are contingent on weather conditions. 

You can help by continuing to do your part to reduce the risk of human-caused fires and following campfire restrictions:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_053600 .

-End-

Map of the Blue Lake Fire on August 23, 2023.

Wispy white smoke rises from the Blue Lake Fire on August 22, 2023.

Credit: U.S. Forest Service


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