Total Campfire Ban to Begin August 18th in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest; Wilderness Fires Contribute to Smoke Impacts
Release Date:
Contact(s): Suzanne Flory
August 16th, 2023- Everett, WA - Beginning Friday, August 18, 2023, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest will implement a complete ban on all campfires, including charcoal, across the forest. Anything that produces an ash will not be allowed. Gas or propane camp stoves may still be used in the wilderness backcountry and campgrounds but should be operated well away from flammable vegetation and forest litter. Extreme caution is urged with any open flame.
The move to Stage 2 fire restrictions is necessary due to a combination of fire weather, fuels conditions, and limited capacity to respond to new starts, and is in alignment with restrictions being put in place in many other locations at the county, state, and federal levels.
The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is currently managing several fires in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The largest is the Dome Peak Fire, located in the headwaters of a tributary of the Suiattle River on the Darrington Ranger District. The fire grew considerably yesterday, to about 770 acres, and continued growth could trigger a closure of a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail on the Entiat District in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Other fires include, the newly discovered Kindy Creek Fire, in the headwaters of a tributary of the Cascade River on Mount Baker Ranger District, was sized up at 10 acres and growing. The Sulphur Lake Fire and Chocolate Creek Fires, also in tributaries of the Suiattle River, are being monitored, but neither showed active fire behavior yesterday. All these fires are in very remote areas with difficult access and steep ground.
Smoke columns from any of these fires are likely to be visible during the afternoon and evening hours, and smoke will settle overnight into adjacent valleys. Other fires in neighboring jurisdictions will also continue to contribute to smoke impacts in the area, including the Airplane Lake Fire (on the Wenatchee River Ranger District), Blue Lake Fire (Methow Ranger District), and Sourdough (North Cascades National Park).
“Locally, fuels are nearing record dryness for the time of year, and weather conditions are encouraging rapid growth of existing fires and any new starts,” said Deputy Fire Staff Officer Kit Moffitt. “Fires are also picking up across the west this week, and with limited resources available it’s crucial that the public follow fire restrictions.”
The public is urged to be aware of the high fire danger and take precautions to ensure fire safety. Visitors to public lands should always use caution to prevent human-caused wildfires. To report a fire dial 911. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!”
View Forest Order 06-05-23-12 here.
Reported start dates:
- Dome Peak: July 29th
- Chocolate Creek: July 20th
- Kindy Creek: August 15th
- Sulphur Lake: July 28th
Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Timber, brush, grass.
National Interagency Fire Center: https://www.nifc.gov
Active Fire Information - Incident Information System: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs
State and county area burn bans: www.waburnbans.net
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