Winds, steep terrain and low moisture challenge firefighting efforts against Pomas Fire

GLACIER PEAK WILDERNESS – The Pomas Fire, located approximately 36 miles northwest of Entiat, has grown to 910 acres.

In a June 19 update, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) said dead timber, west winds and low humidity with critically low fuel moistures have made safe and effective firefighting efforts challenging. 

Winds have continued to spread the fire, which has moved north into Ice Creek and northeast into Aurora Creek, just west of Borealis Peak. According to USFS, the fire behavior includes spotting and group tree tracking along with active backing and flanking activity. 

Fire personnel are continuing to look for and use containment lines used in previous fires and utilize air resources as needed. Crews are also going to wrap key infrastructure with protective fire-resistant materials, such as the Myrtle Lake bridge, over the next few days.

The fire was first spotted by a hiker on the morning of June 13. The fire is believed to be caused by lightning, although lightning has not been in the area since late-May. A strike can smolder for weeks, and only become visible with the right combination of wind, sun and drying, according to USFS. Firefighting personnel are working to ensure it doesn’t linger, later threatening communities or tying up firefighting resources in July or August.

“This is an extreme tough piece of ground with all the dead and down timber from the 2015 Wolverine Fire and ten years’ worth of thick regeneration,” said Holly Krake, USFS Entiat-Chelan District Ranger, in a June 16 update. “The smokejumpers and pilots are doing everything they safely can to keep fire from becoming established on the east side of the Entiat River and down in Snowbrushy Creek.”

As of June 19, smoke can be seen in the Entiat Valley drainage and into Holden Village and the Lake Chelan area, as well as the Trinity and Chiwawa area. Smoke and air quality information can be found at https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect over the fire area. USFS asks that drones are not flown in the restricted areas. Additionally, drivers along Entiat River Road are advised to slow down and drive carefully, due to the increased presence of fire personnel.

The Glacier Peak Wilderness on the Entiat Ranger District, including Ice Lakes, is closed for fire operations and public safety. Myrtle Lake access also remains closed.

Specific trail closures include:

Trail #1400 (ENTIAT RIVER TRAIL)

Trail #1404 (COW CREEK TRAIL)

Trail #1404A (MYRTLE LAKE TRAIL)

Trail #1430A (LARCH LAKE HIKER TRAIL)

Trail #1430 (LARCH LAKES TRAIL)

Trail #1408 (GARLAND PEAK TAIL) from the saddle south of Fifth of July Mountain to the junction with Trail #1453

Trail #1453 (POMAS PASS TRAIL)

Trail #1405 (ICE CREEK TRAIL)

Trail #1230 (SNOWBRUSHY TRAIL) from the junction with Trail #1400 to Milham Pass

Trail #1432 (45 MILE DRIVE TRAIL)

Trail #1434 (DUNCAN HILL TRAIL) from the wilderness boundary to the junction with Trail #1230

Trail #1435 (ANTHEM CREEK TRAIL)

Trail #1433 (PYRAMID MOUNTAIN TRAIL) from Saska Pass to the junction with Trail #1230

Trail #1431 (COOL CREEK TRAIL)

Trail #1231 (WILSON CREEK TRAIL)

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media