Easy Fire expands to 397 acres, containment efforts intensify

MAZAMA — The Easy Fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has grown to 397 acres as of Wednesday, July 24, according to the latest update from Northwest Incident Management Team 3. The lightning-sparked blaze, which began on July 17, remains uncontained despite increased personnel and suppression efforts.

Cooler temperatures on Tuesday initially reduced fire behavior and overall growth. However, fire activity intensified Tuesday night, producing single and group tree torching along with a visible smoke plume. The fire continues to burn in extremely steep terrain with dense timber and abundant dead trees, slowly advancing downslope toward State Route 20, also known as the North Cascades Highway.

The number of personnel assigned to the incident has significantly increased to 118, up from 30 reported earlier this week. Firefighters have made progress in establishing containment lines, connecting them to a previous burn scar on the fire's northern side. Crews have also set up structure protection sprinkler systems around Easy Pass Trailhead and established water supply sites for containment line hoses.

Aerial support continues to play a crucial role, with helicopters assisting ground crews through water bucket drops to slow the fire's spread. Firefighters are actively felling dead trees between the fire edge and State Route 20 to mitigate fire spread and reduce hazards to the highway.

The closure of State Route 20 remains in effect between Granite Creek (milepost 148) and Easy Pass Trailhead (milepost 157) due to ongoing safety concerns, including rolling rocks, falling trees, and active fire near the highway.

Weather conditions are expected to improve slightly, with forecasts predicting cooler temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s and mild northwest winds around 6 mph. While today is expected to be drier than yesterday, officials anticipate cooler and moister air moving over the fire area tomorrow.

No evacuations are currently in place, but forest officials continue to enforce closures for trails within the fire area, including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. A Temporary Flight Restriction remains in effect over the fire zone.

Fire managers urge residents and visitors to stay informed about the evolving situation through official channels and to respect all closures and restrictions in the area.