Pomas Fire grows to 362 acres in Glacier Peak Wilderness

GLACIER PEAK WILDERNESS – Firefighters face low humidity, west winds, and heavy dead timber as they continue to respond to the Pomas Fire, which has grown to an estimated 362 acres since it was first spotted on the morning of June 13. 

After receiving a report of the wildfire from a hiker on Friday morning, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) said it had smokejumpers responding within an hour, with a helicopter and two scooper planes working continuously throughout the day to limit its growth. Air and ground resources continued through the weekend, with firefighters focused on limiting new growth along the Entiat River. 

Firefighters were successful in holding the Pomas Fire from spreading further down valley toward Myrtle Lake. However, winds on late Sunday afternoon caused the fire to actively torch dead and down timber moving towards the Pomas Creek area and spotted across the Entiat River below Borealis Peak late Sunday afternoon.

In the June 16 update, USFS said scoopers would continue to dip out of Lake Chelan with helicopters using Fern and Myrtle Lakes for water bucket work. Ground resources were bolstered with two hotshot crews and rappelers. 

The Glacier Peak Wilderness on the Entiat Ranger District, including Ice Lakes, is closed for fire operations and public safety. Myrtle Lake access, as well as Entiat River Trail #1400 past Duncan Hill Trail #1434, Snowbrushy Trail #1230, and Garland Peak Trail #1408 are also closed. The fire is not believed to be a current threat to Pacific Crest Trail, located approximately 12 air miles away.

According to USFS, the fire is burning dead and down timber in steep, rugged terrain, complicating response efforts. 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.

“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.”

Anticipating “significant wildfire potential the next four months,” Krake emphasized the early response was an effort to ensure the fire doesn’t linger, later threatening communities or tying up firefighting resources in July or August.

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